(Sonic Decanter)

If you’re inspired by a pitch video on a crowdsourcing site, you send some money. It’s not an investment; you don’t get rich if the invention becomes a hit. But you do get some memento — a T-shirt or a discounted version of the invention once it’s manufactured — and the rosy glow of knowing that you helped bring a cool idea to life.

There’s only one problem: You have no way to know if the invention was actually any good. That’s where our crowdfunding reviews come in. We test the prototype, find out how much promise it has, and help you decide if the thing is worth funding or buying.

Today’s invention: The Sonic Decanter

The claim: With the help of a 15- or 20-minute ultrasonic session, this appliance will improve the taste of any bottle of wine you plan to drink for dinner. Using an iOS or Android app, you’ll be able to adjust the timing and keep track of what you’ve consumed by scanning a bar code.

Price: $250.

Goal: Seeking $85,000.

Status: Sonic Decanter has so far raised roughly $12,000 and has 33 days to go.

What I tested: The Sonic Decanter app won’t be ready until May, when the product is scheduled to ship, but I was able to test the effectiveness of the actual appliance. I tried its electronic treatment out on two wine bottles: one I’d never tasted before, and one of my go-to (relatively cheap) favorites.

What I learned: First, this thing is a bit of a beast. It weighs about 4 pounds and is a couple of inches taller than your average bottle of vino. As someone who lives in a tiny studio apartment with little counter space, I found it imposing. If I actually owned one, I’d have to shove it in a cupboard and unearth it every time I felt like jazzing up my evening drink.

View photos Sonic Decanter on a countertop More

The Sonic Decanter, next to one of my decorative gourds. (Alyssa Bereznak/Yahoo Tech)

But as long as you have enough space on your counter to host an electronic sommelier, the setup is pretty painless. Just plug it in and pour about a cup of cold tap water into its base. (Filling and emptying the Decanter can be sort of messy, because there’s no elegant way to do it.) Then place the bottle in the center of the setup and wait.

If you’re zapping a red wine, you press the red button, which sets the device at 20 minutes. If you’re prepping a white wine, you press the white button to set the timer at 15 minutes. The difference in time has to do with the levels of anthocyanin and polyphenol compounds in each shade of vino. According to Sonic Decanter founder Mike Coyne, white has less of these chemicals and therefore requires a shorter sonic spa treatment.

View photos Red and white buttons on a Sonic Decanter More

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