Is there a proper way to use a bass knob?

[Supergumby5000 5,000+ posts]

I want to use a bass knob in my new setup, just for an easy access way to quickly turn down the bass. However, I've never really used a bass knob before.

Is there a "correct" way to use it? Every time i have messed around with a bass knob, i lose all output from my amp. As soon as i unplug the cat-5 cable that goes to the bass knob, everything works again.......

Anyways, if there is a "correct" way to use this bass knob, please let me know. I dont want to send bad signal to my drivers, but ide really like to use one of these.

I figured if i plugged the knob in, turned it all the way up, and then set my gains accordingly, it should work effectively, would it not?

Click to read more...

 

[groundpound4200 5,000+ posts]

some of them are remote gains

 

[Supergumby5000 5,000+ posts]

some of them are remote gains

hmm okay. I havent taken a close enough look at my autotek 4k yet to see what it exactly is

 

[Horsemanwill 10+ year member]

i'm thinkin the autotek 4k one is basically a remote gain knob with that you could leave the gain cranked at the amp and use the knob to "play" with the output

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

No you can't just "leave the gain cranked".

OP - you're correct in that you wire up the bass knob and set it to max. Then you set the gain on the amp. The knob allows you to turn it down from there without the risk of getting the gain higher than you can safely run it.

 

[rc10mike 10+ year member]

There are 2 types,

One that controls the overall volume of the amp.

One that controls the amount of boost as a certain frequency.

 

[spencer321 10+ year member]

some of the rockford power series and i believe the audiopipes allow you to choose the frequency your boosting in the bass control knob, its actually pretty cool if your subs lacking bottom end (and you don't care about its well being) set the boost to 30hz and let a rip lol

 

[rc10mike 10+ year member]

JL Slash amps have the best bass knobs!

 

[spencer321 10+ year member]

how so?

 

[Andrizzle 10+ year member]

how so?

cuz its the best. JL

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif

 

[Horsemanwill 10+ year member]

No you can't just "leave the gain cranked".
OP - you're correct in that you wire up the bass knob and set it to max. Then you set the gain on the amp. The knob allows you to turn it down from there without the risk of getting the gain higher than you can safely run it.

so your telling me that the way Eric Stevens told me to set my amp if i wanted to use the knob that came with is was incorrect?

 

[Jeremy M 10+ year member]

i think that's what he's saying.

 

[rc10mike 10+ year member]

JL amps let you control the Q (or width of the boost), the center freq all the way to 25hz, and the remote knob only controls the boost level. No other amp is as flexible.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

JL amps let you control the Q (or width of the boost), the center freq all the way to 25hz, and the remote knob only controls the boost level. No other amp is as flexible.

That's actually the most useless type of bass knob. Bass boost is worthless. Remote gain actually makes sense since it lets you turn the subs down.

so your telling me that the way Eric Stevens told me to set my amp if i wanted to use the knob that came with is was incorrect?

Am I supposed to bow in deference to to that name? Never heard of him. If that's what he told you about how to use a remote gain control, I'd ignore everything he tells you since he's either 100% wrong or you 100% misunderstood him.

 

[timaishu 10+ year member]

No you can't just "leave the gain cranked".
OP - you're correct in that you wire up the bass knob and set it to max. Then you set the gain on the amp. The knob allows you to turn it down from there without the risk of getting the gain higher than you can safely run it.

That makes alot of sense. I guess I would assume my remote is a gain knob as it can raise and lower the volume of the sub.

How will you know when you have reached the limit of your sub? I dont really know how to recognize a subwoofer distorting.