If I had an excellent preamp I'm not sure I would add the HRS in my system. Hard to say. However, acting as an impedance matching device, an output buffer, or fixed gain linestage, the HRS is an outstanding add on for those with passive pres or running their amp directly from a volume controlled CD player. This is the most cost effective add on I've experienced to date.

As others have mentioned, one more component to find a home for, another good pair of interconnects required, and if you want to go all the way a top quality power cord as well. Sonically, I have noticed just the slightest reduction in transparency vs going direct with my RA Opus 21. The benefits more than make up for this.

Prior to getting the SCE HRS, my system consisted of an RA Opus 21 => Plinius SA-102 => Thiel CS2.4s. Interconnects and speaker cables are Pure Note Epsilon Ref, power cords TG Audio SLVR and Elrod 3 Sig. Very transparent, lively, and detailed. I have enjoyed this set up for almost a year now. The things that have bothered me was a slight leaning/thinning out in the upper octaves, and a perceived need for more power when I wanted to crank my system to higher volumes. I first tried a more powerful amp thinking this may be the solution. There was more power, but the leaness/thiness was still there, and sonically this particular amp was not in the same league as the SA-102. I knew at this point that I would probably need to consider a preamp. I got in contact with an Audiogon member who has a similar setup to mine, and inquired as to what the differences were between going CD direct vs using a preamp. He confirmed that the sound was better using a preamp, but also mentioned that he was using a humble box called the SCE Harmonic Recovery System between his RA CD55 and SA-102, and getting excellent results. I now have the SCE HRS in my system. First off let me say there are no downsides that I have been able to detect that detract from the enjoyment of music. The signal is much more linear and coherent now, details have a more fleshed out character, and are more clearly delineated within the soundstage. Dynamics, and a sense of added power have improved dramatically. While I paid 450$ for the HRS, I had to add another pair of Pure Note ics, 400$, plus ~250$ for a CV Flavor 4 cryo'd Gold pc. All very well worthwhile additions to keep the quality of my audio chain intact. Even with these additional expenses I consider the total cost of 1100$ to be much more cost effective than the cost of a quality preamp.

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Improves sound inmensely

None

This product is unbelievable...its been connected in my system for more than two years, and will continue there. It is the only component I have not changed since I bought it. To tell the truth I do not know what it does to music, but I assure you that without it music sounds more blurred, undetailed and bloomy. My system is quite good and I have tried it with and without the SCE. The final result of these trials is that it is an indispensable part of my system. My system: Mesa Baron amplifier with 4881 tubes Sonic Frontiers preampifier SFL-2 tubes Magnepan MG1.6 QR main speakers Triangle Titus 2002 rear speakers Jolida tube cd player Sony SACD-DVD 550 player Cables: MIT-500 (Spectral) with Harmonic Technology Truth Link ADCOM GSA 700 video amplifier SCE If you really want to feel lower end impact and sweet and detailed highs, give it a try. Highly recommended

I have a pretty serious system, having put in a lot of time and money, getting the best I could afford. I bought the HRS and stuck it in my system and forgot about it. I have thoroughly enjoyed by system, not growing tired of it over the last couple of years that I have had it. The other day, I decided to take the HRS out of the system to make sure it was really doing something. I played a record and it sounded pretty weak. I thought that maybe it was just a poor quality disc but I went ahead and put the HRS back in having turned off the amp while the record continued to play. While still squatted by the amp, having turned in back on, I immediately could tell a difference. It was music! I'm not going to mess around anymore. I'll go back to enjoying the music.

Phase shift can give voices "illuminated from within" sound effect.

Doesn''t improve sound quality at all within human audible range. Had to file dispute on credit card since the dealer took over 30 days to issue me a credit on the return

These are my views and what I heard with the SCE. I did not notice any detail or soundstage improvements at all. If there were any, they were not of any significance. This was after 100, and then 200-250 hours of burn-in. Any perception of detail seemed to be from the increased volume level. You have to be very careful and play pink noise and measure with a good, .1 db SPL meter to compensate for volume levels before comparing with and without the SCE. If you don''t have .1 SPLM, then I would adjust the sound pressure level to 1 db less with the SCE. For $500 it should overcome a 1 db deficit. If you still hear differences, then okay. The only difference I heard was when playing Stevie Wonder and switching between "active" and "passive" on my Adcom GFP-750. His voice had an "illuminated from within sound" with the GFP-750 in "active" compared to "passive". I believe this could be due to phase shift which these gain boxes put into the signal. I also hear no differences of significance between my Marantz CDR-500 and Cary CD 303. There just aren''t many differences between the budget Marantz and Cary''s, etc. For example, CD''s only have a 96 db headroom and the CDP can''t improve upon what''s not there to begin with. So fault my hearing perception if need be. If you want a real change try the Audio Harmony Two. This box CREATES (pleasant to the the ear) 2nd order harmonics. The Rega Brio integrated amp does this too. The sound difference is obvious. Whether you like the effect is up to you. My setup #1: Cary CD 303 / SCE / Musical Fidelity A3cr / B&W Nautilus 804 and #2: Marantz CDR-500 / Adcom GFP-750 / SCE / M-F A3 cr / N804.

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Audio Harmony TWO.

I burned this unit in for three days before use, and didn't notice anything in particular at first. But then I tried a CD I was more familiar with, and was stunned to hear greatly enhanced detail, especially detail buried deep in the mix. As others have said below, the effect is subtle at first but, ultimately, powerful.

