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The Epicenter by AudioControl

Bass processor (Gray)

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  • The Epicenter™ by AudioControl

    Gray

  • The Epicenter™ by AudioControl

    bass remote (detail)

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Item# 161EPICEG offer details

Item# 161EPICEG

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AudioControl

Our take on the The Epicenter™ by AudioControl

by Gabrielle Thorndyke

AudioControl's legendary Epicenter bass processor will maximize the low-frequency power and punch of your bass system, from a simple powered tube to a full-blown competition setup. Simply install this processor between your car's receiver and your outboard amplifiers, and hear what you've been missing.

Sophisticated processing analyzes the incoming signal, restores low bass fundamental tones, and increases your bass response without stressing out your speakers. You can connect The Epicenter to any receiver with preamp outputs — its balanced inputs will reject noise from your car's electrical system. A subsonic filter removes extreme low bass from your signal so your amps and subs will play louder and cleaner, and a single band ParaBass bass equalizer lets you fine tune the bass.

Just rotate the single knob on the included dash-mounted controller to control bass restoration — it's that simple. The Epicenter does a great job of pumping up digital music files or live recordings on disc, restoring low bass that's been lost to compression or poor recording. Plus, iPods and other MP3 players roll off low bass in order to make your headphones sound better. With one twist of a knob, the Epicenter restores these low frequencies, making your iPod sound better over your car's sound system.

Highlights:

  • bass restoration processor (gray)
  • increases bass response from your system
  • 2-channel preamp inputs and outputs
  • Para-Bass controls adjust center-frequency and width of bass EQ processing
  • fixed subsonic filter (33 Hz, 12/dB octave)
  • wired dash-mount bass remote
  • 8"W x 6-1/2"H x 1-3/16"D
  • frequency response: 10 to 100,000 Hz
  • weight: 1.7 pounds
  • warranty: 5 years
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
Shop all AudioControl Signal Processors

    Important note: Connect The Epicenter between your receiver and amplifier, before any external crossovers.

     

    Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

    Product Research

    Product Research
    What's in the box?

    Download owner's manual

    • Pre-amp Bass Restoration Processor
    • Remote dash mount control
    • 20' RJ-14 cable
    • Adhesive backed remote label
    • Owner's manual
    • QC checklist
    • Product registration card

    Our Product Research Team

    At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

    Features

    Bass Restoration: Rather than simply turning up the bass, the patented bass restoration circuit takes a full range input signal and measures the upper harmonics of the bass frequency range to determine what frequencies have been lost during the recording process, then correctly restores the missing bass information. The remote rotary knob allows you control how much bass is restored to the system. A full range signal is output from the Epicenter Plus that can feed a full range amp, a subwoofer amp (with built-in crossover), or an outboard crossover.

    Para-Bass: Para-Bass is a single band, parametric equalizer for the bass output. The center frequency is continuously variable from 27 Hz to 63 Hz. The width of the band is also adjustable.

    Bass Maximization: The Bass Maximization circuit allows The Epicenter Plus to maximize the bass output of any system while restraining destructive bursts, which can damage speakers. the 5.0 volt factory setting can be changed to 2.5, 7.5, or 10 volts if the amplifier and speakers can handle it.

    Remote: The bass restoration level is adjusted using the included wired remote. The remote is designed to be dash mounted, within reach of the driver; it can be mounted under the dash with the supplied bracket, or the bracket can be removed and the knob and LED can be custom mounted through the dash. Dimensions:

    • Width: 2.557"
    • Height: 1.489"
    • Depth: 1.824" (2.448" including knob)

    Subsonic Filter: The subsonic filter crossover point is 33 Hz; it's governed by a replaceable chip, so it can be changed to 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 Hz.

    Balanced Inputs: Using the balanced differential input circuit cancels noise picked up in the transmission line between the Epicenter Plus and the the source unit. The inputs can be set to balanced or unbalanced if needed.

    Ground Isolation: The power supply ground is switchable, in case of ground loop noise. The factory position is fully isolated (typically the best choice), but can be changed to Ground or 200Ω.

    Terminal Block: The power/ground/remote terminal is removable; the wiring is attached to the block, then the block is plugged into the Epicenter.

    Specifications:

    • Maximum Input Level: 15 volts RMS
    • Maximum Output Level: 9.5 volts RMS/13 volts peak
    • Frequency response: 10 Hz-100 kHz;±1dB
    • THD: 0.003%
    • S/N Ratio: 130dB
    • Balanced Input Noise Rejection: >60 dB
    • Input Impedance: 10 kΩ
    • Output Impedance: 150 ohms
     

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    Reviews for the The Epicenter™ by AudioControl

    Average Customer Review:

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    5 out of 5

    This thing really works

    Written By JP, Schertz TX on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
     
    I bought one of these in 1997 and asthetically it looks unchanged...Why change it if it works! Anyhow, my system included Orion NT Subs hooked up to an Orion 2250 bridged down to .5 ohm...serious bass for those who are unfamiliar with this Orion line of subs and amps. This epicenter would actually not sound good with extreme bass music or modern rock considering I already had more bass than the ear could handle. However, when playing 50s, 60s and 70s music this epicenter truly enhanced the bass response making the older music much more enjoyable. The epicenter works as advertised by taking the peak of each bass note and allowing your system to carry the bass note at its peak through a longer period of time before the bass note drops off.
    Pros:
    Works fantastic with music lacking good bass to begin with. My friends could hardly believe their ears when I turned up the epicenter to the Supremes!
    Cons:
    Does not sound good with extreme bass music (DJ Magic Mike, Techno Bass...etc...) but you can turn the epicenter all the way down when playing this type music and it will not affect any output. Literally, turning the knob all the way down is like turning it off.
    1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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    3 out of 5

    AudioControl Epicenter

    Written By TurnHeading360, Tampa, FL on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    It's so,so...

