Comments on: Snake Oil or Holy Water?

By: Richard Loftin

Richard Loftin — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:01:22 +0000

In reply to Bud Martin. I used one, not as often as you and missed the kick drum idea, but I have one for sale now. Last time I used it, it worked although now many years ago. I may be able to test it to verify it still works but I am no longer in studio work. I believed when I used it, it did what I wanted it to, basically added some presence if used well.

By: Joey P.

Joey P. — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 03:32:56 +0000

Would really appreciate if anyone had a copy of the owner’s manual for the SP-1, SP-II (and preferably, both) that they’d be willing to part with, make photocopies of, or digitize and share.

By: Ben Harris

Ben Harris — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:19:49 +0000

I used one in the 80’s on many different sound sources, such as drums, piano, vocals acoustic guitar. I set set it up on a return much like reverb. I never gave the secret away to anyone. The EXR was far better than the Aphex unit. The above comment from Aphex as it being snake oil is just sour grapes. It was incredible.

By: DM

DM — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 16:21:29 +0000

I have one of these. It’s definitely a “mystery box” as the insides are all encased, and trying to find any information, let alone a schematic (assuming one could even crack open the epoxy to repair it) has been as easy as chasing unicorns. I have three other “exciters” Behringer, Alesis, and ART, and this doesn’t sound anything like them. Keep meaning to pick up an Aphex. It adds a “sparkle” that is “brighter” than the other three and I liked using it on an effects send. When I bought mine only the “blue” worked on one channel. Now it is AFU and I’m not sure if I can repair it.

By: mike

mike — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 15:37:53 +0000

In reply to Bud Martin. Bud, I have 2 or 3 of these if you really need one. They also pop up on ebay periodically.

By: Daniel Gomez

Daniel Gomez — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 20:12:50 +0000

In reply to Bud Martin.

Musician for 50 years, Studio engineer since 1994, Degree in electronics. Bud’s comments are the more real world experience. I never disliked a piece of equipment because of its design per say, I always look at equipment for what it is, a TOOL, and how it sounds to ME. Been a president of a multi-million dollar gaming operation as well and my job was to manage directors and managers(people), not know every nuance of their expertise. Not that it doesn’t help! Bottom line, now I have to go check it(EXR) on a kick track to see what it does before I let it go. you never know. I once had a very well known music recording industry figure (published)tell me vintage Quad Eight channels sounded like a wet blanket draped over your speakers. He sold me 4 MM61 channels for $175.00 dollars apiece. After a proper recap and cleaning, they are arguably the best sounding preamps(and deal) I have ever heard including Neve, Electrodyne, Amek, or anything else. Everyone I know in the industry agrees with me. Point being, usefulness is in the ear of the listener. I never dreamt of trying the EXR II on Kick…my Bad! I’ll let you know…

By: Bud Martin

Bud Martin — Thu, 26 May 2022 05:18:52 +0000

I acquired a unit (as featured in the photo) in the mid 90’s from a guy who owed me some$$. I never had even fired it up. Then a tech who came to the studio to commission our new Amek console noticed it and said he knew a guy in Chicago who would buy it without question. He was an R&B producer and supposedly used these EXR units on practically every track he recorded. So just to confirm it passed signal prior to agreeing to sell it I randomly chose to insert it on a kick drum track. Not something usually associated with exciters. The result was incredible! Though I occasionally used it on other sources, it became my secret regarding how I achieved such great attack on my kick drum in mixes. I used this technic on a majority of recordings for the years that followed, including major label releases. No other exciter or enhancer processors were capable of producing the same effect. Including any model from Aphex. A couple years ago one channel finally failed, then this past November it was stolen from a storage unit in Escondido, CA along with 90 % of my recording gear. I’d purchase another one of the same model if available.

By: Brent

Brent — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 22:04:34 +0000

Here’s what the ex-owner/president of Aphex says:

“It was a multi pole high pass filter. When that output was added back to the full signal it created a comb filter effect. Initial impression was increased presence but very quickly people realized that there were parts of the spectrum missing.”

And he DOES know technical things, in the greatest detail. And he had the best engineers. So many, many classic hit records were recorded using or mastered using the Aphex Aural Exciter for decades & so few people know. Which is still selling after nearly 40 years.

The EXR is absolutely audio quackery, pure snake oil. Hardly surprising their admitted “not a tech person” ex-president (now interior designer) doesn’t even know how it works.

If you want to lose huge chunks of your music, use an EXR. Its not a serious piece of gear.

By: Don Resor

Don Resor — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:22:03 +0000

In reply to Ton Koenig.

Aphex does rule….

Well it use to.

Rode Microphones bought the rights to the company a few years ago.

By: Don Resor

Don Resor — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:19:43 +0000

I know that my boss from Sound Unlimited Systems in North Hollywood California was using the EXR SPI in the early 1980s for dance nitery business (disco) prior to moving to the Aphex Aural Exciter.

I actually did see a working EXR SPI in one of his original club systems from around September 1982.