AudioControl ACR-1 Review: A Simple Dash Remote for Bass

Is the AudioControl ACR-1 worth buying? If you already run a compatible AudioControl line output converter, processor or amplifier and want to change the bass level without leaving the driver's seat, yes, and at AudioControl's own price of $32 it is a fair deal. If you do not own one of those products, it does nothing for you. This is a brand-specific accessory, not a universal volume knob.

No newer version of the ACR-1 turned up in my research, and AudioControl still sells it as a current product. A separate knob, the ACR-E, exists for the company's EPIC series amplifiers only. The page template shows the verdict, pros, cons and full specifications, so this article concentrates on how the ACR-1 works, what the evidence says about it, and who should skip it.

How this review was made

This is a specification and research review. I did not buy, install, listen to or measure an ACR-1, and nothing below is a claim of hands-on use. I read AudioControl's product page, the ACR-1 user guide and the LC7i manual, compared them with retailer specification listings (Crutchfield in particular), and checked competing remote knobs on retailer pages. Owner comments come from retailer reviews and a few forum threads, and I label them as anecdotal wherever they appear. I could not find independent lab measurements for this product, so claims about sound or electrical behaviour rest on manufacturer and retailer data only.

Design and build

The ACR-1 is a small black dash control. According to AudioControl it measures 1.75 inches wide, 2.5 inches deep and 1.0 inch high, and weighs 2.3 oz (65.2 g). Crutchfield's listing gives slightly different dimensions, so treat the exact size as approximate if you are planning a tight mounting spot. AudioControl describes a metal housing with integrated mounting tabs that can be removed for a flush, custom install.

A two-colour LED sits on the face. Crutchfield's description says it glows brighter as you raise the output and dims as you lower it, which gives you a visual cue of where the control is set. The few retailer reviews I saw were positive about the feel. One owner comment republished on a retailer page called it solid, while another found the knob a little stiff and wished the LED went fully dark at the minimum setting. Those are single, anecdotal remarks, not a pattern. On AudioControl's own site the product shows 4.3 out of 5 from six reviews, which is too small a sample to lean on.

Features and usability

The user guide states that installation is simple and that no power connection is required, because the remote works through the host unit it plugs into. The cable is a 20 ft phone-style lead (listed as RJ-11 in the user guide, while Crutchfield lists an RJ-14 jack on the LC2i), so reach is generous in most cars.

What it controls depends on the host. AudioControl's LC7i manual says the ACR-1 adjusts the level of the channel 3 and subwoofer output. For the LC2i family, retailers describe it as the bass or sub channel control. On the Epicenter it serves as the replacement remote. AudioControl's current compatibility list includes the Epicenter Concert Series, LC2i, LC2i Pro, LC5i Pro, LC6i, LC7i, LC7i Pro, Matrix Plus, several LC-series and A-series amplifiers (LC-1.800, LC-1.1500, LC-4.800, LC-5.1300, LC-6.1200, A800.1, A1500.1, A600.4, A1100.5) and the ACM-1.300 and ACX-300.1, ACX-600.1 and ACX-650.5 amplifiers. Legacy support covers the LC6, LC8, Overdrive Plus, 6XS and the original Epicenter, though bypass is not supported on that last one.

Bundling matters here. AudioControl lists an ACR-1 as included with the LC2i PRO and with one LC2i bundle, while the plain LC2i lists it as optional. Check what came with your converter before buying a second knob.

Sound and performance

The ACR-1 makes no sound of its own, so performance here means how it changes the level of the unit it controls. Crutchfield's listing for the LC2i PRO gives the attenuation range as 0 dB to -19 dB, and its LC2i listing gives the same figure for the optional remote. That range is an attenuation, not a boost. Crutchfield also notes that on the LC2i PRO the remote will not raise the bass output past where the top-panel Bass Output Level dial is set, a design that protects the output stage from overload. I could not confirm the same behaviour in every host manual, so check yours.

The numbers are easy to misread. A drop of 19 dB leaves roughly 11 percent of the voltage, which is about 1.3 percent of the power, so the bottom of the range is very quiet but not a mute. The chart below converts the dB figures by calculation. It is not a measurement of the knob's taper, and I found no published taper or noise data.

Real-world quirks are mostly anecdotal. A forum poster setting up an LC7i years ago reported that bass seemed quieter with the remote plugged in until they turned the unit's own dial down, set the ACR-1 to maximum, and reconnected it. That is one old thread, but it points to a sensible habit: set the host unit's level first, then use the ACR-1 to trim downward from it. Another owner on a Civic forum felt the remote was a convenience rather than a necessity if you can still use the factory subwoofer control.

