AudioControl Epicenter Plus User Manual
Bass Restoration Processor
Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
Greetings from the rainforest dwellers of the Pacic Northwest. We would like to
congratulate you on your purchase of The Epicenter Plus from AudioControl. As the
name suggests this processor is based on AudioControl’s legendary bass restoration
circuitry, appropriately named The Epicenter. Whether this is your rst AudioControl
product, or you are already a rm believer, the bass restoration enhancements of The
Epicenter Plus will leave you breathless. Extra octaves of deep, body shivering bass
can dramatically increase the enjoyment of your performance autosound system.
The Epicenter Plus is for audio enthusiasts who want to use their factory-installed
source units so it is equipped with AudioControl’s high-impedance, speaker-level
inputs. Additionally, an auxiliary input allows users of factory-installed radios and
portable audio players (like iPods™) to also appreciate the performance of its bass
restoration circuitry.
We are sure that by now the thought of adding The Epicenter Plus to your performance autosound system is probably making you salivate. However, we strongly
encourage you to take a few minutes to sit back, grab a beverage of your choice
and read through this manual. Although many autosound enthusiasts feel reading
an “owner’s manual” is only for novices, this particular manual may save you some
phone calls during the installation process. It also contains lots of useful facts and
information (and besides, we spent a lot of time writing it)!!
Key Features Of The Epicenter Plus
Here are a few key features that you will nd in The Epicenter Plus:
• Bass Restoration Circuitry
• Speaker-Level Inputs for Integration with Factory Audio Systems
• Auxiliary Input for iPod’s, MP3 players or Satellite radio tuners
• GTO™ Signal Sensing Inputs for Automatic Turn-on
• Bass Maximization Circuitry
• 12 volt trigger output
• Dash mount control
• PFM Subsonic Filter
• Balanced Pre-amp inputs
What all this means is more bass and better bass from your performance audio
system. Enjoy the ride…
®
22410 70th Avenue West • Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA
Phone 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166 • www.audiocontrol.com
Features and Highlights
Bass Restoration Circuitry
The Epicenter Plus contains AudioControl’s bass restoration circuit that recreates and injects low frequency information back into the signal path. What that
means in everyday terms is that The Epicenter Plus will give dramatically more
bass impact in your music regardless of whether your choice of format is compact discs, MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, AU, FKAC, TTA,WMA or good ol’ tapes.
For more on this unique process, see page 8.
Auxiliary Input
Since many car audio enthusiasts are multi-tasking listeners who want to use
secondary sources like iPods, MP3 players, and satellite radios, The Epicenter
Plus provides an auxiliary audio input for these devices. If you use this function, you will need to use a source that has its own volume control. The Auxiliary input is easily activated by tapping the dash control knob. You will be happy
to know that The Epicenter Plus has a cool blue LED indicator that will light
when the Auxiliary input is activated.
Speaker-Level Inputs
If you are like many people who enjoy the look and features of your factoryinstalled source unit but feel your system is lacking in power and bass, we have
good news. The Epicenter Plus has high-impedance speaker-level inputs that allow it to accept amplied signals from all known factory-installed systems (even
Bose) and output a high-quality pre-amp signal via standard RCA connectors.
This will allow you to add better-quality aftermarket ampliers, processors and
speakers while keeping the convenience features of your factory-installed source
unit. Unlike inexpensive speaker-level and line-output converters, The Epicenter
Plus offers the highest sound quality and can handle the full signal strength of a
400-watt per channel amplier.
GTO™ Signal-Sensing Inputs
Most factory-installed source units lack the features that make it easy to
upgrade with really good-sounding, performance aftermarket products. One
of those key features is a 12-volt trigger that will “turn-on” devices like The
Epicenter Plus and your external ampliers. Therefore, we have equipped the
speaker level inputs of The Epicenter Plus with our unique GTO™ (Great Turn
On) signal-sensing inputs. Once the GTO inputs of The Epicenter Plus detects a
signal, it powers up. When the signal goes away, The Epicenter
Plus will automatically turn off. Optionally, The Epicenter Plus is
also equipped with a standard 12-volt trigger (Remote In) that will
allow you to turn on The Epicenter Plus in the traditional man-
ner when you are using the pre-amp inputs.
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12-Volt Output Trigger
Since you will be using an external amplier(s) and processor in your system,
you will need the ability to “trigger” or turn-on these devices (a romantic dinner
won’t quite work here). The Epicenter Plus has a high-current 12-volt output
(labeled “Remote Out”) that will provide a trigger to these remote devices, when
The Epicenter Plus is powered up. Please note that this output is not to be used
as the main power for these devices.
