dbx 160A

[luminosityband]

why is the dbx 160A so expensive and with only one channel?
whats better, the dbx 160A or the dbx 1066?


thanks for your insight,
-alex

[jtienhaara]

Luminosityband,

What exactly are you looking for? I find the 160 series amazing on drums. I'm a recent convert, but a devoted one nonetheless.

You can generally get 160Xs and 160XTs on EBay for under $250 -- which, if your budget allows, is well worth it IMHO!

Cheers,

Johann

[earworm]

i'm a big fan of DBX on drums,
but i'm on a budget,

i started with a PROJECT 1 - 266 (cheapest DBX i ever used)
then a DBX166 (was too old, hissed like crazy, didn't work good, sold it)
then a DBX166a - nice machine, does its work, sounds OK, yeah, i'm keeping it

now i got me two new DBX166 XLS, they got extra control for ATTACK and RELEASE which does change something about the sound,
i like these compressors alot, for kick, snare, sometimes vocals,

and i'm thinking of replacing my 166a with a 1066,
i heard that the 1066 might be a "bit better", so i'll check it myself!

266
166
166a
166XL
1066

and the 160 is older, better, has a BIGGER name than the models i listed above... and all the models listed above are DUAL channel (stereo or two mono channels) and have a gate and limiter on each channel too,
the 160 is only compressor if i'm correct?


.02

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by earworm

the 160 is only compressor if i'm correct?


.02

compressor/limiter actually

160xt is great for squashing drums busses and getting some mid punch but be careful cuz it can fuck up a mix too and muddy up the kick... IME

[jtienhaara]

Originally Posted by Teacher

compressor/limiter actually

160xt is great for squashing drums busses and getting some mid punch but be careful cuz it can fuck up a mix too and muddy up the kick... IME

Any coloured compressor will do that if you abuse it.

[Chris Shaeffer]

The 160a is a great mono compressor/limiter. I recently mixed a bunch of tunes at a really nice studio and the engineer was getting a killer presence out of the vocals with the 160a. That's my only experience with it, but it was pretty obvious.

I've been haunting ebay looking for one now, but bought a second RNC instead: stereo and a bit more versatile, I think. Not as unique or classic, but useful for more things.

Take care,
Chris

[luminosityband]

awesome! thanks for your replies!

I went out and bought 2 DBX 160A's (and a 266XL I picked up on sale)
I am loving them. I am getting pretty nice vocal out of them and great guitar tracks!

I just went and bought a bunch of gear based on a lot of feedback I received from reading this board over the last 5 months - so thanks again everyone!

(here what I got btw.)
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=154182

-Alex