BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer

zZounds' Take on BBE 362

BBE's sonic maximizers are a set of processors that optimize a sound signal specifically for being sent through a set of speakers. PA speakers are designed for purposes of projecting a sound source - they differ substantially in sound quality, but as a whole, projection is their primary goal. By their nature, a signal going through a set of speakers suffers some ills as it comes out, deadening the sound and making the whole thing a bit muddy. One of the primary culprits in this sad state of affairs is the nefarious frequency-dependent phase shifting - a delay in sound reproduction between different frequencies. Inductance in the voice coil of a speaker causes the impedance to rise as the frequency does. This results in high frequencies taking longer to hit the listener's ear than low frequencies. This is a real killer when it comes to the attack (articulation) of numerous instruments, like guitar, piano, or bass, and especially for percussive instruments, which live or die by their attack. A sound system suffering from this sounds muffled or muddy.

Fret not, though - BBE's Sonic Maximizer was designed for precisely this purpose. Their processing consists primarily of two steps:

-The Sonic Maximizer adds delay times to lower frequencies on a curve, designed to counteract the natural phase delay between the bass and treble. This ensures that the whole signal reaches people at once, brightening the tone and giving the signal all the livelihood of what's happening on stage.

-Additionally, full-range speakers often reproduce lowest and highest frequencies at a lower efficiency than all the stuff in the middle. This is more or less an accepted fact of most PA speakers - systems often come with high and low frequency boost switches to alleviate this issue. However, BBE's Sonic Maximizer series augment these frequencies intelligently and in conjunction with their delay curve, offering a solid, full-range signal in a single box!

The BBE 362 is the most basic of the three sonic maximizers, processing two mono signals as a ganged stereo signal. Ganged stereo means it can process two mono signals, but with the same dial - in other words, the two mono signals are both sent through the same processing. Though it doesn't have the features of its big brothers, it's the same processing power, at an unparalleled price.

Manufacturer's Description for BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer

The 362 Series delivers the sound-improving benefits of a Sonic Maximizer signal processor with the convenience of ganged-stereo operation. Have you ever wondered why music sounds better live? The wizards at the BBE company have pondered over that and have sunk gazillions into research to get an answer to that Zen-like question. Amazing as it is, they've unlocked the secret, and now we can all reap the benefits.

Features
- Ganged-stereo process control
- Ganged-stereo lo contour control
- +16dBu headroom
- Unbalanced 1/4 in. inputs and outputs
- Bypass switch for comparison of processed to unprocessed signal

Applications
- Pro and semi-pro sound reinforcement
- Mobile DJ system
- Cassette copies
- Discos

The Color Codes of Sound
To understand how BBE(TM) sound processing works, consider the characteristics of a loudspeaker and what we expect from one. Among a loudspeaker's most important requirements is the ability to reproduce transients -- the brief high-energy bursts at the beginning of sounds. The transients then evolve into harmonics. It is the particular amplitudes and phase relationships of these transients and harmonics which add the unique color and character to each sound.

Varying either the amplitude or the phase of the transients and harmonics within signal causes distortion of the sound's characteristics. By drastically altering the transient response of a sound, it's possible to make a cymbal crash seem like a car crash. Similarly, altering amplitude or phase relationships of the harmonics in a clarinet's tone can make it sound more like a flute, or a French horn like an oboe.

Amplitude and Phase
A loudspeaker's transient response is typically expressed in terms of amplitude response (how quickly it reacts to an incoming signal), with little or no regard to phase response (whether high and low frequencies are reproduced at the proper time). The ability to accurately represent a sound's phase and amplitude define the quality of a loudspeaker's transient and steady-state, or sustained, response.

If a loudspeaker's amplitude response curve were linear, then the relationship between the high and low frequencies would be correct. And if a loudspeaker's phase response curve were linear, then the low and high frequencies would reach the listener's ears in their correct time order. This would result in faithful reproduction of the sound. However, this isn't normally the case.

Why is Live Sound so Pleasing
When we listen to live music, all of the highs and lows reach our ears in the same relationship to each other as when they were created by the instruments. If this same live music were to be recorded and played back through a loudspeaker system, the loudspeaker would introduce frequency-dependent phase shifting. The inductance of the speaker's voice coil creates a stronger impedance as the signal's frequency increases, resulting in a time delay. Consequently, frequency components with large negative phase shifts (high frequencies) arrive at the listener's ear later than signals undergoing small phase shifts (low frequencies). The resultant signal is distorted in the time domain to the listener's ear. Audio material containing sharp transients (e.g., percussive and plucked sounds such as drums, guitar, piano, and harpsichord, etc.) suffers the most from this phenomenon, making it seem unfocused, or mushy.

In order to address these problems inherent in basic loudspeaker design, BBE Sound, Inc. has developed a circuit that has 2 primary functions. The first adjusts the phase relationships of the low, mid, and high frequencies. Since a loudspeaker's natural tendency is to add progressively longer delay times to higher frequencies, the BBE(TM) circuit adds progressively longer delay times to lower frequencies. This creates a kind of "mirror" curve to the time delay curve created in the speaker and neutralizes its distorting effect.

The second major element in BBE(TM) sound processing is the augmentation of the higher and lower frequencies. Loudspeakers tend to be less efficient in their extreme treble and bass ranges. Most sound-reproducing systems include a circuit for boosting high and low frequencies, showing an accepted awareness of the loudspeaker's efficiency problem. BBE(TM) sound processing, however, provides a dynamic, program-driven augmentation which combines with the phase compensation feature to restore the brilliance and clarity of the original live sound. The result is, as one professional journalist phrased it, "The most hearable advance in audio technology since high fidelity itself!"

The Benefits of BBE(TM) Technology
With BBE(TM) sound processing technology, music has great "live presence."

Highs are clearer, naturally brilliant and more finely detailed. Lows are tight, well defined, and harmonically rich.

Electric and acoustic guitars have sparkle, clarity, and definition. BBE(TM) sound processing brings out the harmonic complexity and bite significantly increases cutting power. Each note of a chord becomes more distinct. Brings your guitar out of the "mud."

Keyboards and synthesizers take on new realism. Percussive and plucked sounds are clear and sharp, chords are rich and full-textured, each note in the chord retains its integrity.

Electric & acoustic basses take on that rich, earthy "CD" sound. Five string players love what it does to the "B" string. Extremely tight, punchy bottom end with all the presence, clarity and bite of the top end.

Vocals cut through the amplified instrument so you can be heard better. Lyrics of the sound are no longer "buried in the mix".

Recording studios, home and professional, on individual tracks, multi-track down to 2 track, cassette duplication and mastering, BBE(TM) sound processing brings out the full spectrum of sound. Mixes are fresh and sparkly. BBE(TM) sound processing expands the spatial dimension of stereo reverb and chorus.

BBE(TM) sound processing will give you enough sparkle to restore instrument clarity or increase vocal intelligibility without appreciably adding level. zZounds is an authorized dealer of BBE products.

Frequency Response
Process Mode: program controlled
Bypass Mode: 5Hz-30kHz

Signal to Noise Ratio: 108dB process in/120dB process out

Total Harmonic Distortion in Process Mode: less than 0.1% at 1KHz

Input Impedance: 47K Ohms

Nominal Input level: -10dBu

Minimum Load Impedance for Full Output Level: 1K Ohms

Nominal Output Level: -10dBu

Maximum Output Level: +16dBu