Se você é um motorista de carro que gosta de ter o melhor sistema de som possível, principalmente com graves sólidos e naturais, talvez seja necessário conferir o Epicenter.
Mas o que é um epicentro no áudio do carro e como ele funciona? Vamos descobrir abaixo.
Geralmente, o Epicenter detecta os harmônicos de graves e recria digitalmente as baixas frequências, oferecendo o incrível impacto e impacto da música ao vivo. O Epicenter é o elemento-chave de muitos sistemas de som profissionais, permitindo graves mais fortes e altos. No artigo abaixo, vou aprofundar a funcionalidade do Epicenter e explicar os métodos de instalação.
Qual é o objetivo de um epicentro no áudio automotivo?
A principal razão pela qual os epicentros estão sendo instalados nos sistemas de áudio do carro é a reprodução dos tons mais baixos removidos durante o processo de produção musical.
Como você sabe, os tons baixos adicionam dinâmica à música mudando completamente a experiência de áudio.
Um sistema de áudio automotivo padrão com apenas um auto-rádio e alto-falantes não pode reproduzir um som de profundidade total.
Com um epicentro de áudio do carro instalado no sistema de áudio do carro e com a ajuda de um amplificador de carro adicional, você poderá reproduzir tons profundos do seu subwoofer que você não sabia que existia.
Epicentro de controle de áudio vs. Soundstream. Qual é melhor?
Epicentros do controle de áudio e o
Soundstream são mais comumente instalados em sistemas de áudio de carro, mas eles são os mesmos?
Eles funcionam da mesma maneira e são semelhantes, mas…
O Soundstream é mais econômico, então seus componentes têm qualidade inferior e materiais mais baratos que o AudioControl.
AudioControl tem tudo a ver com qualidade, e esta empresa é realmente boa nisso. Todos os novos produtos têm uma garantia de fábrica de cinco anos, e isso deve dizer tudo. Além disso, o design do Audio Control Epicenter é menos sofisticado e mais profissional do que o Soundstream.
Quando se trata de produtos, AudioControl oferece dois modelos, mas completamente diferentes:
- O Epicentro – instalado no porta-malas ou próximo ao amplificador
- O Epicenter INDASH – instalado na área do traço
Embora o Soundstream tenha vários modelos diferentes na oferta, na verdade é uma unidade Epicenter idêntica por dentro, mas em caixas de cores diferentes, o que pode parecer legal, mas não soa melhor que o AudioControl.
A principal diferença entre o AudioControl e o Soundstream é o preço, que é a única vantagem do Soundstream.
Se você não se importa em gastar mais no produto de melhor qualidade, vá para AudioControl.
Caso contrário, se você estiver no orçamento e ainda quiser ter melhores graves do subwoofer, a escolha certa seria o Soundstream.
Como você afina um amplificador e um epicentro?
Os epicentros são equipados com dois controles básicos, a “varredura” e a “largura”.
Ajustar esses controles permite otimizar o desempenho para o tipo de veículo, tamanho e necessidades individuais com base no tipo de música.
O controle “sweep” permite que você escolha a frequência central, que varia de 27 Hertz a 63 Hertz, e deve corresponder à frequência de pico do seu subwoofer.
Quando você escolhe as frequências próximas ao topo, os graves ficarão mais curtos e você sentirá mais um soco do que apenas vibrações mais longas, mas mais suaves.
Por outro lado, a “largura” permite controlar a forma do filtro em torno da frequência de varredura centralizada.
In other words, it makes boosted frequencies broader or narrower around the central point selected by “sweep.”
Remember that both settings will be different for the different types of music you listen to. For example, for a rock, you will hear a lot of extra basses, especially for short drums kicks.
Therefore, you’ll likely need to select higher “sweep,” lower “width,” and longer decay than for electronic music where the bass is not so wide.
Settings are also different for sealed subwoofers versus bandpass or ported enclosures because of the various bass types they produce.
How Do You Set the Control Epicenter?
Setting the Epicenter is not complicated, but there are a few rules you have to remember about if you want to achieve the best results and how strong you want the bass to become.
