A full-function Sonic Maximizer with ganged stereo operation.

The BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer gives your sound the clarity and volume you've been searching for. Unbalanced 1/4" ins and outs. Dual channel with ganged process and low contour controls. Threshold control. Bypass switch for comparison of processed and unprocessed signals. +16dBu headroom. The BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer is ideal for use in pro and semi-pro sound reinforcement, mobile DJ systems, discos, and making cassette copies.

The BBE Process-"What it Is"
Loudspeakers have difficulty working with the electronic signals supplied by an amplifier. These difficulties cause such major phase and amplitude distortion that the sound reproduced by the speaker differs significantly from the sound produced by the original source.
In the past, these problems proved unsolvable and were thus relegated to a position of secondary importance in audio system design. However, phase and amplitude integrity is essential to accurate sound reproduction. Research shows that the information which the listener translates into the recognizable characteristics of a live performance are intimately tied into complex time and amplitude relationships between the fundamental and harmonic components of a given musical note or sound. These relationships define a sound's "sound".

When these complex relationships pass through a speaker, the proper order is lost. The higher frequencies are delayed. A lower frequency may reach the listener's ear first or perhaps simultaneously with that of a higher frequency. In some cases, the fundamental components may be so time-shifted that they reach the listener's ear ahead of some or all of the harmonic components.

This change in the phase and amplitude relationship on the harmonic and fundamental frequencies is technically called "envelope distortion." The listener perceives this loss of sound integrity in the reproduced sound as "muddy" and "smeared." In the extreme, it can become difficult to tell the difference between musical instruments, for example, an oboe and a clarinet.

BBE Sound, Inc. conducted extensive studies of numerous speaker systems over a ten year period. With this knowledge, it became possible to identify the characteristics of an ideal speaker and to distill the corrections necessary to return the fundamental and harmonic frequency structures to their correct order. While there are differences among various speaker designs in the magnitude of their correction, the overall pattern of correction needed is remarkably consistent.

The BBE Process is so unique that 42 patents have been awarded by the U.S. Patent Office.

BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer Features:

• Ganged stereo process control
• Ganged stereo low contour control
• +16dBu headroom
• Unbalanced 1/4" inputs and outputs
• Bypass control

Great price, too. Order today and save.

BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer Specifications:

• Frequency Response, Process Mode: program controlled
• Frequency Response, Bypass Mode: 5Hz-30kHz
• Signal to Noise Ratio 108dB process in/120dB process out
• Total Harmonic Distortion in Process Mode: less than 0.1% at 1kHz
• Input Impedance: 47kOhms
• Nominal Input level: -10dBu
• Minimum Load Impedance for Full Output Level: 1kOhms
• Nominal Output Level: -10dBu
• Maximum Output Level: +16dBu

BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer

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Average of 58 User Ratings

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I'm in Love

Posted by Satisification from Californication on Oct 21, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Engineer, musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, metal

I have since the 80's wondered about the BBE and whether or not it was a pile or for real. Let me tell all of you, get off the fence and you will not be sorry. It like removes all non-musical harmonics. I have found the love of my life and her name is BBE362. This is our signal path: guitar/Bass/Keys/Drum>effects>mixer>EQ>BBE>PREAMP>AMP>Speakers. Everything sounds beautiful, fat bottom, clean highs, vocals cut right through, every instrament has it's own headroom and is well defined and stands out in the mix. Very clean no noise at all.

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A must have in any musicians arsenal

Posted by Bassdude from Grand Rapids, MI on May 15, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Progressive, death metal, jazz, funk

I just got this today and it is amazing! I ordered the Factory B Stock and nothing was wrong with it. I use a Fender Deluxe Active Jazz Bass V, Boss Odb-3, with an SWR Workingman 4004 and Ampeg SVT810. I am very picky about my tone, and I always thought I was missing something. I knew I had pretty good tone, but it just felt kind of hollow and not there. Now that I run this through my effects loop, my sound is full and powerfull, even at low volumes. It'll make your sound crystal clear.

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unique piece of gear

Posted by fparque from inland empire on Nov 19, 2008

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: active musician

Reviewer's Play Style: r&B, blues, jazz

I tried using the rack unit with a simple set up, a gibson 335 through a roland jc120. Got a constant hum, most unplayable. Contacted bbe, got to me right away, they thought it might be a grounding problem. sent the unit back, got another, same thing. gave up, got my money back.

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Many Uses!

Posted by Mathew Ryan from San Antonio, TX on Oct 14, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock

I've had mine for about a year now, and I use it for many applications! Adding one of these inline in your PA set up can make a world of difference. It really does clear up the sound and make any PA sound bigger than it is by adding low frequency overtones, and crisp highs. It relieves ear fatigue as well, and that's great for your audience.

I also use one for my guitar AND bass rig and again, really cleans up the sound and makes the rigs sound bigger than they are.

Last application I use it for is DJing. Sounds wonderful between the source and power amp!

It's built very solid, very easy to use, and I wouldn't be caught with out it! Thx BBE.

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Finally

Posted by CavGuy147 from Columbus, OH on Aug 26, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Alternative, Metal

I've experimented with every damn gadget I could get my mitts on to get that ever-elusive perfect sound I always wanted. EQs, compressors, effects pedals...all to no avail. Finally, I am 100% happy with my sound. The 362 lives up to the hype. I plugged it into my rack and within about 5 minutes my amp was screaming exactly the way I've always wanted it to. If you're using Mesa/Boogie gear, you'll love it!

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BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer

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