Acoustic Research TDS202 TDS Sound Enhancement Sound System (1-Speaker, Silver)

Other products by Acoustic Research

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005QZ16
• Item model number: AR TDS202
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,268 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 5, 2001

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product for mid-fi systems, May 19, 2004

By	Rick "hunternc" (NC) - See all my reviews

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.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sound processor, unique design!, July 2, 2004

By	EMMANUEL R. CRUZ (chula vista, california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sound Enhancer, August 11, 2007

By	Steven Medel - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this Acoustic Research TDS202 on ebay. I paid $39.00. This unit is passive(no AC is needed). It comes with 2 RCA cables(gold plated connectors). The cables have arrows on them to indicate which way the music should flow, which means the arrow of the cables should point away from the output of your device or component. The unit measures 8" wide, 1 13/16" high, 5 1/2" deep(very small). It is made in China. I placed this unit between my tube preamp(Ming Da MC7R) and tube monoblock amps(Dared DV-300B). I was very disappointed with the results. My speakers(Monitor Audio GS10) sounded like transistor radios with the AR TDS202 in my system. The bass completely disappeared. Acoustic Research does say to experiment by placing the TDS202 in different configurations within your system, I.E. in the tape loop, between preamp and amp, in the signal processing loop of the preamp/receiver, etc... But I have no tape loop or external processor loop in my preamp, so I could only set it up between preamp and amp. I am not sure why some users really like this, and why some don't, other than everyone hears different. I do not recommend this unit. I also don't like the BBE Sonic Maximizer 482 either(I hear a pumping effect through my speakers like someone is moving the microphone around during music playback). So far, I have not found any sonic enhancer device that has really improved the sound of my system. I have been experimenting for many years with different sonic enhancement devices.