BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer (1/4" TRS and XLR Connections)
Correct phase misalignment and enhance your PA system's sound with the BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer. This two-channel unit has 1/4" TRS and XLR balanced I/O.
Overall User Ratings (based on 54 ratings)
Submitted June 15, 2011 by a customer from comcast.net
"Excellent sound enhancer."
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I will probably keep this for a long long time as long as it keeps on working.
Sound
Fantastic sound! Highly recommended. Once you have it you wont be able to live without out it.
Features
Simple to use.
Ease of Use
Simple controls, nothing complicated to fool around with.
Quality
Product is very well made.
Value
Now that the price has come down on this - it is time to buy one and it is a really great way to improve your sound.
The Wow Factor
Looks great!
Musical Background:
Active musician
Musical Style:
Classic Rock and Jazz
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Submitted October 22, 2003 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Great One Job Box"
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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.
Features
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!
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Submitted September 18, 2014 by Tom Kinstler in El Paso, TX
"BBE levels the field"
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When I bought the 882, I already had the 482. Since the 482 is mono, I now have it doing duty on the subs, while the 882 is in charge of the mains. The combination of these two powerhouses makes my sound system sound like systems twice the price. These mount up, plug in, systems make a very dynamic difference in the way live sound......or any sound, hits peoples ears. Even in heavy echo, worst case scenario venues; these 2 bad boys are my claim to fame. I have plenty of EQ's.....if I had a dirty AC situation and had to choose what to turn off, it would never be any of my BBE maximizers. The best part is that they work pretty much like a bass/treble set of knobs that you would be familiar with in an old school stereo. Set it, and forget it.
Musical Background:
I play professionally, and have 45 years of music experience
Musical Style:
Everything
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Submitted January 29, 2015 by Matt Bruns in Tucson, AZ
"A rock and rolls band"
Amazing piece of gear for the price.
Running it into a dbx driverack and powered JBL 15's and 10" mains. Using the bi-pass option you can really notice the difference instantly. My personal description of this unit is that "It adds punch and clarity to the mids". I could start doing DJ jobs because of this unit. Between sets I run pre-recorded music from my Tascam CD player/recorder. The music sounds so amazing people can't stand still. It's my secret weapon. I'm going to buy a few more for other uses as well. Guitar, bass, keys, you name it this unit delivers.
Musical Background:
pro performer and guitarist/vocalist 40-plus years
Musical Style:
Hard rock, rock, southern rock, country rock, blues, country
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Submitted October 27, 2013 by Anthony w in Fredericksburg, VA
"zZounds best place to buy from on the planet, PERIOD!!"
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The BBE882i is a must for all people in the music business. This thing has taken my already great sounding system to an AWESOME sound pumping machine. but here is the best part. Upon receiving I noticed it had some shipping damage .the left rack mounting tab was bent in no biggie right? well I threw away the tore up box straightened up the tab and rocked on .well a week later the left channel went out on it .Now here is the AMAZING part. When I called there was no. and I mean no questions asked. I got my email with my return number within 1 min and UPS sent my return shipping ticket within the next hour. Now.. this is what blew my mind, they shipped the new one before receiving the old one. as soon as they saw that the return ups ticket had been activated they immediately shipped the new one before actually receiving the damaged one. I also just purchased a pair of EV elx's on their payment plan option and let me tell you that is also truly a no questions asked procedure.IM HOOKED FOR LIFE!!!!! only a fool can say anything harsh against these guys. My best shopping experience ever.
Musical Background:
I play drums and DJ private party's
Musical Style:
Rock, country, blues
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Submitted September 3, 2014 by TY W in KANSAS CITY, MO
"Excellent"
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Nice Enhancer! Just used it this past weekend (Labor Day) for a accapella gospel concert and it was wonderful. It made my PA system (speakers) gain more highs and lows. Made my PA system clear as water. Love this piece. Very satisfied.
Musical Background:
HORNS AND BEEN ACTIVE FOR OVER 10 YEARS. JAM AT HOME
Musical Style:
CHRISTIAN AND R&b
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Submitted March 7, 2018 by Ed P in Detroit, MI
"Nice addition to my system"
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I use this in my PA system. It adds a lot of clarity and bass slam. Well worth the asking price!
Musical Background:
Just messing around
Musical Style:
All kinds.
