Morel MPS R-1 Review: The Remote Bass Level Knob and Which Morel Amps It Fits
The Morel MPS R-1 is a wired remote subwoofer level control: a small knob that lets you turn the bass up or down from the driver's seat instead of reaching the amplifier's gain controls. US retailers quote a 20 dB adjustment range, and its Indian MRP is ₹2,990. Our listing names two compatible amplifiers, the MPS 1.550 and MPS 5.950, but Morel's own documents add the MPS 1.1100 Limited, MPD 1.500 and MPD 5.550, so the list is longer than it first looks. It suits anyone whose subwoofer sounds right on one track and overbearing on the next. See it on our Morel MPS R-1 product page.
Quick summary
Adjusts the subwoofer output level from the front of the car; US retailers list 20 dB of range.
Our listing says MPS 1.550 and MPS 5.950 only, while Morel's MPS Limited manual and MPD datasheet also list the MPS 1.1100 Limited, MPD 1.500 and MPD 5.550.
US retailers list a 16.25 ft (about 4.95 m) cable and two mounting screws in the box.
Crutchfield Canada shows a 4.5-out-of-5 rating with one short review visible when we checked in October 2026.
Morel MPS R-1 specifications
Specification | Morel MPS R-1 |
|---|---|
Type | Wired remote subwoofer level control |
Adjustment range | 20 dB (US retailer listings) |
Cable | 16.25 ft (about 4.95 m), 3.5 mm plug to amplifier, RJ-25 modular plug to remote |
Mounting | Two 12 mm self-tapping screws supplied |
Body size | About 52 x 24 x 42 mm; 73 mm wide with flanges, 59 mm deep with knob |
Compatibility (our listing) | MPS 1.550, MPS 5.950 |
Also listed by Morel | MPS 1.1100 Limited, MPD 1.500, MPD 5.550 |
India MRP | ₹2,990 |
The cable, screws and size come from Crutchfield Canada and OnlineCarStereo, converted to metric. The extra compatible models come from Morel's MPS Limited owner's manual, read in a copy hosted on ManualsLib, and Morel's MPD datasheet.
What a remote level control is for
A subwoofer's level is normally set once, at the amplifier, with a test tone. The trouble is that recordings vary enormously in how much bass they carry, and a level that suits a quiet acoustic album can swamp the car on a bass-heavy film soundtrack. Morel's manual describes the remote as letting you adjust the output level of the amplifier on the fly from a remote location within the vehicle.
Crutchfield describes the range as running from full output down to almost nothing, and OnlineCarStereo from maximum volume to a nearly muted level. It trims the subwoofer output only, so the rest of the system's volume stays with the head unit.
Which amplifiers it works with
This is where the details matter. Our listing and OnlineCarStereo name the MPS 1.550 mono amplifier and the MPS 5.950 five-channel amplifier. Morel's MPS Limited owner's manual lists a connection for the optional MPS-R1 on the MPS 1.1100 Limited, and Morel's MPS Limited product page gives its range there as 0 to 20 dB.
Morel's MPD datasheet goes further, listing the optional MPS-R1 for the MPD 1.500 and the MPD 5.550, and N/A for the four-channel MPD 4.70 and 4.100. Morel lists no subwoofer level control for the two-channel MPS 2.150 Limited. If your amplifier isn't on one of these lists, check with us before ordering.
Setting it up properly
Because the knob works downward from full output, set the amplifier's gain with the remote turned all the way up, using a test tone, so the remote can only reduce the level. Set it the other way round and turning the knob up later could push the amplifier into clipping. Mount the knob where you can reach it without looking, and keep the cable clear of the pedals and seat runners.
What owners and reviewers say about the Morel MPS R-1
Feedback is thin, as you'd expect for an accessory. When we checked in October 2026, Crutchfield Canada showed a 4.5-out-of-5 rating, and the one review we could read was short and positive: the buyer said it worked as intended and that the unit received looked better than the product photo, with a nicer finish on the knob. The total number of reviews behind that rating wasn't shown. OnlineCarStereo lists no reviews. We found no forum discussion of it, so if you use one, we'd welcome your experience.
R-1 or the MDSP's DRC remote?
If your system is built around one of Morel's MDSP DSP amplifiers, the R-1 isn't the remote to buy. Morel's MDSP manual describes a separate optional DRC remote that adjusts overall volume, subwoofer level, source and presets. The R-1 is a simpler, single-purpose knob for the MPS and MPD amplifiers that list it.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy it if you run one of the listed amplifiers and find yourself wanting more or less bass from track to track, or if more than one person drives the car and you disagree about the subwoofer.
Skip it if your amplifier isn't on Morel's lists, such as the MPD 4.70, MPD 4.100 or MPS 2.150 Limited, or if you run an MDSP amplifier, where the DRC remote does this job alongside others.
Installation notes for Indian cars
Common spots are the lower dash beside the steering column or the side of the centre console. Measure the route from the knob to the amplifier before drilling, since the cable is listed at 16.25 ft, and run it under the trim and carpet, away from airbag wiring and from heat. In a boot that bakes in summer, keep the cable away from the amplifier's heat sink where it plugs in. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad offers professional installation if you'd like the cable routed out of sight.
Price and where to buy
The Morel MPS R-1 has an MRP of ₹2,990. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP, so check today's price on the MPS R-1 product page. Everything we sell is a genuine Morel product.
The bottom line
The Morel MPS R-1 is a simple, useful accessory: one knob that trims your subwoofer from the driver's seat across a 20 dB range. The thing to get right is compatibility, because Morel's documents list more amplifiers than our listing does. Check your model against those lists, and set your gains with the knob turned fully up.
Morel MPS R-1 FAQ
Does the Morel MPS R-1 work with the MPS 1.1100 Limited?
Morel's MPS Limited owner's manual lists a connection for the optional MPS-R1 on the MPS 1.1100 Limited, although our listing names only the MPS 1.550 and MPS 5.950. Ask us to confirm before you order.
Can I use the R-1 with a Morel MPD amplifier?
Morel's MPD datasheet lists the optional MPS-R1 for the MPD 1.500 and MPD 5.550, and marks remote level control as N/A for the MPD 4.70 and MPD 4.100.
How much adjustment does the R-1 give?
US retailers list a 20 dB adjustment range, and Morel's MPS Limited page gives 0 to 20 dB. That runs from full output down to nearly muted, according to the retailers.
Does the R-1 change the whole system's volume?
No. It adjusts the subwoofer output of the amplifier it's connected to; retailers and Morel's datasheet describe it as a subwoofer level control. Overall volume stays with your head unit.
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