Description
The Enhancer market was created by Aphex in the 1970s when they launched their first product, the Aphex Aural Exciter. Originally charged for on a per-minute basis, the Aphex was the first attempt at enhancing audio by adding harmonics to the signal. It wasn’t exactly a new idea – guitarists with valve amps had been doing it for years – but this was the first rack unit aimed at mix enhancement
SPL came up with new ways to approach the idea and their Vitalizer offers more than just high-end enhancement. The Bass control offers Soft or Tight via a variable control and the Mid-Hi frequency range has a Frequency and Harmonics controls with an overall Process adjustment. The Stereo Expander is separately switched and has a level control. There are individual channel input peak LEDs to warn of clipping
This is a rare, early Vitalizer 9319 from SPL. It has the same controls as the later version but is in a heavier-guage steel case with different front panel graphics
The front panel controls are
- Bass
- Mid-Hi Tune
- Harmonics
- Process
- Vitalizer bypass switch
- Stereo Expander (with bypass switch & level control)
It’s hard to describe the effect of the Vitalizer so I’ll quote straight from Derek Johnson writing in Sound on Sound. This was from a review of the later Vitalizer Jack, a simpler, lower-cost version of the item in this auction, but the effects are the same:
“In the world of aural enhancement, SPL stand, if not alone, then apart. Most enhancers or exciters produce their effect — brighter, more detailed sound — by generating certain amounts of controlled distortion. SPL’s Vitalizer family uses an arcane mix of EQ, phase and level manipulation to produce punchier, more detailed mixes, without (so SPL claim) introducing extra distortion”
“‘Detail’ and ‘clarity’ are much over-used words in mixing circles, but the Vitalizer… really does provide them in spades”
“The Vitalizer… really works — indeed, its effect on the bass end of a track is indescribable”
“SPL’s Vitalizer family uses an arcane mix of EQ, phase and level manipulation to produce punchier, more detailed mixes, without (so SPL claim) introducing extra distortion”
It’s worth noting that SPL produces extremely high-end equipment used by some of the top mastering studios. Their approach is to apply technology to come up with new ways of solving problems. All the SPL products I’ve used have impressed me with their sound quality and I respect the fact that they don’t make “Me Too” products that copy other manufacturers
