Integrating a sound processor

[Doomer]

How would I go about hooking a BBE Sonic Maximizer up to a receiver such that all spoken dialogue is processed by the processor before coming out of the speakers? (preferably all center channel and front channel signals processed). This is for a couple of old farts who find that it removes the mud and allows them to understand what's being said.

TIA

 

[Tiamat]

At minimum, the receiver needs to have preamp outputs and main amp inputs. The sound processor would take the preamp output and it would output to the main amp inputs.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Looks like the BBE units are 2-channel only as well, which wouldn't allow for the front three speakers to be processed.

EDIT: How do they have it hooked up now? Between an analog stereo source and a two channel receiver? Surround receiver accepting 2 channel analog and applying pro-logic on it?

 

[Doomer]

Thanks.

Doing 2 channel now with the BBE between the source and receiver. Obviously this isn't optimal since changing sources is a real PITA.

I can find receivers that have pre out but haven't found one yet with main in. Any suggestions?

I have an older Onkyo 5.1 reciever that has pre out and amp in so I know they used to exist.

 

[spidey07]

Run it through a tape loop. REC OUT to the BBE, BBE OUT to TAPE IN.

Or to better address their interest an equalizer or using normalization (night mode).

 

[Doomer]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Run it through a tape loop. REC OUT to the BBE, BBE OUT to TAPE IN.

Or to better address their interest an equalizer or using normalization (night mode).

Will this process everything that goes to the speakers from all sources?

Pardon my ignorance, I've never dealt with this before.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Doomer

Originally posted by: spidey07
Run it through a tape loop. REC OUT to the BBE, BBE OUT to TAPE IN.

Or to better address their interest an equalizer or using normalization (night mode).

Will this process everything that goes to the speakers from all sources?

Pardon my ignorance, I've never dealt with this before.

It will if you select that as your input (tape in). Your request to only affect certain channels is where the pre-out/main in would be used unless you have a highly advanced receiver where you can assign different channels to different inputs/outputs.

My guess is better positioning or some EQ would help more than this complicated setup.

 

[Doomer]

They're sold on the BBE so I'm stuck with it.

Not sure I understand how the tape in / tape out would work. If the source was the DVD player, would the sound get processed?

 

[Rubycon]

Sidechannels. Before you say WTF is that I'm not familiar with new receivers and such. Spidey is right - in the old days you could use a tape loop which is essentially a SC but do new receivers do this?

If you use an outboard decoder you could either SC the BBE or just set your own DSP to do a similar role (equalize and compand). I think these things are beyond the realm of most home receivers though.

EDIT: if your receiver has preamp outs you can run the center channel (summed to mono) through the BBE and then feed its output to a small amp like a Behringer, etc.

 

[Doomer]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Sidechannels. Before you say WTF is that I'm not familiar with new receivers and such. Spidey is right - in the old days you could use a tape loop which is essentially a SC but do new receivers do this?

If you use an outboard decoder you could either SC the BBE or just set your own DSP to do a similar role (equalize and compand). I think these things are beyond the realm of most home receivers though.

EDIT: if your receiver has preamp outs you can run the center channel (summed to mono) through the BBE and then feed its output to a small amp like a Behringer, etc.

I thought about a second amp but I gotta try and keep it as simple as possible. Having one more component to turn on would be a bit much for them. I'll try the tape loop and see if it will work.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Maybe they just need a new center channel speaker that they can understand

What's the speaker they're using now?

 

[Doomer]

Haven't gotten the center speaker yet but the main and rear are Bose so it'll probably be a Bose.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

:facepalm;

 

[Oyeve]

Do tape loops even exist in multi-channel receivers? I havent seen one since my old 2 channel days. I miss em tho as I have a 25 year old kickass eq laying around.

 

[Doomer]

My Onkyo TX-DS777 has one and it's DD 5.1, DTS THX certified.

 

[cheesehead]

Don't the BBE Sonic Maximizers just ramp up the even-order harmonic distortion?

 

[Doomer]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Don't the BBE Sonic Maximizers just ramp up the even-order harmonic distortion?

Dunno exactly what it does but it helps old people understand dialogue when watching movies. Unmuddies music too, so they tell me.

Funny how it isn't marketed for this purpose.