In this article: I'll unbox and review AudioControl's The Epicenter bass restoration processor and their EPIC2000 compact amplifier. I'll provide my first impressions, call out all of the key features and configurations and detail how they connect and work together to produce clean, powerful bass

Enhancing your car's bass performance can be a game-changer for your entire sound system. But bass isn't created equal and it can be difficult to pull and amplify a clean signal from a vehicle for use in a powerful bass setup.

AudioControl's The Epicenter Digital Bass Restoration Processor, paired with the EPIC2000 Monoblock Amplifier, is designed to deliver just that – a clean, optimized bass signal that can be used to get powerful bass with whatever subwoofer setup you have or want. Check out our top list of subwoofers if you're still searching for the perfect sub.

In this review, I'll dive into the unboxing experience for both the EPIC2000 amp and The Epicenter and explore the standout features of both products. I'll highlight how they can work together to optimize your vehicle's bass output and sound quality and why it's important. Then, I'll talk about how The Epicenter complements the amplifier and how they work together to produce an optimized output for your subwoofers. By the end of this review, you'll have the information you need to make a decision on whether this setup and either of these products are a good choice for you.

The Epicenter Bass Restoration Processor by AudioControl

AudioControl The Epicenter Top view unboxed
The Epicenter Bass Restoration Processor

What is a Bass Restoration Processor and Who is it For?

Before we dive into the unboxing of The Epicenter, let's talk about what a bass restoration processor is and what it does. The Epicenter Digital Bass Restoration Processor is a specialized tool designed to restore and enhance the bass frequencies in your car audio system. Unlike a standard bass boost or equalizer, The Epicenter specifically focuses on rebuilding/optimizing low-frequency ranges that may be missing from your music due to compression, poor recording quality, or limitations in factory audio systems. Bass Restoration Processors don't just add more bass, they bring back the depth and richness of your music’s low end in a way that feels natural and balanced.

What Does The Epicenter Do?

At its core, The Epicenter focuses on two primary tasks:

  1. Bass Restoration:
    It analyzes the incoming audio signal from your head unit and detects where low-frequency information is weak or missing. It then restores and enhances those frequencies, giving your music a fuller, richer sound.
  2. Bass Customization:
    It allows you to fine-tune the restored bass to match your specific system and listening preferences. This feature makes it easy to tailor the bass response for different genres or subwoofer setups.

Who is The Epicenter For?

The Epicenter is a great addition for anyone who:

  • Loves Bass: If you’re someone who enjoys bass-heavy music genres like hip-hop, EDM, or reggae, The Epicenter ensures that your system delivers the deep, resonant bass those tracks demand.
    But the Epicenter, and other bass restoration processors, is particularly beneficial for bringing bass to life in specific genres of music like 70-80s rock or punk but also Spanish music like Banda and Corridos that fundamentally lack bass.
  • Uses Compressed Music Sources: Many digital audio files, streaming services, and factory head units compress audio, stripping away some of the low-end frequencies. The Epicenter restores those missing details, making it a great addition for those who rely on these sources for a bass signal.
    • Frequent Satellite Radio Listeners: Satellite radio is a great example of a compressed audio source that lacks low bass. The Epicenter can help restore the lacking bass in Satellite Radio audio sources.
  • Factory Audio System Limits Low Frequencies: Modern factory audio systems often limit bass and low frequencies across the volume spectrum. The Epicenter can help to restore bass and give you back control over the low-end frequencies that might be lacking at all volume levels.
  • Seeks System Optimization: Even high-end aftermarket systems can benefit from The Epicenter. Its ability to clean and enhance bass signals ensures your subwoofers are working with the best possible input for maximum performance.

Unboxing The Epicenter

Now that we've walked through what The Epicenter does and how it works, let unpack it and see what it's all about!

When you first open up The Epicenter's packaging, you're greeted with the instructions. Underneath you'll find the sleek, compact unit. You can tell it's designed to be flexibly mounted so that you can integrate it seamlessly into your car audio setup, wherever that might be (in the trunk, under a seat, etc).

The unit feels solid, and durable – consistent with many of the other AudioControl products I've opened up. The outer casing appears to be coated with an anti-corrosive material. I wouldn't consider this a super-compact unit – there's The Epicenter Micro that is significantly smaller. That said it's pretty small and definitely capable of mounting in tight spaces.