To do it right, there are two bass controls outside the box, and they control the Para-Bass functions of The Epicenter, which I already mentioned earlier.
- The “Sweep” knob allows you to pick the center frequency that you want The Epicenter bass restoration circuit to maximize, and this should match the peak frequency subwoofer enclosure was designed for. The adjustable frequency range is between 27 and 63 Hz.
- The “Width” control then allows you to control the shape of the filter centered around the “sweep” frequency.
That is is when it comes to the outside control, there is more inside the Epicenter:
Input Grounding
For most systems, you can leave this set in the balanced position, but it can sometimes happen that the car radio may “search” for the ground through the RCA connectors.
In this case, you should change it to the unbalanced position, but again this is rare, and you may not experience it at all in your car audio system.
Ground Isolation
Ground Isolation makes alternative grounding connections, and it reduces the whine effect that may occur when the source unit and amplifier use different grounding.
Before adjusting to the ground isolation settings, remember to double-check that the audio system is turned off.
Bass Output Control
Because not all systems are designed the same, there may be differences between the SPL (sound pressure level) in various subwoofers.
Bass Output Control can either increase or decrease the signal voltage of the bass restoration circuit to make the sounds of the best quality.
The Epicenter’s factory-recommended settings are based on the subwoofer’s size:
PFM Subsonic Filter
This filter has been designed to protect the speakers from playing too low frequencies that could cause their damage.
The filter is fully programmable, and it allows you to adjust the PFM roll-off frequency to whatever you choose.
The factory-installed module at 33Hz will work with most subwoofers, but in case of any smellers that do not support the 33Hz, you may need to raise this value to approx. 3dB higher than the bottom frequency of the specific subwoofer.
To change the PFM frequency, you need to remove the top of the chassis and change the modules inside the device.
Can I Use Epicenter in the Car Without a Knob?
Standard knobs used in amplifiers are not needed for correct amplifier functioning, and they are often a nice to have rather than the required device.
However, when it comes to the Epicenter, it will not function without a knob as expected, and when the knob is not connected, the system puts the Epicenter into a bypass mode as a default.
In other words, if you do not have the Epicenter knob connected, the Epicenter effect is off, and when looking at the lighting at its top cover, it will be turned off.
The Epicenter remote knob controls the effect added to the existing signal and is needed for correct functioning.
The more you turn it up, the more bass frequencies are added to your audio signal, and if you turn it all way down, it adds almost no additional bass frequencies to the audio signal.
How Do You Set a Wide and Sweep Epicenter?
You may want to set a wide epicenter so that you can achieve more coverage in the car.
To do this, you first select your primary center frequency by adjusting the “sweep” control at 27 Hertz, then turn the “width” to the middle.
The car subwoofer manufacturer will recommend their own car subwoofer setting configurations for each car audio system. This is because every car audio engine differs, as well as music listening genres.
For example, an epicenter used with hip-hop music should be set to a different frequency than when associated with rock or jazz.
First, you have to set the “sweep” to match the peak frequency for the subwoofer.
After that, set the “width” to increase the car subwoofer’s performance and adjust for the best audible effect. In most cases, it will be in the middle or slightly below, but it depends on the subwoofer’s construction and the music type.
How Do You Activate the Epicenter?
Activating the Epicenter is as easy as turning on the car stereo. When the car’s ignition is turned on, a power supply for all car electronics is activated and starts feeding voltage to car audio components.
However, many make a mistake during connection and ignore the importance of the remote wire.
The remote wire from the Epicenter has to be connected with the remote wire from the car stereo, which is the first step.
When your Epicenter’s power, ground, and remote wiring is correct, ensure that the
RCA signal wires are connected from the stereo.
After turning the radio on, you should see the lights on the Epicenter, which means it has been activated and receives the audio signals.
Conclusão
Epicenter is a small device that reproduces the lower tones to their original level and is especially needed for the older tracks.
Installation is straightforward, and the Epicenter has to be connected right after the signal source, which is in most cases the car stereo, but definitely before any crossover or equalizer.
Epicenter works the best when it receives most of the original signal and sends it for further amplification.
If you want to give it a try, this tiny device from AudioControl will put your music experience in the car to a different level.