    I was expecting more. It's not doing anything really; the signal input is no different than the signal output. If I turn up the knob all it seems to do is just increase the volume level of the subs, I even degraded some songs from 320 to 196 just to see if the machine would fix anything...nothing. Maybe it's broken...who knows.

    1 out of 5 people found this helpful
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    5 out of 5

    The best tool for anyone that loves bass!

    Written By CSR, Gadsden, AL on Friday, April 08, 2011
     
    If you love bass, and I mean all aspects of bass reproduction, then there is absolutely no better component than this! With The EpicenterT installed in your system, any system, you will Experience bass like you never have before! Not only will you Hear & Feel all of the bass notes that you've been missing, every single bass note that is reproduced will Feel & SOUND better than they ever have before...cleaner, clearer, deeper, lower, tighter, harder hitting, more powerful, more dynamic, just plain BETTER! It will allow you to Hear, Feel, & Experience Bass like it is truly supposed to be...PERFECT! Do your System & Yourself a favor...install the AudioControl EpicenterT Today!
    3 out of 5 people found this helpful
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    5 out of 5

    the epic truth

    Written By thasnapper, mad county,in on Sunday, October 10, 2010
     
    the epicenter iz a subharmonic processor whut ever note it recivevez it putz a note one octive below that note!! meaning u can make the beatlez 1 cd bang like guccimane!! 2 really get tha best outta a epic u need a eq with a sub crossover with vari. freq, cut off i use tha alpine bbe then set the x-over at 100hz turn all andz below 100hz down 2 (-6) then play with it!! igot 4) 15" L-7 1 massive 3000 old school funk and 80'z soundz amazin in my trunk!
    and please get dynamat it makez me sound wicked when i ride by guyz in my hood love it!! WARNING if u got cheap or poorly engineered subz they will blow up!!
    1 out of 33 people found this helpful
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    5 out of 5

    awsome bass

    Written By Aaron, Houston, Tx on Wednesday, October 06, 2010
     
    This product is awsome. It gives your system that extra bass it is missing. It makes my two 10 in subs hit super hard. Every one that loves bass should have one. I recommend to everybody.
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    epic muzic

    Written By impressive Audio, Dallas tx on Monday, June 07, 2010
     
    I have used the epic for about 14 years now it is a mager peace of any install I do if they wont mager bass but not only does it recovers bass but its also a line driver cuz most head units are 4-6 volts output to amp you can go inside and add volts directly to amp from 7.2 to 12.0 volt to give your amp maxx voltage output and a more solid frequincy and it also has ground isolations you can change for that unbearable ground noise O YEA it will dang near blow the trunk off if thats what you into I give it 10 thumbs up thanks...OGREDD
    2 out of 14 people found this helpful
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    5 out of 5

    Restores low end

    Written By Old School, Florida on Monday, February 08, 2010
     
    The epicenter is a vital part of your audio system if you listen to older (pre 1990's) recordings. It helps to restore the bass tracks that were removed by the sound labs. It works well to give a warm low end to cassette tapes, without sounding over amplified. I would recommend a subsonic filter at 20-25 hz.
    7 out of 8 people found this helpful
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    3 out of 5

    Epicenter

    Written By MICHAEL, Henryetta, OK on Thursday, January 07, 2010
     
    It did ad more bass, but dash mount control knob was more like a volume knob for bass which now is a very hard bass. Manual is not really clean or unit is not marked at what frequencies the control knob is adjusting like on their 4.1 EQ. The other adjust the width of the bass. I have it with a 25 Hz sub sonic filter using Alpine Rs in a ported to Alpine's Optimum Specs of 1.7 c.f. For me the bass hits to hard and not as musical, but maybe some of you guys like that. JVC head unit with EQ and Surround Sound adjustment does OK and just wanted to be able to restore what they said was lost bass, but it seemed harsh to me, not sure of Ipods etc with loss bass only use CDs FM some HD FM. A actual EQ would work better with marked frequencies and ability to know what your adjusting. It's a very hard hitting bass which is better if you used a EQ!

    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    The Epicenter™ by AudioControl

    Written By Anonymous, Central Texas on Tuesday, September 01, 2009
     
    I had one of these puppys way back when in 93' In a 85' Olds Cutlass Supreme Brougham. The bass that came out of those 10's with the 500 amp was unbeliveable, if I had the money to purchase another one of these I would gladly do so, the nob is so convienient and the effect is really noticable. Im glad to see the epicenter is still around and wish I still had mine....Thx Audio Control for the great memories :)
    3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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    5 out of 5

    amazing

    Written By chip, lodi,ca. on Sunday, January 11, 2009
     
    I installed this little guy cause so much of the music i listen is old rock and it just didn't have that low end bass like the new rock has ie: dio, aerosmith, led zepplin, montrose but this thing is amazing just a litttle turn of the knob and wow it is whole different song. i cant believe the difference it has made, so if your sick of listening to the only songs that bass on that cd try one of these and u will listen to all the songs, it works well on all music including rap and rock, thanks crutchfield.
    20 out of 27 people found this helpful
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    1-10 of 10

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    Rated 5-stars by consumers

    For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the The Epicenter™ by AudioControl, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/S-O6AAj45BDc8/p_161EPICEG/The-Epicenter-by-AudioControl-Gray.html ).

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    • bass remote (detail)

      The Epicenter™ by AudioControl