BBE 462 Sonic Maximizer

Couldn't be easier! Two knobs per channel, a low contour knob, and a process control, wich seems to affect the highs.Turn them to the 12:00 setting, and adjust from there.

I use my BBE in the effects loop of my Line6 Flextone3,or in the loop of my Carvin X100B.I also use it for all my home recordings.It adds a clarity to the sound, and enhances the low end,a must for any mix down! It REALLY cuts out the muddiness!It is very quiet! never any added noise.IT always sounds better with the BBE!

Had mine for 15yrs, never a problem! It's in a RACK!

Never neeeded it!

I play classic rock,motown,blues and some progressive rock. Iv'e been playing for 32 yrs, I play a Parker Nitefly guitar, A Line6 Flextone3 amp, or my Carvin X100B amp.I use a ADA MP-1 tube preamp with both of theese amps,I also Have a 16 track Yamaha Digital recorder and asst FX in my home studio.I would have to replace this if it were stolen or died on me, it's just too important not to!I love it;s ease of use and the big difffernce it makes in my sound.I didn;t compare this to other devices, because I know the BBE is the best out there! Over the years my BBE has helped me on countless recordings, I;m just now starting to use it in live applications.But i must say, it does seem to have a greater affect on a whole recording or band, than on just a single instrument.

Easy to use......just set it at 12 o'clock and increase or decrease the knobs until the sound is right!

I have two in one rack before and after my 2 DOD EQ's And have in my final rack(BBE 362) splitting into the effects loop and the front plug in of my Carvin X-100 B, to give it a polished sound every step of the way.

Had it since 1997 and it's still sounds great!

Never needed their help !

Very great sounding. I have two(462's) in 1 effects rack, one 362 for the amps(split)effects loop and front plug in......couldn't sound any better! I plan on getting the pedal version to put between my Digitech RP-12 and RP-1 to get it more sweeter sounding...some say it's over kill but the more BBE's the better!!!!

Two knobs per channel control everything. One is for low frequency, and you could essentially say that the other is for high, although this one most directly controls to effect of the unit. Simple to use. Tweak the knobs until you like what you hear.

This unit will improve any sound. I've heard people complain that the bypass switch is not a true bypass, and so your unprocessed sound is worse than it actually is without the unit in-line. All I know to say to that is that I had this unit patched in before my amplifier in my stereo system for about a year and a half. Hard times forced me to sell it. When the BBE was gone, it literally took me about a year before I could listen to my stereo again without feeling like there were pillows over my speakers. The sonix maximizer made that much of a difference.

I've read professional reviews which opine that a sonix maximizer works best on multiple sources. In short, you'll notice more of a profound difference when it is used on a band than on an individual instrument. However, it adds great clarity to an individual instrument, as well.

Because of the incredible difference this unit makes, it's very easy to over-do it and make your sound very harsh. Using the unit takes discipline, because over-use will result in thin sounding recordings. They'll be very clear, but it's easy to get used to the better clarity and forget that the bottom end. You should sum all knobs to zero and build up from there, and you should also reference your sound without the BBE.

I've never noticed any noise with this unit. Some of the higher level units with XLR inputs are lower noise, I'm sure, but I've had no complaints with the 462.

Simply put, the 462 does what it says it does. I submit that if you cannot get a good sound with the 462, you are probably over-using the effect.

The first 462 had some kind of wiring problem right out of the box which made it hum like a mad banshee. The music store I bought it from repaired it with no problem (it was a simple loose wire). But once I got it home it worked fine the year and a half it was in my possession.

I haven't had my latest 462 long enough to notice any problems. I will say that the unit seems durable, and I have not been worried about it.

I've never had to deal with BBE customer support, so I can't really comment on it.

I've used the 462 on everything from individual instruments, to full mixes, to my home stereo. It does the job it claims to do. I play and record progressive rock, and must say that the recordings I made during the time that I had my last 462 are the recordings that people often believe were recorded in a studio (they were recorded on a Fostex MT4X cassette 4-track using a Hughes & Kettner Tubeman for guitar tone, an Alesis Quadraverb for effects, and an Alesis D4 drum machine).