On the front of the unit, you'll see the lighted display on the top left corner, which lights up when power is on (also flashes to the beat or to peaks in the input signal) and and then two controls: wide and sweep for configuring the unit. All in all the unit is fairly simple between the two configurations, inputs/outputs and power/ground/remote. AudioControl also included a power connector – I always prefer to see power connectors as well, rather than directly connected wire on any amplifier or processor.

One thing I noticed while familiarizing myself with The Epicenter is the absence of an in-line speaker signal input, which would allow for a direct signal integration from a factory head unit. If this functionality is important for your setup, I’d suggest considering the Epicenter Micro as an alternative

Let's check out what's in the box.

The Epicenter whats in the box

In the Box

  • The Epicenter processor
  • ACR-1 Remote Level Control
  • Power connector
  • Tuning ‘pick'
  • User manual & Warranty information

Key Features of The Epicenter

AudioControl uses a lot of patented technology in their processors and amplifiers. I think it's a testament to a brand's dedication to innovation when you see various patented features (or clever marketing and IP protection, but typically the former). Let me break down some of the key features of The Epicenter that I think are distinguishable and impactful, where you can find them on the unit (when applicable), and how those features impact your bass.

Patented Bass Maximizer

AudioControl's Bass Maximizer™ is one of those core features that I think is important to get into detail about. It's proprietary tech and hardware (e.g. circuitry) that's designed to enhance bass and low frequency performance. It's among the stand-out features of The Epicenter, and its primary purpose is to restore and amplify bass frequencies that may be lost or diminished during transmission (e.g. hardware limitation), audio compression or in poorly mastered recordings.

So how does it actually work? Let's talk about it! You can break this feature out into two high-level parts:

  1. Analysis and Detection:
    • It first scans the incoming audio signal and injects bass at an octave below the lowest note in the incoming signal. It primarily affects the signal from 27Hz to 1kHz with the impact being focused on adding bass between 27-63Hz.
  2. Restoration and Enhancement:
    • Once it has detected missing or degraded bass frequencies, Bass Maximizer™ reconstructs and amplifies them. The process adds significantly more depth and richness to the music and really optimizes the output.

AudioControl's Bass Maximizer™ tech really embodies and enables the fundamental purpose of this type of processor – its ability to rebuild bass frequencies rather than simply boosting them – I think that's a distinguishing point here. Competing products and many features that are built-into amplifiers frequently rely on basic bass boost features that can distort or overload your amplifier and system, whereas the Bass Maximizer™ optimizes the signal for a clean and precise output to your amplifier, like the EPIC2000 and ultimately the subwoofer.

Para-BASS™ aka Parametric Bass Control

The Epicenter Para-Bass Control Closeup
Closeup of the Para-BASS controls – wide and sweep

Para-BASS™ is another patented feature developed by AudioControl to provide precision and customizable bass control in your car's system. Not all listeners have the same bass preference and not all vehicles are created equal. AudioControl knew this, and build in controls like their Para-BASS™ to allow you to match the bass response to your specific subwoofer system and vehicle acoustics, but also your preference.

At the core of Para-BASS™ are two key controls: SWEEP and WIDE.

  • SWEEP: This knob selects the center frequency of the bass boost, ranging from 27Hz to 63Hz. This allows you to target a specific low-frequency range where your system may need enhancement.
  • WIDE: This control adjusts how broad or narrow the affected frequency range is. A lower setting creates a tighter boost around the center frequency, while a higher setting expands the range, covering more of the bass spectrum.

It's pretty easy to set up too – simply select the frequency center point that you're looking to enhance (between 27Hz and 63Hz) via the “SWEEP” control and then set the frequency range via the “WIDE” control knob. For example, if you're using an RTA Microphone to tune your system and notice that your 30-100Hz frequency range is weaker compared to other frequencies in your frequency curve. You would set the SWEEP to around 90% full (to set the center point around 60Hz), then set the WIDE to about 15% on the dial to create a focus range of ~30-100Hz (~70Hz ‘wide').

