Customer Ratings & Reviews

Features Galore

Quality amplifier from a reputable company. High-grade materials and manufacturing combined with industry-leading bass restoration create a true sound quality focused amplifier. Certified power ratings ensure that the unit is being used to its full potential.

What separates the AudioControl Epicenter 600 & 1200 amplifiers from run-of-the-mill units are the vast array of features included in the amp.

The built-in Epicenter bass restoration will restore low bass frequencies, and you will be hearing notes in your favorite songs that you have never heard before! (specifically pre-1980s rock music and EDM drastically improves). The drawback is that songs with strong bass tones (rap, hip-hop) and digitally enhanced vocals, the bass restoration will overpower these tones and pollute the sound. In this case, just keep the restoration low.

The speaker-level inputs make connecting to an OEM system simple and accurate. The GTO Signal Sense feature is great as well, providing an automatic turn-on for the amp when an audio signal is sensed, and removing the requirement of a remote wire. The ACR-3 remote allows for both subwoofer level and bass restoration to be adjusted from a single dial. (see ease of use)

For troubleshooting, the amplifier also comes with a handy "diagnostics system", consisting of various LEDs, that notify the user if a short or other fault as occurred.

Ease of Use - 3*
Over the past month of using this amplifier, i noticed three main issues with the ease of use...

The first issue is with the screws that hold the cover plate on. The design requires the screws to be loosened 90% before the lid can be removed, causing the screws to fall out often, and have a potential for loss. Unfortunately, once the screws are completely loosened, the cover plate, more often than not, will still be stuck to the unit, forcing the user to pry it up with their fingers or a flat-head. Once the cover plate is removed, it is just as hard to get on as it was to get off. This is a major design flaw that makes any adjustments time-consuming.

Second, the 4GA power/ground wire terminals are sized pretty tight, preventing strands of slightly oversized wire from securing (and possibly touching the "remote wire" terminal preventing the amplifier from turning off!).

Finally, (and the biggest issue) is with the ACR-3 remote. I'm not sure if mine came wired backwards from the manufacturer, or if the color of the LED callouts in the manual were reversed, but it took me weeks to figure out the problem. In the manual, they specify that the BLUE light adjusts restoration, and the RED light adjusts the subwoffer level. This was incorrect on my remote. I now have to remember "RED is for Restoration, and BLUE is for Bass.

This amplifier is best suited as a sound-quality amplifier. While it is very powerful and can handle high SPL woofers, it is not as cost-effective as other high-powered amps used for SPL. The outstanding build quality and value of combined features make this an attractive find for those looking for and "advanced" amplifier. This being AudioControls first attempt at an amplifier, quality control and design are still a working-progress, however at this price, its hard to beat industry-leading guts!

By John on April 8, 2016 Verified purchase