Works great on BOSE L1's 
by Harold Scadden from Virginia Beach, VA, June 2008
Music Background:  Recording Engineer - Live and Post Production Sound

I do sound for mainly Folk, Celtic, Blues and Bluegrass using a couple of BOSE L1 units for Front-of-House / everything as much as possible. I normally will hooked the units up to a mixing console when used. Well even as good as the L1's sound they still have a "dry" feel to them. I was looking for something to add that last little bit to the cake and I found it! I just used Buddy Mondlock as my test subject, and he has played many shows with venues using the L1's, and he stated it was the best he has ever heard. What the BBE did more than anything was to give some life to the units. As stated in some other reviews, you can get stupid with it so use it with moderation! It was kinda like using MSG when cooking ... it helped bring the flavor out in a very good way.

  Ramp up your solo acoustic rig 
by Greg from Montana, September 2007
Music Background:  pro musician and hobbyist recording geek

I purchased 882 Sonic maximizer to help sculpt my sound for finger style acoustic guitar shows that I do. I put the BBE between my tube preamps and the PA system. In my own words this unit provides variable phase correction that results in pushing the highs and lows foreward or backward in the mix. Here's the key: unlike a notch filter or eq, the frequency isn't boosted or cut. BBE says that we hear the tonal spectrum in the right order, eg. the lows aren't heard before the highs. I was skeptical, but I gave it a try. I must say I'm quite impressed with what it does with an acoustic guitar. (Like all processors the key is to use it in moderation.) I experience the sound as richer without, for example, the ear fatigue that comes from strident highs. My James Goodall acoustic guitars sound fantastic: open, airy, and warm. This is a pretty small investment that gives wonderful results.

  BBE Sonic Maximizer 
by from Chicago, IL, April 2007
Music Background:  Recording Engineer

I've used this thing on various instruments in a mixing enviroment just to kind of test out the effect. I've found that it can be useful when used as an Aux send to improve tracks that were not well recorded.

Personally, I would not use this processor while mixing my own music. I feel that it takes away from the natural sound of instruments, and gives you this hologram replacement, a pretty picture.
I think alot of the reason why Sonic Maximizers get soo much attention is because people use them to make up for the fact that used poor mic technique and
dull sounding preamps. There would be no need to use an enhancer if you record properly.

  Good, but dangerous 
by Matt from Georgia, October 2006
Music Background:  Recording Engineer / Mastering Engineer

yeah, it sounds great, but it eats up a ton of headroom if you get carried away. As a mastering engineer i've had the painful pleasure of listening to a few CD where some idiot must have used this on several tracks in the mix, and then on the master buss. talk about listening fatigue! It is very very cool and can be just what the doctor ordered, but don't get carried away - it can be dangerous. Still, a good "magic weapon" to have in your rack. i love it, but still prefer the APHEX equivilent.

  One of my best purchases ever 
by Brendan Butler from Southwest CT, July 2006
Music Background:  Recording Engineer/Enthusiast, Semi-Pro Guitarist, Student

I got this on a whim and it has absolutely blown me away. It creates the full feeling like scooping the mids on a distorted guitar or hitting the sweet spot on a condenser mic, but without loosing the "umph" that the mids provide. Whatever instrument I'm using (guitar, bass, piano, voice, harmonica...), the 882 is in the loop.

  Easy to use, can help a lot 
by Scott from Colorado, July 2006
Music Background:  Live Sound Hobbyist

I got one of these and added it to my PA before my driverack. If you enable these and use them sparingly they can make a difference. I eq. the system for fairly flat response with the BBE in bypass. Then turn it on, feed the signal and gently adjust the knobs. I find female vocals can benefit form a little high emphasis, and bass guitars can usually benefit from a little low. It provides a more 'interesting' effect than just straight tone controls. Like anything use in moderation and occasionally you're better off taking it out.

Incredible 
by Anonymous from San Jose, CA, January 2005

A good friend of mine (he owns a Protools studio) and I ran sound for a small venue...he brought his BBE 882. As a system check we ran a hard-rock CD through the mains. Without the 882, it sounded like crap, and we both knew it. He put in his 882 inserted on the mains, and it sounded freakin' awesome.
I call it the Magic EQ. It made our $2,000 system sound like a $15,000 system. A must-have...it's next on *my* list as , and I don't even personally own a PA system yet...

one bad *** 
by Robert from Franklin Louisiana usa, December 2004

this is one bad *** processor, can't live without it, it is a must have.

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