Kicker ZX Bass Knob Question - WTF is going on?

[SeanDub 10+ year member]

I purchased a ZX2500.1 to run my DD 9510, and I've had them in for about a week. The other day I bought a ZX bass knob because one from an SX amp I had didn't have the right shape/size clip-in piece. So anyway, I hooked it up this morning and well, to say the least, I was completely confused by it's effect.

When I plug it into the amp the bass immediately diminishes a great deal, to the point where it is almost inaudible. When I unplug it, the bass returns to normal. Then I plug it back in, bass goes away again. I turn the bass knob gain up to 11 (1-11 scale) and the bass returns to the level it was at before plugging the bass knob in.

So to clear things up, he is an easier way to see it, with completely made up numbers:

Before bass knob - 130dB

With bass knob - 100dB

Without bass knob - 130dB

With bass knob at 11 - 130dB

So my question is this: what sense does this make? Is this how Kicker designs their bass knobs? Is mine just screwed up? I had an IA 20.1 w/bass knob and nothing of this sort happened - when I plugged the bass knob in volume stayed the same, and when I turned it up, volume increased accordingly.

Anybody have any experience with ZX bass knobs, Kicker bass knobs, or this problem?

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[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

As I have no direct experience with any of the KX-series monoblocks I do not know if this applies so take this with a grain of salt -

Perhaps it works the same way as the remote controller for my Diamond Audio monoblock in that it isn't a "bass knob" but more a remote gain adjustment. That's how the one for my D61500.1 works - it's a remote gain adjustment. The remote knob cranked wide open will be the exact same thing as the gain setting on the amp.

Anything less than that, obviously, is going to be somewhat less than what the amp is set for.

Just my $0.02 ~

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

Bass knobs dont increase the volume of the bass, they're only designed to decrease the volume from max set by your gains.

Full on it should be as loud as before you installed it.

 

[whitemax 10+ year member]

You guys hit it on the head. I've had many Kickers amps, and that's the way the remote gain worked. The maximum level with the knob will go with what actual gain control on the amp is set at.

 

[brtnboarder3241 5,000+ posts]

i had a kicker amp and the x over on it or something had to be set to low or w.e lol all iremember is the switch was to the left..s

 

[SeanDub 10+ year member]

Huh. Well, thanks guys, I guess I was just expecting it to work differently since the ones I've had in the past have worked differently. Alright, well, thanks again for the input, as always.

 

[brtnboarder3241 5,000+ posts]

hmmm..i remember my bass knob worked fine..:/