• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

BBE Maximizer....Have I crossed the line?

Rockon1

Well-Known Member
Just remembered I have a BBE Sonic Maximizer from my guitar rack days. Well I decided to hook it up in my Carver C-1"s external processor loop. So far Im digging it! "Process" at about 11 oclock "Lo" at 1 oclock for lower listening volumes. Bass is fuller without being boomy. The mids and highs are clearer sounding, more focused...time will time. Still I feel Ive bastardized my analog signal. Anybody else try one or similar? Bob

20180320_210646.jpg
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
You are hereby banned from the forums!
Blasphemer!

I never used one, but I remember seeing them in some pro car audio systems way back when.
 
As in how its achieving the effect? Not sure. Heres a rap on it

"BBE's Sonic Maximizer has been with us for several years now, earning itself a reputation as one of the sweeter sounding enhancers on the market. PAUL WHITE studio tests the latest incarnation, the 462, which benefits from extensively redesigned circuitry.

When Aphex first invented the Aural Exciter, they can have had little idea that their work would inspire a whole genre of sonic enhancers, based on a wide range of operating principles. The patented Aphex process works by synthesizing additional high frequency harmonics related to the original signal, but BBE chose to travel a different route, basing their process on a combination of dynamic equalisation and phase manipulation. To augment the high frequency enhancement of the BBE process, the new Model 462 features a Lo Contour control which adds power to the bass end of the spectrum. Few details are provided to explain how this works, but reading between the lines, it appears to be another form of dynamic equalisation.

For those unfamiliar with dynamic equalisation, here's how it works: imagine an equaliser whose level of boost is related to the level of the signal being treated. When there's no signal present, there's no boost, and when the signal level is high, maximum boost is applied. Such an approach has many advantages; it can help emphasise transient sounds without adding any noise when the input signal is low, as would be the case with a conventional boost equaliser.

The phase manipulation side of the process is described as a linear phase shift across the whole audio spectrum corresponding to a delay of under 2ms. This is intended to prevent the high frequency detail from being smeared by the low frequency components of the sound and increases definition without boosting level."
 
Snake Oil. But no one has proven what snake oil can or can't do. :)

Only people who have actually had snake oil can comment.

I have not used it. So I cna't comment on what it does. Snake Oil, that is.
 
Snake Oil. But no one has proven what snake oil can or can't do. :)

Only people who have actually had snake oil can comment.

I have not used it. So I cna't comment on what it does. Snake Oil, that is.

Well I was under the impression snake oil was bogus...the results in the mind so to speak. This effect is definitely real. Bob
 
And no.... you only cross the line after you insist it is effective and others who disagree aren't "faithful" enough to hear the the improvement. Then you have crossed over and have to post exclusively in the Audiogon forums.
 
Well I was under the impression snake oil was bogus...the results in the mind so to speak. This effect is definitely real. Bob

That's the problem with impressions. Snake Oil may have all sorts of awesome properties. One never knows until one tries.
 
I have two of them. One not being used. The 822A in the rack in my office system is in the Main Effects loop of my biamp SCM7600 mixer. With the Lo-Contour at 3 clicks above center and the Definition at 1 click below center, I really enjoy the increase in the overall soundstage. When I switch it OUT, the soundstage collapses in comparison. I have also tried my 2nd unit with the system in my sig without success - just too much of too much, no matter the setting. But then again, I'm using Polk RTA15TLs in my office (soundstage is not their forte) versus XRT22s in my main rig (soundstage is their forte).

Cool box to play around with indeed.
 
I have two of them. One not being used. The 822A in the rack in my office system is in the Main Effects loop of my biamp SCM7600 mixer. With the Lo-Contour at 3 clicks above center and the Definition at 1 click below center, I really enjoy the increase in the overall soundstage. When I switch it OUT, the soundstage collapses in comparison. I have also tried my 2nd unit with the system in my sig without success - just too much of too much, no matter the setting. But then again, I'm using Polk RTA15TLs in my office (soundstage is not their forte) versus XRT22s in my main rig (soundstage is their forte).

Cool box to play around with indeed.

The verdict is out until I listen some more. So far Im digging the effect at close to the settings you described. I think it wore on me in my guitar rack set up and I stopped using it. That was almost 20 years ago though and this isn't a guitar rack. Bob
 
I play retro PC games --DOS games running on DOSBOX or purposefully built retro PC. I can see the benefit of such signal enhancement, since the PC games I play don't have great sound quality to begin with. Perhaps the same way people use tone controls to make their old tapes listenable.
 
I had one and was pleased with the effects. It did enliven the sound.

The downside was added harshness.

I sold it because the purist path of high res sources and clean signal path just sounded better.

If I had some vintage JBLs and a beast of a Japanese receiver playing only rock and blues, it might have stayed as a useful gizmo.
 
I have a feeling added distortion will have me not using it. Fortunately I can take it out of the signal chain at the push of a button. Bob
 
I had an Alpine EQ that had it. Sometimes I'd run it, sometimes not. Usually liked it at the lower volumes but some stuff it just sounded weird on. Rush springs to mind.
I don't remember there being an adjustment for it, just on or off.
If I were to find one for $15-$20 at a garage sale, I'd probably buy it.
 
Back
Top Bottom