Epicenter...is it worth it?

[07maximan 10+ year member]

I listen to pretty much metal music all the time. Everything from early Black Sabbath to more modern stuff like Seether. Here's my issue,when I listen to,let's say Judas Priest, the bass is far less than if I listen to Creed.

Are bass reconstructive processors worth it? Sometimes even with the sub turned all the way up on the HU there isn't quite enough in some music. Any advice on this?

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[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Just don't listen to shitty bands.

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

The audio control version I have heard personally and they work great especially with rock...

 

[andrew2944r 10+ year member]

Work very well with alot of rock.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

That sort of thing helps a LOT with those older recordings.

I have used the Audiocontrol and am currently using the Zed Audio Ra. The Zed piece has more features, more flexibility, is a pre-amp with its own gain, and is lower MSRP. Also it is much more subtle effect, I found the Epic was often way too much even at the lowest setting.

I think PG and someone else make similar things...haven't tried either of them.

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

That sort of thing helps a LOT with those older recordings.
I have used the Audiocontrol and am currently using the Zed Audio Ra. The Zed piece has more features, more flexibility, is a pre-amp with its own gain, and is lower MSRP. Also it is much more subtle effect, I found the Epic was often way too much even at the lowest setting.

I think PG and someone else make similar things...haven't tried either of them.

Link to the zeds? PG's versions is the bass cube and there was one for sale earlier this week...

 

[07maximan 10+ year member]

Thanks for the help.

The Zed looks very nice. The only problem is I want something I can put in the trunk. I don't have any place to mount a unit on my dash.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

There is also the Orion Maxxbass and the MaxxBass from Waves Car Audio.

Personally they are useless. Use a better recording. 9 times out of 10 the file you have wasnt encoded properly especially if its MP3. Use something 240kbps and up. Even then you cant guarantee the music was encoded properly so make sure you get it from a legitimate and credible source.

 

[cleansoundzz 10+ year member]

Good information.

 

[BassAddictJ 5,000+ posts]

Use a better recording. 9 times out of 10 the file you have wasnt encoded properly especially if its MP3. Use something 240kbps and up. Even then you cant guarantee the music was encoded properly so make sure you get it from a legitimate and credible source.

File quality issues are quite common, especially you download most of your music. I have a pretty decent setup and it makes it ALOT easier to hear those imperfections in the encoding. Its incredible how drastic the difference is between certain files.

 

[Germ305 10+ year member]

^^This

 

[TheUnderFighter 10+ year member]

From what I've heard personally, they really work well for rock music especially. And yes, PG makes the bass cube, and that ZED one mentioned earlier sounds spiffy.

 

[vaiboy 10+ year member]

There is also the Orion Maxxbass and the MaxxBass from Waves Car Audio.
Personally they are useless. Use a better recording. 9 times out of 10 the file you have wasnt encoded properly especially if its MP3. Use something 240kbps and up. Even then you cant guarantee the music was encoded properly so make sure you get it from a legitimate and credible source.

You do realize the Epicenter has been around longer than portable MP3 players. The problem is most pre-90s rock and metal, wasn't mixed for a heavy bottom end. The heavy bass just isn't there on the old CDs, and that is what the epicenter was designed to fix. It doesn't matter what encoder or bitrates you use to compress a file, if the bass wasn't there to begin with, it won't be in the final product either.

 

[07maximan 10+ year member]

You do realize the Epicenter has been around longer than portable MP3 players. The problem is most pre-90s rock and metal, wasn't mixed for a heavy bottom end. The heavy bass just isn't there on the old CDs, and that is what the epicenter was designed to fix. It doesn't matter what encoder or bitrates you use to compress a file, if the bass wasn't there to begin with, it won't be in the final product either.

This is exactly what Im talking about. When I listen to a Judas Priest song from the 80's and then something from lets say Seether,the bass difference is huge. Its not my system but a lack of bass in the material. Im in the process of trying to find a used bass enhancer right now. I really think Id benefit from one.

 

[cleansoundzz 10+ year member]

I just installed the Epicenter in my truck on Saturday and after 20 years of car audio, I wonder how I got along so long without it. 90% of the music that I listen to is oldies. I like R&B oldies, reggae and old rock hits. The epicenter is excellent for that kind of music. For me though I like the epicenter but not to extremes. With the bass set moderately and with restraint, the epicenter is perfect. For the newer music I don't use it at all. I have the epicenter in combination with my Audiocontrol 3.2 which in my mind is a perfect combination.

At first the Epicenter didn't blend in with my system. But once I turned down the gains on my Arc Audio KS 1200.1 and turned off the little bass boost that I used then the epicenter came alive in my system. Everything blends in better. Again the epicenter in moderation works perfectly for me.