Sometimes enhanced detail can be bad, for instance with Glenn Gould classical piano CDs I can now hear him humming to himself in the background much more distinctly. :-)

A great unit. Highly recommended.

versatility, connectability, refinement

none meaningful

extra points about this product. input stages in general have too low input impedence. that means that they act as a current drain to the device ahead of it. a really well design input stage ought to be high input impedence to make the job of the source circuit easier. the SCE box is basically is a well designed input stage that does right what too many manufacturers wont. you'd be surprised at the number of premium priced brands that cut corners in this essential part of the circuit. SCE has taken it upon itself to do what other manufacturers should have done in the first place. Crazy thought. You buy this box and then you find out what correct design would have sounded like. like i said below, i tested this with other filters, like the bybee. the bybee sounds very much like the SCE, so with the two together, you get something like the SCE but more so. i also tested the SCE with a thing called a Triphasor. the d.u.t. (that's device_under_test for non fanatics) was a triphasor type 7. the point was to discover if there was any synergy with other filter technologies. the triphasor is an unusual device, takes forever to burn in, and changes its character radically several times before stable burn in is achieved. first, the SCE/Triphasor combo sounded dull and muddy, "bad" as in not good, then it changed to overly bright ( a real oddball, this puppy).i was about to throw in the towel but found the set up to slowly get things right as the burn in matured. at this point it sounds like a winner, with the ambient sounds very clearly distinguished from the sound sources. like i said, this thing takes forever to settle in, but the signs are that tripahsor interacts with SCE in good ways. your mileage may vary.

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see below

smokin' interface-lets all your stuff get along with all your other stuff

more boxes and wiresmakes for psysical and visual clutter

discovery i made. put bybee line level modules on the INPUT side of the harmonic recovery unit. bybees look like metal tubes with a interconnect tail on one side and RCA plug on the other. use your A grade interconnects on the input side and keep them short. describe the difference ? FUGGABOOGAWOOKA! kleeeeen.... sweeet.... triple distilled.... takes your breath away.... sonic equivalent of the perfect chilled vodka.... ahhhhh. Yeah.

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everything in known universe both consumer and pro

dynamics; enlivens music; unobtrusive

need more interconnects & make room on the rack

i think neal below had the review pegged. one thing i find missing in most of these reviews is associated gear. so here goes:
Speakers: Merlin Milleniums (w/ Bam) (the best!)
pre: CJ PF2L
amp: CJ MF 2100
CD: denon 560 (weak link in system)
tuner: mac mr67
ICs: JPS Ultraconductors
Speaker Wire: JPS Superconductor bi-wire

--so i obviosly have a pretty hi-end system, very detailed, but i must admit that this device did wonders for my musical enjoyment. i did not notice any detrimental effects to the music (as would be expected when inserting an additional, non passive device in the signal path)--instead, the music became more dynamic, more exciting, more tangible.

yeah, this thing is staying for a long time.

btw: after auditioning it alone for a few days, i also added the TDS passive audiophile--talk about synergy! they don't step on each other, rather they complement each other--the HRS makes the sound more dynamic, while the TDS increases the soundstage--together they both work to resolve low level info (timber timber everywhere!).

if you ever get the opportunity to audition both, do so. i picked up both used for @$200 each, and they combined were like going to a multi-thousand dollar pre & amp! unbeatable bang for the buck! (even has me reconsidering an upgrade to joule separates--so for a $400 investment, i may save @$10k!)

(then again, i'm quite nuts, so i'll probably upgrade unnecessarily. right now the sound is stunning, and its suddenly hard to justify)

fwiw: both devices are placed after the cdp & before the pre (cdp>hrs>tds>pre). and that's where they're staying for a long time.

rhyno

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tds passive audiophile

simple to use and an excellent value

Need more interconnects

I can't remember where I first heard of the SCE Harmonic Recovery System but was intrigued by the strength of the reviews here and at www.sceaudio.com. I bought the unit used at the Stereo Trading Outlet (www.tsto.com), hoping it would live up to it's billing. I installed the unit between the CD player and receiver and put on a CD to check the results. The increase in gain was the first change that was noticeable, but there was a host of subtle improvements that added up to a big step forward in the music presentation. Individual notes gained a sharper focus. Fine details were more evident against a quiter background. The texture and timber of the music improved. Bass was tight and well defined. The structure of the music was more coherent as if there were a greater retrieval of music from the CD. The increase in gain works well for my system as I am driving a pair of Shahinian Obelisk speakers with 50 wpc from my receiver. It could do the job, but at higher volumes there was a strain in the music that could lead to fatigue. Now there is a greater ease in the presentation. I feel the HRS represents a lot of performance for the price. If this is considered a tweak, then it's a great tweak. Music is more engaging and lively from my system and I do more listening because of it. The only downside was having to add another set of interconnects but it's a small price to pay for an improvement of this magnitude. I feel the HRS does exactly what it says. For this and the price, I have to give it five stars.

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increases the details of the music

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I purchased this unit with high hopes. When I first hooked it up between my cd player and receiver all I noticed was an increase in volume without turning the volume knob as far. SCE says to burn the Harmonic Recovery box for approx. 30 hrs. I did that and really didn't notice much difference other than the volume increasing. Then one evening I fired up my cd player and there it was. I was hearing instrument and voice details that were hidden or buried in the mix. If I were to recommend one tweak to someone's system this would be it. I have the MSB Link and Monarchy Dip II, but this unit really is worth the $450 I paid for it. I bought this from www.audioshopper.com/AudioWaves and the the special AC cord was included in the price. Try them first for the best price.