What stands out about this feature is that Para-BASS™ is a parametric control rather than a simple frequency boost like I've seen on so many monoblock amplifiers or bass enhancement tools. This means that you can adjust both the frequency range that you'd like to control and boost amount. This combination of frequency range + boost amount is definitely not as common and provides a significant advantage for audio enthusiasts who want finer precision in their bass tuning.

Programmable Frequency Match (PFM) Subsonic Filter

The Epicenter PFM Closeup
Closeup of the PFM module

Another helpful feature, although might have a little redundancy with some amplifier's crossovers and subsonic filter controls is the PFM filter. PFM sort of acts as a high-pass filter, or commonly referred to as subsonic filter. It blocks ultra-low frequencies (below a user-defined threshold) from reaching your subwoofers. Sometimes, these low frequencies are often inaudible, unexpected and unnecessary and can cause subwoofer distortion or mechanical stress/waste. So having this added layer of protection can be beneficial.

This feature is particularly helpful with ported or vented enclosures, since a subwoofer playing below the tuning frequency of the ported/vented enclosure is like a sub playing without a box at all. AudioControl also has a PDF that explains how to build your own PFM filter. Check out the PFM and Crossover Modules from AudioControl.

Although it's ‘programmable', you'll need to reach out to your local AudioControl dealer or AudioControl themselves to change the module and therefore change the PFM's filter frequency. You'll also need to remove the top of the chassis to replace it (simple four screws).

Dash-Mount Remote Control (ARC-1)

Although it might seem like the Epicenter's control knob is redundant with a bass level control at first, The Epicenter's remote controls the amount of bass restoration applied by The Epicenter in real-time, where as an amplifier's remote controls the actual bass output level. It serves a distinct purpose that can complement each other when used together in the same system. A nice addition though to be able to control this on the fly.

Other Signal & Installation Configurations

The Epicenter Circuit Board

While I have the chassis cover off, it's worth noting a couple other configurable settings on the unit, namely:

  1. Bass Output – allows you to increase or decrease the signal voltage output to your amplifier between 2v and 10v+. Think of this as a gate that limits how much voltage will flow through to your downstream amplifiers. E.g. if the source signal from your head unit is 2V and this setting is at 5V, the overall signal voltage should not exceed 7V.
  2. Ground Isolation Jumper – to help with any wine, humm or other feedback that you might be hearing because of a ground issue or grounding differences between your amplifier and The Epicenter. To be more specific, this will affect the ground path of the signal.
    • 200Ω – In this setting the ground from the RCA's and ground from the Epic Link are combined through 200Ω of resistance.
    • ISO – the two grounds in this configuration are kept totally separate or ‘isolated'.
    • Ground – This setting combines the two grounds together.
  3. Input Grounding – great for advanced or complicated systems were the source unit might look for grounded RCAs.

AudioControl's EPIC2000 Monoblock Amplifier

Unboxing the EPIC2000 Monoblock Amplifier

AudioControl EPIC2000 In Box Front

Onto the amplifier! The, EPIC2000 arrives well packaged and protected. The outer packaging provides a variety of specs and information, making it easy to understand what you're getting into if you're picking one off the shelf. When you begin to open up the box, you're first greeted with the manual. Underneath that and a protective foam top, is the amplifier.

What stood out to me initially was the compact design. It's pretty is impressive, considering the 2000W/1400W RMS output ratings this thing has at their respective 1ohm/2ohm resistance. I remember the days when a 1000W amplifier would take up a couple square feet, so having 1400W @ 2ohms amp packed into a 6.1″ W x 12.56″ L x 2.01″ H chassis really shows how far along Class D tech has come in the past decade. It's heavy and dense too – it feels stout and well built.

From a control panel and power panel perspective, the EPIC2000 is pretty straight forward – you won't find any gold plated RCA connectors, fancy control knobs or wire connectors and switches. Straight-to-the-point controls and connections – sometimes less is more!

In the Box

  • EPIC2000 amplifier
  • ACR-E Remote Level Control
  • The Epicenter Link cable
  • Mounting hardware
  • Quick start guide
  • Tuning ‘pick'
  • Warranty information
AudioControl EPIC2000 whats in the box

Key Features of the EPIC2000 Amplifier

I think what I like a lot of AudioControl's products is their attention to signal and power cleanliness/quality rather than fancy features that don't really do much for the user. What I mean is, they don't just focus on raw power output and wattage ratings, they emphasize how their amplifiers and other amplification products create clean, dynamic and distortion-free audio. They do this through a blend of both standard and proprietary features in their processors and amplifiers.

