- Reveals greater aural detail, creates wider soundfield
- Amplifies low-level ambient information
- Works with all two-channel sources
- Stereo analog RCA inputs and outputs
- 20 to 20,000 Hz frequency range
Technical Details
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The Sound Enhancer TDS202 from Acoustic Research (AR) is the first consumer product to feature True Dimensional Sound (TDS) technology. Originally introduced to the professional audio market in 1997, TDS unlocks hidden elements, such as background instruments and vocals, unintentionally buried in the mix. Patented circuitry provides an increase in voltage that, when coupled with the "spectral decay" effect, enhances the signal with a wider, more detailed soundfield.
Sound Enhancer--which has been a key component in the production of soundtracks for such popular films as U-571, The Mummy, and Jerry Maguire--uses only passive circuitry, ensuring the greatest possible signal integrity and purity of sound. Its stylish, sleek design--measuring 7.875 inches wide by 5.125 inches deep and 2.25 inches high--fits most existing audio racks or home entertainment centers.
AR's Sound Enhancer requires no adjustments. L/R inputs and outputs simplify setup: just plug in a two-channel feed from a CD player, DVD player, MP3 player, or other audio source.
When processed by the Sound Enhancer, the least audible frequencies are increased in amplitude without reshaping the loudness contour, revealing subtle elements in the original recording while managing "dwell time"; that is, the duration for which newly perceptible frequencies can be heard. Audio is then fed from the output jacks of the Sound Enhancer to your receiver, amplifier, or preamp.
AR's Sound Enhancer is designed for all levels of music enthusiasts, from casual listeners to dedicated audiophiles. Given that the process of enhancing subtle nuances via an increase in voltage results in an improvement over a wide frequency range--20 to 20,000 Hz--the difference is noticeable in all audio components, from boomboxes to state-of-the-art DVD players.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent product for mid-fi systems,
By
This review is from: Acoustic Research TDS202 TDS Sound Enhancement Sound System (1-Speaker, Silver) (Personal Computers)
I've had the original TDS-II box that does the same thing as this one for five or six years. Unlike other little black effect boxes I've tried in the past, this one I've never taken out of the signal path and whenever I play music cd's, I always have the box turned on. When you first hook it up and turn it on, the most apparent thing you notice is the sound becomes louder and slightly brighter. The effect may seem subtle initially but give it a few days and you will definitely prefer the sound being processed by this box because if you go back to ordinary stereo, you'll swear something is missing. Recently, I've used this to enhance cd-r's and playing them back on the car stereo is just awesome-sounding. This unit brings a certain presence to cd's on mid-fi systems & car stereos, especially. I'd recommend this unit over any cable upgrade in a second - I can't understand why the product has not become more popular. Grab one if they're still available. BTW, the description of this product here is quite misleading: this unit has no speaker - it's an effects box.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great sound processor, unique design!,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Acoustic Research TDS202 TDS Sound Enhancement Sound System (1-Speaker, Silver) (Personal Computers)
I purchased this item earlier this year may 2004. I would like to say. It's an excellent product for creating a more live soundstage to conventional home theater set-up to more refined high home theater systems. There are plenty of audiophiles such as myself who TWEAK their system irregardless of the components used from low-fi to higher end. Even without the additional sound processors I have bridged with this enhancer, my PIONEER HIGH RECEIVER WITH MAGNEPAN, SRSLABS, THEATER RESEARCH SPEAKERS just bloom into a much wider and lively concerto soundstage.I have been using various sound processors for 25 years and as a former high end home theater installer, this is basically an advancement of the original OMNISONIC IMAGER made by omnisonix back in 1979, no longer in existence. Carver sonic holography replaced that, which I also had along with DBX 3BX III expanders w/impact restoration...That made any analog recording sound somewhat digital and "LIVE" presentation. The TDS-202 is the refined version of the CARVER HOLOGRAPHY. I have all these processors including the APHEX AUREL EXCITER/BIG BOTTOM which has great reviews and SRSLABS SPATIAL ENHANCER and the CARVER HAV-9 SONIC HOLOGRAPHY...the later version of C-9 made in 1981. I must say, this is a MUST for conventional home theater applications and 2 channel systems creating a 3-dimensional soundstage with wider dynamics. For high end systems, this will improve the 3-dimensional spectrum and expand the acoustical dispersion of your speakers. If you interconnect all the processors I have included above, the soundstage is short of AMAZING! The recordings from a CD OR DVD sounds as if the band or people are in front or back of you. The acoustic research TDS-202 enhancer can make any system as they claim SOUND MUCH LIVELIER and with clarity...I AGREE with my technical knowledge and experience to back that up. Remember, all these sound processors are all different and can compliment each other if one has technical knowledge and experience. They are all different and highly recommended. What is great about the TDS-202 is that it doesn't require any voltage or direct current to amplify it. Amazing product for the price and a recommended piece of equipment for the novice to professional/audiophile. Check also the DAXIOM STABILIZERS R-103 OR H-103, the latest technology in sound enhancement, coupled with the ACOUSTIC RESEARCH TDS-202 would create HARMONY in the audioworld. Remember, Don't compare any of these sound processors/enhancers, they are all patentedly different and COMPLIMENT one another and NOT an ALTERNATIVE. From a former high end home theater installer with 25 yrs of audio experience,returning to the US ARMY for patriotic reasons, a true audiophile who have been using various processors and accessories since 1979. This product is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yes, it's real. It works. It's not simple. Mine are always IN.,
By Quantum Buff "Quantum Buff" (Sharon, MA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Acoustic Research TDS202 TDS Sound Enhancement Sound System (1-Speaker, Silver) (Personal Computers)
I owned the original, powered, True Dimension Sound unit. $350, years ago.
I got some passive ones for my car, separate front and back, when they came out, also $250 bucks. I practically freaked out when the sold the technology to AR who came out with $30 passive units. I now own 4 of only the AR units. After you turn down the gain to compensate for the increase when the unit is IN, you still notice a tremendous clarity to the speech, music, tonality of string instruments. When I switch it OUT, I completely agree with those who say it sounds like you are putting back a wool blanket over your speakers. This is real technology, started by a father-son pair or sonar/audio engineers. It effectively adds a differentiated (as in calculus) signal back to the original. Similar to the way a capacitor can smooth out high frequency components, the alternative analogous component, an inductor enhances the high frequency components. It's a very clever little discovery by them and I hope AT paid them well for it. We consumers now benefit since you can now get them for $20 rather than $400. It does not sound like any type of distortion at all (to me). I'm so used to them them that I feel I have to strain while listening to un-enhanced music or speech in order to get the same amount of detail I get when using the AR202s. If you like to hear musical detail and tone nuances, without any decrease in bass (I don't think that reviewer is at all credible), you can not go wrong buying one of these. Many cables cost more than that alone. You even get two, moderate quality cables with the unit. Even though I do have an EE degree, I love these units completely for the sound improvement, nothing else. Don't be put off because these newest versions of TDS are so cheap. It's the same technology as before, but implemented with up to date components by a company that incredibly believes in keeping the price down close to their actual cost! You WIN, folks. Get this!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
