Adding a dbx® 166xs Compressor/Limiter/Gate to your live sound rig or studio gives you more dynamic control to help create a more polished, professional sound. Having compression in your audio chain gives you the ability to smooth out uneven levels, add sustain to guitars and fatten up your drums. It also makes it easy to bring vocals to the front of your mix - adding greater clarity and making them stand out from the surrounding instruments. To protect your expensive amps and speakers the PeakStop® limiter provides an absolute ceiling for peak excursions or large transients that could damage your equipment.
dbx knows compressors...after all we invented them! The 166xs is the latest in a long line of the world's most successful compressors from the inventors of the technology. Its patented Overeasy® compression technology provides smooth and musical performance while the AutoDynamic™ attack and release controls, found only on dbx compressors, puts great sound within easy reach. The 166xs can operate in stereo or dual-mono modes, has true RMS power summing and features quality XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs and outputs. It cuts no corners on visual feedback with gain reduction metering and easy-to-read backlit switches.
dbx 166xs Features
- Error proof operation to smooth uneven levels, add sustain to guitars, fatten drums or tighten up mixes
- New gate timing algorithms ensure the smoothest release characteristics
- Program-adaptive expander/gates
- Great sounding dynamics control for any type of program material
- Separate precision LED displays for gain reduction, compression threshold and gate threshold allow quick, accurate setup
- Stereo or dual-mono operation
- Balanced inputs and outputs on 1/4" TRS and XLR connectors
- Side Chain insert
- Classic dbx® "Auto" mode
- dbx 166xs Dual Compressor / Limiter / Gate1
- Input Connectors1/4" TRS, female XLR (pin 2 hot)
- Input Impedance>50kΩ balanced, >25kΩ unbalanced
- Max Input>+24dBu, Balanced or Unbalanced
- Input TypeElectronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
- Sidechain1/4" TRS Phone, Normalled: Ring = Output (send); tip = Input (return)
- Sidechain ImpedanceTip = >10kΩ (Input), Ring = 2kΩ (Output)
- Sidechain Max Input Level>+20dBu (tip/input); >+20dBu (ring/output)
- Output Connectors1/4" TRS, male XLR (pin 2 hot)
- Output Impedance 120Ω balanced, >60Ω unbalanced
- Max Output+21dBu balanced/unbalanced into 2kΩ or greater; >+18 dBm balanced/unbalanced (into 600Ω)
- Frequency Response20Hz - 20kHz; +0, -0.5dB, Typical 3dB points are 0.35Hz and 110kHz, unity gain
- Noise<-90dBu, 22Hz to 22kHz, no weighting, unity gain
- THD+NoiseTypically <0.04%; Any Amount of Compression Up to 40dB@1kHz
- IMDTypically <0.08% SMPTE @ +10dBu (15dB Gain reduction)
- Compressor Threshold Range-40dBu to +20dBu
- Compressor Threshold CharacteristicSelectable OverEasy® or hard knee
- Compressor RatioVariable; 1:1 to Infinity:1; 60dB Maximum Compression
- Compressor Attack TimeVariable program-dependent; 3ms to 340ms for 15dB gain reduction
- Compressor Release TimeVariable program-dependent; 200dB/Sec to 3dB/Sec
- Expander/GateThreshold Range OFF to +15dBu
- Expander/Gate Ratio10:1
- Expander/Gate Max Depth>60dB
- Expander/Gate Attack Time<500µs (from Maximum Depth)
- Expander/Gate Release TimeAdjustable, 30ms to 3sec (to 30dB attenuation)
- Limiter Threshold Range0dBu to +20dBu
- CMRR>40dB, typically >55dB at 1kHz
- Interchannel Crosstalk<-80dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
- Dynamic Range>115 dB, unweighted
- Stereo CouplingTrue RMS Power Summing™
- Power Consumption15 Watts Maximum
- Operating Temperature0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
- Dimensions1.75 x 19 x 6.75 inches (4.45 x 48.2 x 17.15 cm)
- Unit Weight5.05 lbs (2.29 kg)
- Shipping Weight7.2 lbs (3.27 kg)
- Reference0dBu = 0.775Vrms
- Operating Voltage100 VAC 50/60Hz; 120VAC 60Hz; 230 VAC 50/60 Hz
