First steps

5. A section within the STEREO VITALIZER with one of the most decisive influences on the sound is PROCESS control. If you continue to turn the PROCESS control up, more of the signal is added to the BASS and MID-HITUNE sections whilst dominant mid frequencies are reduced according human hearing at the same time. The below sections contain more detailed infor- mation on this aspect. Familiarize yourself with the sound changes before deciding on the setting which sounds best.

6. We shall now turn our attention to the HARMONICS control. Note the improved detail in the high frequency range, the further you turn the control in. In practice, values between 4 and 6 have proved to be the most common.

The HARMONICS are accentuated by the STEREO VITALIZER with equalizer technology, unlike other procedures. Previously, so-called »Exciters«, devices to generate harmonic tones, produced their harmonics with the aid of a generator which mainly added type K3 and type K5 distortions to the signal (odd harmonics of 3rd and 5th order). The familiar disadvantages of this principle are as follows: although odd harmonics do add to the brilli- ance of the audio signal to a significant degree, they tend to be somewhat sharp, which leeds to hearing fatigue for listeners. Another pitfall is that the distortions added were not part of the original signal.

The STEREO VITALIZER accentuates the harmonics which are also part of the original signal! The HARMONICS filters are designed in such a way that even and odd harmonics (K2, K3, K4, K5...) are accentuated equally. This makes the processed signal more natural with a soft, silky-sounding top-end. Once you have selected the setting for the HARMONICS control you can sit back to listen to the new sound image.

7. Finally, activate the SURROUND PROCESSOR turn up the STEREO WIDTH control to the 12h-position and note the soft spreading stereo image.

8. Switch VITALIZER ACTIVE off to return to the original signal. If you now say »I don't believe that« or »Booh«, you belong to the overwhelming majority of those people who have ever heard a VITALIZER. It was this sound impression which led to VITALIZER technology winning awards like the »Golden Ear« from Europe's biggest »Audio« magazine for the most inno- vative product in 1993.

10	S T E R E O