Let's take a closer look at some of the core features that are important to understand the EPIC2000 and its capabilities.

EPICBoost™ Variable Frequency Bass Boost

AudioControl EPIC2000 EPICBOOST
Closeup of the EPICBOOST controls

One of the first features that caught my attention is AudioControl's EPICBoost™, a variable bass boost control that allows you to adjust the intensity and frequency of the unit's bass boost. Unlike many amplifiers that offer a fixed bass boost, EPICBoost™ lets you target a specific frequency range and apply a tailored boost to enhance it.

Why does this matter? It’s especially useful if your subwoofer or enclosure has a specific “sweet spot” in the bass frequency range. For example, you could emphasize the punchier bass around 50 Hz for hip-hop or lower frequencies around 30 Hz for deep, cinematic basslines. This flexibility helps you really fine-tune your system to suit your musical preferences without overwhelming or muddying the sound.

You also might be asking yourself, what's the difference between Para-BASS™ on The Epicenter and EPICBoost™? Well, think of what each of the two products are optimizing and influencing – The Epicenter is optimizing the signal to your amplifier, so its Para-BASS™ is used when you need to restore and shape the bass frequencies in your system. The EPIC2000 amplifier is amplifying and optimizing the signal from The Epicenter to your subwoofer, so EPICBoost™ is used to amplify specific bass frequencies and really maximize your subwoofer’s performance at a given volume/level. Here's a quick demonstration of where these features sit.

Epicenter Epic Feature Flow Para-BASS and EPICBOOST

High-Power Class D Monoblock Design

The EPIC2000 is a class D amplifier, which is well-suited for producing high power levels without excessive heat or energy waste. In particular, D class amps are beneficial for subwoofer and monoblock applications because of the raw amount of power they produce and even more beneficial for a system where space and cooling is limited. Thus the compact design. Check out our Amplifier Classes Defined article for more information on the various amp classes.

AudioControl EPIC2000 The Epicenter Link
Closeup of The Epicenter Link on the EPIC2000 amp

Here's one of the other stand-out features of the Epic amplifiers that I think is important for those who are interested in leveraging The Epicenter in conjunction with this amp. AudioControl incorporated “The Epicenter Link” directly onto the power panel on their EPIC2000 amp. This link allows you to simply plug The Epicenter directly into the amplifier for power, ground and remote, reducing installation time and wiring! It will ensure that the amplifier and The Epicenter are both using the same power, remote and ground. Ground is especially important with this link – by tying the two units together, you can ensure that the ground and voltage don't differ at all which will help to reduce or eliminate any ground-related interference or alternator wine.

This simple feature especially resonates with me because I have spent hours troubleshooting ground and voltage-difference interference between processors, EQs and amplifiers only to find out that there's a slight difference in voltage between the two or a ground quality issue with my EQ or processor. So personally, I think every amplifier should have this type of feature to encourage installers and amateurs to tie power and ground between amps and processors together at all times. It also helps protect The Epicenter since it's a fused power source!

Synergy Between The Epicenter and EPIC2000

Epicenter EPIC2000 connected on mock test bench (annotated)

And finally, let me get into some of the synergies between these two units and why they're a great pair.

For me, what makes AudioControl’s Epicenter and EPIC2000 such a great pair is how seamlessly they complement each other to deliver powerful, clean, and customizable bass. While both have some distinct features and purposes, I think that the level of control and signal/output performance that this combo produces is hard to achieve with other setups without dropping significant $$ on adding other in-line processors and DSPs.

Let me break down how I see these two connecting together, play well together, and which features complement each other.

How Are they Wired Together?

