DBX 166xs

Bring a more professional sound to your mix

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.

INPUTS

Connector: 1/4" TRS, female XLR (pin 2 hot)

Type: Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered

Impedance: >50kΩ balanced, >25kΩ unbalanced

Maximum Level: >+24dBu, Balanced or Unbalanced

OUTPUTS

Connector: 1/4" TRS, female XLR (pin 2 hot)

Type: Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered

Impedance: 120Ω balanced, >60Ω unbalanced

Maximum Level: >+21dBu balanced/unbalanced into 2kΩ or greater
>+18dBm balanced/unbalanced (into 600Ω)

SIDECHAIN INSERT

Connector: 1/4" TRS Phone, Normalled: Ring = Output (send); Tip = Input (return)

Impedance: Tip = >10kΩ (Input), Ring = 2kΩ (Output)

Maximum Level: >+20dBu (tip/input)
>+20dBu (ring/output)

COMPRESSION

Threshold Range: -40dBu to +20dBu

Threshold
Characteristic: Selectable OverEasy® or hard knee

Compression Ratio: Variable; 1:1 to Infinity:1; 60dB Maximum Compression

Attack Time: Variable program-dependent; 3ms to 340ms for 15dB gain reduction

Release Time: Variable program-dependent; 200dB/Sec to 3dB/Sec

EXPANDER/GATE

Threshold Range: OFF to +15dBu

Expansion Ratio: 10:1

Maximum Depth: >60dB

Attack Time: <500µSec (from Maximum Depth)

Release Time: Adjustable, 30ms to 3sec (to 30dB attenuation)

PEAKSTOP® LIMITER:

Threshold Range 0dBu to +20dBu

SYSTEM

Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz; +0/-0.5dB, Typical 3dB points are 0.35Hz and 110kHz, unity gain

Noise: <-90dBu, 22Hz to 22kHz, no weighting, unity gain

THD + N: Typically <0.04%; Any Amount of Compression Up to 40dB@1kHz

SMPTE IMD Typically <0.08% @ +10dBu (15dB Gain reduction)

Dynamic Range: >115 dB, unweighted

Interchannel Crosstalk <-80dB, 20Hz to 20kHz

CMRR: >40dB, typically >55dB at 1kHz

Stereo Coupling: True RMS Power Summing™

POWER

Power Consumption: 15 Watts Maximum

Operating Voltage: 100 VAC 50/60Hz; 120VAC 60Hz; 230 VAC 50/60 Hz

Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)

PHYSICAL

Dimensions: 1.75" x 6.75" x 19" (4.45 cm x 17.15 cm x 48.26 cm )

Weight: Net weight: 5.05 lb (2.29 kg)
Shipping weight: 7.20 lb (3.27 kg)