the subject pretty much sums up my question. you know how some amps have a volume control **** that you can mount on your dash etc to up or lower the bass? is that volume thing same as the gains on an amp?

 

Some amps have a remote gain. Some have a remote bass boost. I would assume that remote volume would be the same as remote gain.

 

I think Rockford Fosgate's ***** are actually remate gains. When we installed it in my friend's car, I played with it real quick and determined it to be that.

But the Alpine ***** are actually a remote fader; it only turns the volume down. Like it only tells the amp to play at a certain % of what the HU is telling it to, see what I mean?

Not sure about other brands, haven't used their *****.

 

Almost 99% of remote bass ***** are a bass boost, more like an EQ. Gain adjustments are to be set to the proper voltage coming from the radio/EQ/Line amplifier. The best way to put it is "the gain control is a level matching device." This should not be used as a volume control. Once you turn the gain up past the input voltage level, you will begin to have issues with noise, or distortion. Usually the remote bass controls are frequency adjustable to help with SPL. If you tune the frequency to that of your resonant freq. you will have an extra edge at some competitions. The best way to set that up is to use an SPL meter, and a test disc with individual frequency tones. With all settings flat, you will be able to find out what frequency your box and car work the most efficiently. I hope this clears it up for you.

 

If they are frequency adjustable than they are an eq boost, and probably give you a certain range of boost/cut +-8dB or so. If they don't, they are most likely gain adjustment. The proper way to set it up is to turn the remote all the way up, or remove it altogether, and set your amp gain as you would normally. Than add the remote. That way you will never send the amp into clipping.

 

According to descriptions on Crutchfield.com:
Alpine (RUX-4180): Volume Control
Audiobahn (ABR100T): Bass Boost
Bazooka (RBCM-EL): Volume Control
Bazooka (RBCM-RS): Gain Control
MTX (EBC): Gain Control
RF Remote Punch Bass Control (included with amps): Bass Boost (at 45Hz)
Kicker Remote Bass Control (included with amps): Volume Control

I believe the "volume control" ones are limited by the gain settings on the amp itself, whereas the "gain control" ones control the gain itself, but I'm just guessing; the "gain control" ones explicitly said gain in the descriptions.

 

thanks for the replies. yeah i was looking at a 400 watt mono fosgate and kicker amps, and each had a similar name while others, like kojiro's post are called other names.

kojiro, you said you installed an RF amp into your friends car and messed with the volume ****, did it only boost bass freq at 45 Hz or did it increase overall bass frequencies?

 

I didn't play with it that much to know. All I really did was notice that it does control the gain somewhat. Like, if you turn the **** all the way up before plugging it into the amp, then when you plug it in the sub got louder. I didn't think about it beyond that, but the RF description says bass boost at 45 Hz, so I would trust them more than me

The only reason I noticed the difference was because I originally thought it would be like my Alpine ****, but it wasn't. The Alpine **** is like an l-pad, just a variable attenuator: it will never boost or increase gain.

 

assuming you have a RF amp it night be the bass boost.My RF750X came with it and it's a bass ****.I think they only come on the power versions for rf amps and it's a bass boost not the gain/volume control

 

did you notice it the boost in all bass frequencies or just 45 Hz?

 

45Hz is the center frequency of the notch. The other frequencies will be boosted as well, but there will be a significant rolloff above or below 45Hz the magnitude of the boost depends on the slope of the filter.