An active vibration absorber including a frame connected to a structure to be controlled and at least two reaction mass elements operatively connected to the frame. Each of the reaction mass elements is independently movable with respect to said frame. The absorber includes a force generating member for controlling relative movement between the reaction mass elements for damping vibration of the structure. The inventive dual reactive mass absorber requires less control force to produce the same vibration attenuation as conventional single reactive mass absorbers.