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Submitted February 11, 2010 by a customer from me.com
"Best investment for the mobile dj"
It is my favorite piece of equipment. The only thing that'll replace it is if BBE ever made an amp with the sonic maximizer chip built into it.
Sound
I use this in my mobile dj setup. I keep the knobs at 3 o clock most of the time. In a nutshell what it does is organize the different sound frequencies and outputs them out the correct speaker. It cleans up the sound. You easily distinguish between vocals bass and drums. Mobile Djs usually crank up the volume every time they dj. My bbe does such a good job that I don't need to pump up the volume. The audio is clean and the subwoofer doesn't muffle the mid or tweeter. The best investment I've made. I have a feeling my speakers are gonna have a longer life now.
Features
The unit doesn't include rackmount screws or audio cables. You get the unit and a power cord (and i think sticky pads for feet) and paper work. You can use regular 'ole trs speaker cables or xlr cables. The unit is short, so if you using it in your rack its best to install the cables first then install it into the case. Otherwise you'll be reaching in pretty deep to be plugging in your cables.
Ease of Use
there's only two knob and a switch. the best things come in the simplest forms
Quality
The thing i look at most is the alignment of the rackmount holes. They line up perfectly. The knobs have that cool factor and the led is bright. I see companies nowadays are doing a great job on the looks of their products. Ten years ago everything looked dull and boring (and black).
Value
I would like to see this product in the "Great products under $200" catagory. But im still glad i purchased this one.
Manufacturer Support
I never contacted bbe for support. But i did send an email telling them how much i loved their product and how much i would love to see this technology in my tv entertainment system. Almost immediately i got an email stating how my email made the company feel good and that their bbe sonic maximizer technology is used in the panasonic vierra tv series
The Wow Factor
It's red. everything else i own is black. sticks out sooo well. totally radical
simple like an ipod
Musical Background:
recording engineer, dj
Musical Style:
top 40
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Submitted December 25, 2006 by a customer from yahoo.com
"It works! But for how long?"
I would not buy again.
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.
Features
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.
The Wow Factor
Check with other owners as to reliability.
Musical Background:
Active, semi pro. 22 years playing
Musical Style:
(1st)Hard Rock/Metal, Country, Blues, Classical, Camp Fire, General Noodling
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Submitted October 27, 2008 by Peter
"If your a guitarist looking for a sonic enhancement for your rig, do yourself a favor and get one!"
Written by one of our gear experts!
Great product, not for everyone.
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.
Features
just the power cable.
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.
Quality
Nothing cosmetically eye opening, just a red dual processor.
Value
Worth the price, for sure.
Manufacturer Support
n/a
The Wow Factor
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?
Musical Background:
"Active Musician",
Musical Style:
Prog Rockin' Improvizational Alchemey
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Submitted January 26, 2013 by Jason Mallory in Tempe, AZ
"Hocus Pocus"
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Complete garbage! Anytime I see this in someone's rack, I think amateur and someone who has a bad ear. This just makes all sound mud and garbage. It's an expensive shelf and that's all it is
Musical Background:
10 years pro audio
Musical Style:
Alternative and R&B
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Submitted June 9, 2009
"GO Get One these... you'll be glad you did."
It's a great basic lil' product... that's a 'must have' and it's a deal !
Sound
There is a marked difference but if this machine can make the sound this clear, there must be another machine that can make it even more clear.
Features
Not a lot of tweeker buttons... straight forward, even a chimp can operate it.
Ease of Use
Nothing to it but the marked clarity it delivers.
Quality
I think I may have blown up the max gain lit meter...
Value
It was a gift... but the actual price is worth every penny...
Manufacturer Support
n/a
The Wow Factor
If this thing quacked out on me, I'd get a replacement.
Musical Background:
Songwriter, pro musician, certified recording engineer.
Musical Style:
Neo-R&B-Pop with a sprinkle of jazzanova..
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Submitted October 21, 2008 by Joe
"Excellent, Hassle-Free Sound Enhancement"
Written by one of our gear experts!
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.
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).
Features
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").
Ease of Use
Extremely easy to use - just plug it in, turn it on, and tweak the knobs
to taste.
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.
Manufacturer Support
Didn't require any support.
The Wow Factor
This thing looks sexy. The aluminum faceplate with the red backing looks great.
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