Wiring diagram showing the epicenter wired to an EPIC2000 amplifier from instructions
Wiring diagram from the EPIC2000 manual showing The Epicenter wired to an EPIC2000 amplifier. Source: EPIC2000 owner's manual

Wiring The Epicenter and EPIC2000 together is super straightforward. AudioControl designed the two for a seamless integration with the amplifier's Epicenter Link. The process begins with the audio signal from your head unit, whether it’s a factory or aftermarket system. If you're using an aftermarket head unit, RCA cables are typically used to send the signal to The Epicenter. For factory systems, you might want to consider The Epicenter Micro, which has speaker-level inputs, making it easy to integrate without requiring additional adapters. Once The Epicenter receives the signal, it processes and enhances the bass using its Bass Maximizer™ and Para-BASS™ technologies. **Note that The Epicenter must be fed a full range signal input – it is not designed to use a sub-out signal.**

The processed signal is then sent via RCA cables from The Epicenter’s outputs directly to the EPIC2000 amplifier’s inputs. The EPIC2000 amplifies this restored bass signal and delivers it to your subwoofer(s), ensuring clean and powerful low-end performance. Both The Epicenter and EPIC2000 also have dedicated remote controls—ACR-1 for The Epicenter to adjust bass restoration, and ARC-E for the amplifier to control the overall bass output. Installing these remotes on your dashboard gives you real-time control over your system, allowing for quick adjustments based on the music or your preferences.

Bass Restoration Meets Amplification

Let's talk about your bass signal and the amplification of that signal. The Epicenter focuses on restoring lost bass frequencies through its Bass Maximizer™ and Para-BASS™ features. These technologies help you to rebuild and enhance the low frequencies that often get compressed or filtered out in recordings or factory sound systems. It's what helps you adjust the sound of your bass to meet the needs of your system/environment/preferences, ensuring the cleanest and most optimized signal before it reaches the subwoofer's amplifier.

The EPIC2000 amplifier, on the other hand, takes that restored/optimized bass signal and then amplifies it using additional tools like EPICBoost™. This ensures that the enhanced signal is delivered cleanly and powerfully to your subwoofers.

Together, these two devices tackle different aspects of bass optimization:

  • The Epicenter ensures the signal has the depth and richness you want.
  • The EPIC2000 ensures that signal reaches your subwoofers with power and clarity.

Layered Bass Level Control

Another cool standout feature of this combination is the layered bass level control you get at your dash with the two remotes:

  • The Epicenter’s ACR-1 Remote lets you adjust how much bass restoration is applied to your signal in real-time.
  • The EPIC2000’s ARC-E Remote gives you control over the subwoofer output level, allowing you to tweak the overall bass volume independently depending on the type of song/music that you're listening to at that moment.

Although it might be better suited for audio enthusiasts and professionals, this sort of dual-control setup helps you get the most out of your system and is particularly useful if you listen to a variety of music genres or want the ability to adapt your system on the fly. But it can also wreak havoc on your subwoofers if not used properly.

EPICBoost™ and Para-BASS™: Complementary Tools

I outlined this earlier in the article, EPICBoost™ and Para-BASS™ might seem similar in that they both boost/reduce target frequency ranges but they’re actually designed to work together.

  • Para-BASS™ is focused on restoring and shaping the bass frequencies, providing a tailored and natural sound.
  • EPICBoost™ adds an extra layer of control, letting you amplify specific bass frequencies based on your subwoofer’s strengths or musical preferences.

Together, they ensure your bass is both well-defined and impactful.

Final Thoughts

I think AudioControl stands out for their innovative and integrated products. The Epicenter and EPIC2000 are not just standalone products – they’re tools designed to work together to bring out the best in your system and give dynamic controls to ensure that your bass optimized for your vehicle and personal preferences. A good example of this integrated concept is “The Epicenter Link” that's built directly into the Epic amplifier.

Whether you’re a casual listener or a bass enthusiast, I think this pairing gives you the flexibility to restore, shape, and amplify bass in a way that feels personalized and refined. I would note that the casual music listener reading this might want to continue their education around amplifier tuning, setting gains, and more before diving head first into configuring this combination themselves. I highly recommend letting a professional install this setup on your behalf. It's also worth recommending that a minimal change on The Epicenter control knob goes a long way and is easy to over-do. However, when configured properly, this is a tough combination to beat for your subwoofers.

In my view, combining The Epicenter’s restoration capabilities with the EPIC2000’s integrated and amplification features creates a system that’s not only powerful but also finely tuned to deliver distortion-free, car-shaking bass regardless of the genre or music source. If you’re serious about optimizing your subwoofer setup, this combination is worth considering.