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sonic maximizer

They're basically weird EQs. A lot of people say they make everything clearer, some say they scoop your mids.

... both are right. (except it's not as much of a mid scoop as a boost around the mids...)

They're basically a bass and treble boost-- but the treble boost varies by how strong your input signal is.

Personally, I used to swear by them, but I've grown out of it.
 
I've got one in my rack that I've never hooked into my bass rig. It did make an old Pioneer component stereo system sound a little better. Added sparkle and thump that the system's eq couldn't deliver, but I could get the same results out of a graphic eq added later.

A sonic Maximizer claims to be more than an eq, as it supposedly time-aligns low frequencies with the high frequencies, reducing the sound source's "muddiness". I can definitely live without it, but still I'd like to try it out with my amp, eventually.
 
I use a Rack mount BBE with my PA System and it really makes a big difference but not so much with my Bass rig,in fact it can get muddy sounding with the Bass rig.
The two best ways to describe what it does is that it acts like a solid state brake and gives you full rich sound without having to turn up the volume so much and the second is that it can be like you took a blanket off of your speakers.
The best thing to do is get a used one and see if it works for you.
 
I've used the BBE (my Eden rig,too) since they hit the market. Hell,it wouldn't surprise me if my BBE wasn't one of the first 10 made! A great tool,IF not overused. A real benefit in the studio,too.

I've been thinkin' about "breaking my habit" from these. No reason,really. It's just in my head that my current rig....

Eden WT800,Eden (2)4x10XLT's,Ashley rack-mount comp.,BBE,,T.C. Electronics Chorus.

....is the "Ultimate 90's Rig" (Even though the Ashley (iirc) & BBE were acquired in the 80's).Translation?? Out-dated!!!!
Whether the BBE is being used,or not,it'll never leave my rack,that's for sure.
 
Seams the OP had this going on in two places so I'll repost my reply here as well....just because.

I own a BBE 482 and I have a GK 700 RBII.

Thru my Avatar 210/212 set up, nope don't use it, don't really see/hear a need for it. Can't really explain it but it just sound like too much and I can achieve a better results with just the GK EQ (LOVE the GK eq section).

Now with my FrankenRig 1820 cab....use it and LOVE IT!!!! something about that set up that it really seams to enhance. It makes the 18 lower and more pounding and the 210 section more defined.

I picked mine up used @ Guitar Center for $99 as an impulse buy for my studio just to have and didn't use it till I put the 1820 together. Nice tool to have but its a strange creature, a little goes a long way and too much is TOOOOO MUCH!!!!!