If it sounds better, it sounds better. Can't argue with that. 
 
But it is basically just a filter. The schematic is widely available online.

bitflipper
If it sounds better, it sounds better. Can't argue with that. 
 
But it is basically just a filter. The schematic is widely available online.

My understanding is that it's time alignment and not a filter.  It causes each frequency to hit the ear at the correct time depending on frequency which gets jumbled up in processing and amplification. i.e. highs milliseconds before mids etc...  At least that's how it was explained to me years ago by their rep.

First thing I found out is that when the low and hi controls are at 12 O Clock the frequency response is not flat (on older units anyway, may be different on newer models) There was a gentle boost at low and high end. I found after some detailed testing that the flat response was when the controls were at 11 O'Clock. So a good thing to do is to set them for a total flat situation then A/B IN and OUT conditions.
 
Use pink noise or a square wave to set for flat response.
 
Then I decided to do the Hi Fi test. Patched it in between a serious quality RIAA preamp and class A valve amp driving Quad Electrostatic speakers. RIAA preamp was fed from high end turntable with high end pickup and playing a very high quality record. (Sheffield Lab direct to disc series, Dave Grusin, Harvey Mason, Ron Carter and Lee Ritenour) Something very few people have ever had the experience of hearing, it is quite something. There were several people in the room and most picked the BBE as being in circuit nearly every time. ie it was pretty obvious things sounded worse with it in circuit. Also when it was switched out it the signal went completely around it not through the unit in bypass mode either. This test is seriously hard on most things. Many things fail dismally.
 
Why would you feed such a pure signal through a whole lot of unnecessary electronics, filters time delay circuits adding noise, distortion you name it. It is supposed to do a whole lot of good but in fact it detracted from the original signal when it was switched in. That is what sold me on not using it anymore.
 
But I do have to say that BBE are saying that they are up to their 4th generation circuit now and I was testing either the first or second generation so I do admit that. Maybe things have improved since then. I did try the software sometime back and was not that impressed though. But then again that could be a situation where the software is not as good as the hardware. Don't see anyone falling all over it these days though.
 
 

vintagevibe

bitflipper
If it sounds better, it sounds better. Can't argue with that. 
 
But it is basically just a filter. The schematic is widely available online.

My understanding is that it's time alignment and not a filter.  It causes each frequency to hit the ear at the correct time depending on frequency which gets jumbled up in processing and amplification. i.e. highs milliseconds before mids etc...  At least that's how it was explained to me years ago by their rep.

Common misconception, which probably has its origins in some early ill-conceived marketing hyperbole or perhaps simply conjecture. But I've studied the schematics and there's no time or phase delay in the circuit beyond the trivial phase shift you'd expect from an analog filter. Certainly not the milliseconds of delay you'd need for an audible "time alignment" effect.

If it really was $0.00 I might get one.
 
I could use another 12vAC wall-wart.

 I don't claim to be any kind of an expert on the BBE. I can read a schematic although I have never looked at the one for the BBE process. I know they have a proprietary chip that I'm pretty sure you don't have access to what it's doing. Unless there is a chip schematic somewhere.
 
 Some folks don't like music that has any kind of exciter in it period. I like the nice clean sound you can get from one on occasion. Some folks swear by them on electric guitar, but then again probably just as many people aren't impressed.This makes sense to me because some guitar is muddy on distortion and BBE can pull that in tighter. I know Danny isn't big on BBE.  I don't fault anyone for what they hear and like or don't like.
 
 The design of a product is pretty much the foundation that it sits on in terms of company integrity. We went round' about a similar thing on ARC. People claimed that it doesn't really do what the company says it can in fact do. I countered with if that is indeed true then the company can be sued for false advertising of a product. From my perspective companies don't generally intentionally misrepresent a product. They might make something appear to be more of something than what it really is. They are known to bend the facts to suit their pitch but outright selling snake oil has legal ramifications and can lead to serious issues with customers. Most companies would never resort to this as it's self-destructive.
 
 So I would say that there is some truth to the BBE process and they have patented it. It's pretty difficult to patent a lie. It has to work in some measure in order to pass the process. So when I am told that the process aligns audio signals I believe that this is the case. What the end result might sound like is another thing altogether.
 
 I have both hardware and software BBE. In use I don't rely on them as much as I did at one time. I once used one in a PA and I thought the PA sounded much better. YMMV depending on your setup. Signal compensation due to a cheap set of PA drivers can be a real improvement. They seem to work best on several tracks or a whole mix as opposed to one track. I still occasionally use the process in plug-in form. You can over use it though and then it becomes tiresome. In some cases on cheap PAs I actually gasped at how much better it sounded.
 
 I think it has the effect of an exciter but it doesn't actually excite in technical terms.The whole thing is designed to remove muddy sound and pull things in tighter. Sometimes compared to an aural exciter the two are totally different animals and don't work the same way.
 
 I would always use EQ first and never lean on one but it's in my toolbox just in case.
 
 

I would measure the wall wart just to make sure it really is 12vAC before using it.

Here is the data sheet for the chip:
 
http://www.cn.njr.com/PDF/NJM2153_E.pdf

bitflipper
Common misconception, which probably has its origins in some early ill-conceived marketing hyperbole or perhaps simply conjecture. But I've studied the schematics and there's no time or phase delay in the circuit beyond the trivial phase shift you'd expect from an analog filter. Certainly not the milliseconds of delay you'd need for an audible "time alignment" effect.

Here's a link to a BBE Manual.  (i'ts locked so I couldn't cut and paste)  
http://www.bbesound.com/products/manuals/882i_manual_rev4.pdf
Read the "What Is it?" part.  I doubt they have been committing fraud for 25 years.  Back in the day when I used a Tascam 8 Track Cassette record it did absolute magic that no filter could possibly do.  When I went to digital it really wasn't needed any more.

Jeff Evans
First thing I found out is that when the low and hi controls are at 12 O Clock the frequency response is not flat (on older units anyway, may be different on newer models) There was a gentle boost at low and high end. I found after some detailed testing that the flat response was when the controls were at 11 O'Clock. So a good thing to do is to set them for a total flat situation then A/B IN and OUT conditions.
 
Use pink noise or a square wave to set for flat response.
 
Then I decided to do the Hi Fi test. Patched it in between a serious quality RIAA preamp and class A valve amp driving Quad Electrostatic speakers. RIAA preamp was fed from high end turntable with high end pickup and playing a very high quality record. (Sheffield Lab direct to disc series, Dave Grusin, Harvey Mason, Ron Carter and Lee Ritenour) Something very few people have ever had the experience of hearing, it is quite something. There were several people in the room and most picked the BBE as being in circuit nearly every time. ie it was pretty obvious things sounded worse with it in circuit. Also when it was switched out it the signal went completely around it not through the unit in bypass mode either. This test is seriously hard on most things. Many things fail dismally.
 
Why would you feed such a pure signal through a whole lot of unnecessary electronics, filters time delay circuits adding noise, distortion you name it. It is supposed to do a whole lot of good but in fact it detracted from the original signal when it was switched in. That is what sold me on not using it anymore.
 
But I do have to say that BBE are saying that they are up to their 4th generation circuit now and I was testing either the first or second generation so I do admit that. Maybe things have improved since then. I did try the software sometime back and was not that impressed though. But then again that could be a situation where the software is not as good as the hardware. Don't see anyone falling all over it these days though.
 
 

Your tests may be valid on very high end equipment but on my $1100 Fishman SA220 Line Array your tests do not really apply.