Dash Mount Control For Source Selection and Bass Restoration
The Epicenter Plus is designed to be mounted anywhere in the vehicle, with
the exception of the radiator or front bumper. It comes with a dash-mountable
control that allows you to enjoy the bass-restoration effects of The Epicenter
Plus without having to leave the driver’s seat. Additionally, by just tapping the
switch, you can select between the main inputs (Pre-amp/speaker level) and the
auxiliary input. The LED turns cool blue when the auxiliary input is engaged.
PFM Subsonic Filter
This unique feature is legendary with many AudioControl fanatics for its
ability to ne tune the bass response of any system. Why waste power on nasty
subsonic information when your Programmable Frequency Match (PFM) lter
can help you clean things up?
Bass Maximization Circuitry
The Epicenter Plus circuitry has the ability to produce large amounts of deep,
mind shattering bass without damaging your speakers. The Bass Maximization
circuit allows The Epicenter Plus to maximize the bass output of any autosound
audio system while restraining destructive bursts. If your are a speaker, this is a
good thing.
Five Year Warranty
The most important feature of all. Every AudioControl product is selessly designed and manufactured by the occupants
of our rainforest factory. We take every effort to
ensure that you will have many years of enjoyment out of The Epicenter Plus. To further
ensure the performance of your new toy, we
highly recommend that you allow your authorized AudioControl dealer to perform the installation. Not only do they have
all the right knowledge and tools, but in the unlikely chance The Epicenter
Plus should fail, we back it with a limited ve year parts and labor warranty.
Should you choose to install it yourself, we will still give you a one year parts
and labor warranty. To activate your warranty, you need to FILL OUT AND
SEND IN YOUR WARRANTY CARD!
We also recommend that you save your invoice or sales slip as proof of
installation and ownership. Not only is it necessary for warranty purposes, but
should The Epicenter Plus turn up missing some day while you are out watching
submarine races, you will nd insurance companies very unforgiving.
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Quick Install Information
Integration With A Factory Installed Audio System
We interrupt your reading of this manual to provide the impatient people with
“Quick Install” information and guidelines. No matter how much more of this
manual you read, denitely look at the system drawings on page 10. Not only
will they help with system design, but if you look at them backwards you may
nd a hidden message (NOT!).
As you have probably gured out by now, The Epicenter Plus needs to be
installed in the signal path between a source and an external amplier(s). If your
factory installed audio system has an amplier, then use the speaker wires after
the factory amplier to feed a signal into The Epicenter Plus.
The Epicenter Plus also works the best when it receives a full range signal. If
you feel your bass response is somewhat lackluster, then the frequency response
of the signal you are feeding The Epicenter Plus may be too low. Try nding a
full range signal or use an AudioControl LC6i to sum the signals together.
Once this is done, you just need to hook up power, ground, trigger, run the
wire to the dash remote and tada!!! Instant bass. If you need to know more,
then read on. Heck if you don’t think you need to know more, you should still
read on, because you can never know too much.
Figure 1: Basic Installation Of The Epicenter Plus
We now return you to your normal owner’s manual…
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A GUIDED TOUR OF The Epicenter Plus
The Outside
1. Auxiliary Input: This RCA connection can accept any two-channel audio
signal that comes from secondary source devices like an iPod, MP3 player, or
Satellite radio. To activate this input, you need to tap the dash control and The
Epicenter Plus will switch between the main inputs and this auxiliary input. The
LED indicator above the “Aux Input” will identify when this input is being used.
2. Speaker-level Inputs: If you would like to use The Epicenter Plus with a
factory-installed source you will be happy to know that it is equipped with AudioControl’s high impedance speaker-level inputs. These inputs should get their
signals from the full-range speaker-level outputs of your factory-installed source
unit or amplier. If your source unit has front, rear, and subwoofer speaker-level
outputs, then you may need to use an AudioControl LC6i, LC7 or LC8 to sum
these signals together.
3. Audio Pre-Amp Inputs: The pre-amp inputs of The Epicenter Plus use a
balanced input circuit to help minimize induced noise. They are also designed
to handle very high signal voltages up to 15 volts!! When these inputs are
activated, the “Main Inputs” LED will be Red. When using these inputs you will
want to provide The Epicenter Plus with a full range signal.
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Figure 2: The Epicenter Plus top cover
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