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Does anyone have any impressions about the Aphex Sound Exciter ?

I would like to use this as a graphic equalizer (kind of) between my phono preamp and main amp and I wondered if anyone has any experience with it.  I know it is a pro gear but hey, why not ?

Basically I want to get that hi dynamic range and punch from my vinyl as I get from the CDs.

I considered an equalizer but there are hardly any new ones being made and the extremely few that are made are extremely expensive.

So, any real experiences with this device ?  Sound engineers welcome to answer of course...

Thanks

128x128cakyol
17 responses Add your response
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cleeds
5,948 posts
 
The Aphex is a distortion generator. That’s the last thing I’d want in an audio system.

If you hope to get "hi dynamic range and punch from my vinyl as I get from the CDs," I suggest looking at your LP playback gear. It all starts at the source.
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bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

The piece of gear used in studios in the 1970’s (primarily on vocals) was named the Aphex Aural Exciter. Is that was is being referred to here? It was a harmonic distortion generator, used by Peter Asher on the Linda Ronstadt albums he produced.

Believe it or not, Nelson Pass is currently offering a similar device! Watch the You Tube video from The Burning Amp Festival to hear him discuss it.

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cakyol's avatar
cakyol OP
940 posts
 
Yes, that is the device I am referring to. It still seems to be actively used in recording studios. I know it is a recording professional's tool but I wanted to know if anyone actually has used it in a home setting.

Thanks
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Why would anyone want to use a "harmonic distortion generator" in the audio chain? Is it for special effects?
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 
A reasonable question, @kalali. For the answer, watch the video from the Burning Amp Festival in San Francisco from a couple of years ago (available on You Tube), in which Nelson Pass explains why.
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theophile's avatar
theophile
235 posts
 
It is not very exciting.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Why would a harmonic distortion generator give you more dynamic range? One come along cheap? Try a quieter phono preamp and a volume control.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
“Greater perceived loudness” is not the same thing as greater dynamic range. Maybe you need as expander.
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
When the Aphex gizmo showed up in the 70s there was quite a buzz about it...tales of self destructing circuit boards if you tried to open it and see what was inside, hushed conversations about what it was doing...amazing stuff. Note that Pass gave a pile of his "distortion generator" things out to people at a Burning Amp gathering...I like his "even order distortion" theories as unlike "mysterious" tweaks he has no secrets about his designs. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Mysterious tweaks? Secrets?! Whoa! Dog!! 🙀 How dare someone keep secrets from the wolf man! 
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
Kaitty...turn the oxygen tank up a little as that could help with your reading comprehension...maybe...
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Wolf did you mean nitrous? I wonder what happens when you improve your signal to noise ratio? 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
The methane twins strike again! Nice to smell you.
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