BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer

+23dBu headroom. Balanced outputs. Hardwire bypass.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

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"Great One Job Box"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
Hmm, 2 knobs per channel. I guess that makes for features. The low contour makes for a nice subwoofer control if you are running passive crossovers, or your crossover is out of reach.

Quality:
Make well, I have seen tons of them still kickin' in other guys racks, mine goes with me on road trips and the like, so I guess it held up well

Value:
Great box, I hear too many guys badmouth things like this, but I figure it is because they don't understand it!

Sound:
Excellent tool to add clarity to your sound. Sometimes, you just can't EQ to fix a problem. This works. No one will come up to you and say, "Hey, I can tell you are using a Sonic Maximizer," but they can tell there is something different.

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"If your a guitarist looking for a sonic enhancement for your rig, do yourself a favor and get one!"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
just the power cable.

Quality:
Nothing cosmetically eye opening, just a red dual processor.

Value:
Worth the price, for sure.

Desirability:
It is a unique technical advance, although people say it's just a low/high pass filter to which I say "so what?" does it improve your sound? Does it do what it's advertised to do? Filter Schmilter! Wouldn't a rose by any other name smell as sweet?

Sound:
The Sonic Maximizer doesn't have a "sound" per se as much as it cleans up your sound by delaying certain frequencies, thus making the overall sound more detailed. I hooked the SM up to my Boss GT 8 guitar processor, to hear the detail it would bring out. I placed it at the end of my internal FX chain, turned the knurl knobs to 2:00 o'clock and I was instantly impressed. As a tweaker I know that good tone is a process, no one processor will make a crappy sound and bad technique pleasing. But the SM brings out the detail of your tone as well as providing a "sonic" boost that has nothing to do with raising any levels! This was the only situation I employed, I will be purchasing the stomp box version of the Sonic Maximizer.

Ease of Use:
It does what it does and doesn't require any real tweaking, you simply dial in the amount of low process and high process and you're done. Both knobs at 2:00 and I was set.

Support:
n/a

Overall:
Great product, not for everyone.

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"Excellent, Hassle-Free Sound Enhancement"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
Essentially the BBE Sonic Maximizer has two uses. The first is to clean up transients (things like drum hits, plucked sounds, piano, etc) so that they sound crisp and clear. The second is to boost the low end and the high end for a bigger and brighter (controlled by two knobs for each channel - one for lows labeled "Lo Contour", and one for highs oddly labeled "Process").

Quality:
The quality on the box is great. It has a solid aluminum faceplate with metal knobs that feel great.

Value:
It's hard to say - the low and high EQ could be enhanced with just about any EQ system, and it's very difficult to isolate the true benefit of the phase correction. If you don't want to get too technical, and just want a box that will make your music sound better, then this is definitely worth the money. If you're an audiophile who tweaks every aspect of your sound, then you'll still get a benefit from the phase correction but might want hold off getting this until you don't have other tech to buy.

Desirability:
This thing looks sexy. The aluminum faceplate with the red backing looks great.

Sound:
From the point of view as someone who composes electronic music, I found this a little hit or miss. I found it sounded best on songs that had a lot of really short hits, or songs with pianos and such (which makes sense - BBE states that the Sonic Maximizer is best with those kinds of sounds). Also, on a lot of my own songs I'd already boosted the bass and treble so the boosting effects of the sonic Maximizer were a little overdone. I also noticed that on songs which had more subtle melodic lines, the Maximizer actually brought out sound attacks that were supposed to be more subtle. Generally speaking though, most of my music sounded better through this thing. And I could certainly see how a performer or a DJ could get a lot of use out of this. I'm looking to try the software version next (was kind of annoying having to run through my laptop into my desktop in order to record through it).

Ease of Use:
Extremely easy to use - just plug it in, turn it on, and tweak the knobs to taste.

Support:
Didn't require any support.

Overall:
Overall I give this product an 8/10. I will definitely try the software version for my home studio, but not until I've gotten a few other upgrades that I've been looking into. I absolutely recommend this for anyone who isn't into tweaking every last aspect of their sound and just wants something to make their sound bigger and crisper.

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"It works! But for how long?"

Overall:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Quality:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10
Value:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
5 is not fare, let me say 10. it does ALL IT NEEDS to do with 2 nobs.

Quality:
It looks well made, but in my case it is not true. I may have got a lemon. In any case I will be buying an Aphex 204 Aurual Exciter as a replacement. It is more flexable, and more in-expensive.

Value:
Re-read top.

Desirability:
Check with other owners as to reliability.

Sound:
The product when FUNCTIONING, does an amazing job of "cleaning", or "tighting" up your sound. I should mention that I use this product in my guitar rack. It is placed in the signal chain (BBE) just after my pre-amp. (GSP 2101Artist) Where the signal the goes to my power-amp,(Peavey Classic 60/60) to, two 4X12 Cabs. (1960) In a stereo system like mine, the difference is amazing. I have a complaint as to the reliability of the product. My left channel is malfunctioning badly. This unit for all intent and purpose is new. I did buy used from a friend who bought a pair brand new. He sold me his spare. I was the first user and it has lived its whole life "racked" and its AC power very conditioned and spike protected. For perspective: My 2101 new 1995, my 60/60 new 1989 orig. tubes. Just to show that it has been pamperd.

Overall:
I would not buy again.

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