Setup, installation and daily use

AudioControl's user guide offers two mounting methods. For the bracket method, four screws attach it to the underside of a dash or console: hold it in place, mark the holes, drill pilot holes and secure it. For a flush mount, disassemble the remote and drill a 9/32 inch (7 mm) hole for the control, a 3/32 inch (2.3 mm) hole for the lock tab and a 1/8 inch (3 mm) hole for the LED, then reassemble on the panel. The guide advises placing it within the driver's reach where the LED is clearly visible. Whether mounting screws are packed in the box is not confirmed on AudioControl's product page, so have a few ready.

Safety and wiring notes. Before drilling any panel, check what sits behind it, including wiring harnesses and airbag components, and do not drill near airbag covers. Route the 20 ft cable away from the pedals, the steering column and any moving parts, and secure it so it cannot snag. The ACR-1 needs no power, but the converter or amplifier it controls does: use correctly sized wire, fuse the power lead close to the battery, and disconnect the battery's negative terminal before working on power wiring. AudioControl recommends an authorized installer for its products. I found no AudioControl guidance on extending the cable, so ask the company before splicing or adding a coupler.

How it compares

The knobs below are not interchangeable, since each works only with its own brand's amplifiers. The comparison is useful for judging price and features against what other brands bundle or sell, not for choosing one over another. If you own AudioControl gear, the ACR-1 is your option, and EPIC series owners should look at the ACR-E, which AudioControl lists at $39 for EPIC amplifiers only.

Model	Works with	Cable	Function	Price seen
AudioControl ACR-1	Select AudioControl converters, processors and amps	20 ft	Level or bass control, 0 to -19 dB on LC2i family; two-colour LED	$32 (AudioControl)
Rockford Fosgate PLC2	2013 and newer Punch amps, plus select Power amps	16.5 ft (one retailer; another lists 18 ft)	Attenuates from the on-board gain setting; dual-function LED (power and clipping)	$37.99 (Abt)
Kicker CXARC (46CXARCT)	Kicker CX, DX and PX amps with a remote bass jack, plus KEY500.1	19.75 ft	Remote bass level; LED not stated	$39.99 (Electronic Express)
JL Audio HD-RLC	JL Audio HD, XD, MHD and M-series amps	18 ft	Input gain attenuator for bass or overall level; LED not stated	$59.99 (Abt)

Competitor prices are single retailer listings I saw while researching, and they were not dated, so check them again before you decide. Within that limit, the ACR-1 has the longest included cable and the lowest price of the four.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy it if you need a replacement for a lost or damaged knob, if your LC-series converter or Epicenter shipped without one, or if you want to add remote bass control to a supported AudioControl amplifier. Skip it if your unit is not on the compatibility list, if you own an EPIC series amplifier (look at the ACR-E), or if your converter already included a remote. Skip it also if you are happy using the factory subwoofer or volume control, as the forum owner mentioned above was.

Buying advice

AudioControl's own store lists the ACR-1 at $32, with a one-year manufacturer warranty. Several third-party retailers charge about $45, and I saw prices from roughly $35 to $50 on marketplaces. Some retailer pages still show a five-year warranty, which conflicts with AudioControl's current page, so confirm the warranty with whoever you buy from. Some marketplace descriptions call the product discontinued, yet AudioControl lists it in stock.

Before you order, check your exact host model against AudioControl's compatibility list, confirm whether your converter already includes a remote, and read the seller's return policy. AudioControl handles its own returns case by case through a return authorization number. I could not verify the price or availability on Amazon, so check the listing title and seller before you buy.

Final thoughts

I rate the ACR-1 at 3.5 out of 5. The rubric weights performance and function at 40 percent, features and usability at 20 percent, build quality and design at 15 percent and value at 25 percent. The score is a weighted 3.70, rounded to the nearest half point. It earns a 4.0 for function because it does one defined job across a long compatibility list. Features, build and value sit at 3.5 each, because it only attenuates, build evidence is limited to specifications and a few owner remarks, and prices vary between $32 and $45 or more. A 4.5 would need independent measurements and hands-on testing I could not find.

Category	Weight	Score
Performance and function	40%	4.0
Features and usability	20%	3.5
Build quality and design	15%	3.5
Value for the price	25%	3.5
Weighted total	100%	3.70 (rounded to 3.5)

Some links on this page are affiliate links; they never affect our ratings.

Sources and further reading

• AudioControl ACR-1 product page (price, dimensions, weight, compatibility, warranty)
• AudioControl ACR-1 user guide (mounting, power, cable)
• AudioControl LC7i manual (what the remote controls)
• Crutchfield LC2i PRO listing (attenuation range and top-dial note)
• AudioControl ACR-E page (EPIC series remote)
• Abt Rockford Fosgate PLC2 listing
• Electronic Express Kicker CXARC listing
• Abt JL Audio HD-RLC listing