I have not just missed having a 462, I have ached to own another one. I am piecing together recording equipment after almost a ten year absence from recording, and the idea of recording with a sonic maximizer in my race is simply inconceivable to me. Needless to say, I would buy another unit if something were to happen with this one.

I find it hard to believe that in all the years this unit has been available (yes, I've tried other sound clarification unites), no one has come out with anything to match it. But that is probably because BBE has patented the process which its circuitry uses to achieve its effect. It really is that unique.

ITS EASY. JUST HOOK IT UP...AN TWEAK THE KNOBS TO YOUR LIKING...THATS IT.

IM USING THIS FOR MY DJ SETUP. SO FAR IT SOUNDS SUPERB. BOUGHT IT LESS THEN 6 HOURS AGO. SO HAVENT REALLY KICKED IT YET. MAKES THE HIGHS SOUND CRISPY....AN THE LOWS NICE AND TIGHT.

I HAVENT TRIED IT YET. BUT LIKE THEY SAY...I THINK ITS BUILT LIKE A EQ...SOMETIMES U FIND YOUR OLD EQ FROM THE 80S IN YOUR BASEMENT...AN U HOOK IT UP...AN IT STILL WORKS. I CANT SEE IT ACTUALLY BREAKING.

HAVENT NEEDED IT YET. SO ILL GIVE IT A 10.

I PLAY HOUSE MUSIC. ALOT OF THE OLD SKOOL 80S HOUSE. PLUS SOME UNDERGROUND. BUT I HAVENT FULLY TESTED IT YET. ILL BE USING IT WITH MY TECHNIC 1200 TURNTABLES AND A BEHRINGER DJX 700 MIXER. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT BOOSTS YOUR SOUND ALSO...LIKE A EQ DOES. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM OTHER DJS INSTEAD OF MUSICIANS TO HEAR HOW IT AFFECTED THERE SETUP. I PLAY IT MOSTLY THRU MY PIONEER HDJ 1000 HEADPHONES. BUT I KNOW ITLL KICK THRU MY SPEAKERS TOO.

Nothing could be easier.

Fucking incredible. I bought this after using the demo plugin for my PC. I record direct using various tube preamps.

Unless you DROP THIS from 100 feet or so. Come on, it sits in a rack, it'll last forever.

Never needed to contact. I'll assume its good.

This should sum it up for you all considering this unit. I've had the same rig for 3 years - so I am very familiar with my sound. When I added the BBE and hit the PROCESS switch, I could not believe my ears. I was SO USED to my old sound, then when I turned the process switch OFF I couldn't believe how muddy and unclear the sound was!!

This thing is like magic - I know what it does technically and it makes sense. This unit REALLY makes a difference on high gain and rock tones - palm mutes, chugs, etc. I was shitting my pants by turning the unit IN and OUT. Again - I could not believe that my "old" sound sounded like it did after hearing the BBE process.

This piece will NEVER leave my rack and will ALWAYS remain on. Unbelievable. There was a Guitar World a long time ago with a Vito Bratta interview. He was talking about his gear, the ADA MP-1 and such, and he said he used the BBE in his rig - he said that ADA should bundle the BBE with their preamp because it sounded SO MUCH better with it.

Seriously - if you are a guitarist you should NOT BE WITHOUT this unit. Totally incredible. This isn't some bullshit trickery fakey thing, it just ADDS LIFE SPARKLE CLARITY DEFINITION to your sound. God I wish I had one of these things 10 years ago!!

if you can say B-B-E SONIC MAXIMIZER, then you can work this unit. it's not hard at all.
no manual needed, i bought mine used...

i play mostly heavy music modern hardcore,post hardcore, metalcore,punk,screamo, emo,grindcore, easy listening influences from radiohead to glassjaw to pig destroyer. this can make any rig sound better.
i use it with my jmp-1,ibanez msp 1000(compressor,graphiceq,nothc filter), and g major effects unit with either a peavey classic 50/50 or a mesa 2:90 through two 4x12's loaded with v30's ad g12t-75's and that sounds great without the bbe, but once you turn it on you're like "whoa".
i even max out everything on it so itmaxs my setup sound huge, with a natural scoop sound that sounds mean as hell and then i use my graphic eq and my preamp to compensate my mids.

it's an older model, and hasnt failed yet, don't see why it would.

havent had to deal with them so they get a 10

like i said i play heavy music, but this works for everything. i've been playing guitar for years so i know my sh*t by now.
makes me sound better. no side effects or compromising my tone.
i have also played through a couple other sonic maximizers and the aphex aural exciters. i like this just fine.
if lost or stolen i'd hunt the bastard down and break his legs, or buy a new one, it didn't cost much, but it sure makes my already expensive rig sound even more expensive.

