BBE 482i Sonic Maximizer (Unbalanced)

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 482i is a good middle of the road option - designed for those looking for the expanded feature set of the 882i but with no need for balanced ins/outs. It includes 1/4" and RCA inputs and outputs. It's ideal for semi-pro live sound reinforcement purposes.

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.

What those engineers discovered (and we're going to very roughly paraphrase this deep technical explanation) is that depending on the environment in which we are listening, we hear different frequencies at different times, because the sound is radiating in all directions and our brain processes these frequencies individually. Whereas, when the same music is pumped through any loudspeaker, the sounds are all coming from one place at the same time, losing that difference that allows us to perceive clarity in sound. A saxophone (or singer, or guitar, or whatever) sends sound in 360 degrees; a loudspeaker has a 12 in. (or other) window to shoot the sound out. There are other characteristics of loudspeakers that rob music of clarity as well, including the relationship of transient response in regard to phase response, but that's getting into that deep technical category. In plain terms, these guys figured out the problem, and built a box to fix it.

BBE learned which frequencies are delayed by what factor, and how to properly send this revised information through a loudspeaker. Any signal sent through a BBE processor sounds clearer, cleaner, and better. A vocal signal processed through BBE jumps out of a mix, and any acoustic instrument regains that vibrant quality that is lost in the recording process. Sending an entire mix through the thing sharpens it up in ways that defy description. "It adds sparkle" and "it makes a mix sound like a CD" are two of the most often-heard descriptions of what this miracle box does.

Who needs this box? Recording studios of any size, for starters. If there's somebody singing or speaking, you'll wonder how you survived without it. If you record any acoustic instruments as well, stop reading this and order one now. In this age of CDs, cassettes are starting to show their limits. When you put this box between your master source, and your cassette deck, it gives the venerable little cassette a sonic fighting chance. If you are a mobile or nightclub DJ, this unit will kick everything up a notch. Sound reinforcement companies, large and small, it's a no brainer how you can use it. Finally, if you have a rack as part of your rig, whether you're a keyboard, guitar, or bass player, you need this as the final stage before your signal goes out.

With the 482i model, you can get stellar sound for a very down-to-earth price. The 482i is perfect for semi-pro applications not requiring balanced jacks. (If you need balanced inputs, check out the 882.) Since it has true dual-mono operation, the 482 is 2 independent Sonic Maximizer signal processors in one chassis. Use it on a stereo signal or process 2 mono channels separately with separate controls. Rack this baby up and use it to liven up the sound of just about anything: live bands, home studios, mobile DJ systems, nightclub sound systems, individual instruments like bass, guitar, or keyboards - even your home stereo will sound like it cost twice as much through the 482i! The unit is really easy to use - basically, just hook it up and set the enhancement to your taste. Presto! - your stuff sounds completely amazing! It's really not fair to the ones who don't have the Sonic Maximizer, but somehow we think you'll live through the guilt.

Features:
2 channels of process for stereo or separate mono mixes

5-segment LED output meters

+18dBu headroom

RCA and 1/4 in. inputs and outputs

Hardwire bypass

Bypass switch for comparison of processed to unprocessed signal

Technical Info

Frequency Response:
Process Mode: Program controlled
Bypass Mode: 10Hz to 50kHz, +/- 0.5dBu, 10dBu input

Signal to Noise Ratio: 112dB Process IN

THD:
Process mode: less than 0.025% at 20-20kHz
Bypass mode: less than 0.002% at 20-20kHz

Maximum Output: +18dBu (may vary due to control settings)

Input Impedance: 47K Ohms, unbalanced 1/4" phone jack or RCA jack

Output Impedance: 1K Ohms, unbalanced 1/4" phone jack or RCA jack

Sensitivity: -45dBu for maximum process

Maximum Process: +12dBu boost at 5kHz, -10dBu input

Lo Contour: +12dBu adjustment at 50Hz, -10dBu input

Keep the mix sounding like it does live! This stereo unit has unbalanced 1/4" and RCA connections and 5-segment LED metering to maintain the fidelity and warmth of a live instrument.