Extremely simple to use, mine didn't even come with a manual and it took seconds to set it up.

Setup: Strat w/ Hot Rails or Ibanez RG550 > Morley Bad Horsie Wah > Marshall MG 100DFX through a Peavey 2X12. The BBE is in the effects loop of the amp. This thing makes my tone much thicker and heavier. My amp isn't that great but with the BBE running through it it sounds a million times better. The Low countour tightens up the bass and the BBE process just makes everything sound clear, defined, and heavy. Great unit.

I haven't gigged with this yet, but it's obviously been working for a while since it's an older used model.

Dunno.

I play metal in the vein of Shadows Fall, Arch Enemy, At The Gates, Lamb of God, The Black Dahlia Murder, etc. and it really improves my tone. It's a great unit for metal. In my opinion, every electric instrument should have one... it can make even the best amps better. You need to get this unit!

This product couldn't be any simpler to use.

I have this looped thru my 2nd tape monitor on my hifi receiver. What I basically use this for is an ELABORATE LOUDNESS CONTROL. It does a superb job in that capacity. the LO CONTOUR tightens up the bass, giving it a stronger, thicker sound; without muddying it up. The BBE PROCESS adds clarity, sparkle, definition and better imaging to your recordings.

I dont use this professionally, but have owned it for 8 years and it has alot of mileage on it. It has never failed yet. As for the LO and PROCESS controls....you should use them sparingly..the process tends to HISS when overdriven...in home music applications, you need to make minor adjustment from cd to cd.

I listen to everything from classical to all styles of rock and electric and acoustic jazz. I find this product to enhance every style dramatically.

This thing could not be easier to use. Ran my ART SGX2000 via Soldano SP77 pre-amp straight into the back of the BBE then out of the BBE to my Mesa 50/50 power amp.

There is a great switch on the front that allows you to run or bypass the unit. This is great to compare the difference the unit makes. I thought my rig sounded great before, however plug this in and the old sound sucks. It gives the sound real life.

I run a Soldano SP77 series 2 (USA made) pre-amp into a ART SGX 2000 Express (has been modified to switch the channels on the Soldano) then into a Mesa Boogie Stereo 50 power amp. I run a Peavey 5150 quad box and various guitars, PRS CE24, Gibson Les Paul Standard.

I cannot explain how much better this made my sound. Like I said I thought my sound was good before however this has given it real life. It is the secret ingredient that no one ever tells you about.

Only just got it so can't comment yet. I am about to buy another for my home recording studio setup.

Can't yet comment.

I play all sorts of music however my main influences are, Steve Lukather, David Gilmour, Peter Frampton and Steve Morse.

If this unit got lost or stolen I would buy another immediately. Every amp/rig setup needs this.

Very easy to use, only two knobs, process and lo contour. Process control the signal processing and lo control controls the amount of bass frequencies. Two channels in a single rack to use for stereo inputs or process two line inputs simultaneously.

It really improves your sound no matter what you plug in this rack. It is not a effect, it is a sound enchancer, in a way that boosts more harmonics, and correct the phase shifting between the low and high frequencies, resulting in more spark in the sound and clear separation between instruments. I use it after my POD II feeding to a pair of Roland monitor speakers. can be used in other applications like live PA, recording, record restoration, broadcasting etc, so it is a very versatile equipment and is a must in my setup.

Own only for a week, and use it only at home, but I think is very reliable, backed by a 5 year warranty.

N/A

I play mainly hard rock and heavy metal, some blues stuff, it really improves my sound giving a live presence to the sound. On the guitar the solos have more presence and chords are defined. If it was stolen or lost i would buy it again, maybe the higher model, because this model is already discontinued. When i play, this unit is always on, and can be used in multiple applications as i stated before, so it is a good aquisition, don't think , just buy it.