DBX question

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Botinok

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k im looking to buy a outboard compressor...and iv been looking at the DBX 160XT...

when i search this in froogle..it only shows as 160A...is that the same thing? also whats the difference between the 160XT and the 160X?

and im using the compressor stricktly for rap vocals....iv had several people recommend this unit...any other opinions?

thanks in advance.

-Andrei
 
I've got the 166XL, it's great for the price, good for everything basically.
 
These are all cheaper more afordable compressors that are based on the famous DBX 160 compressor. Which was noted as a great vocal compressor.
 
ah..well does anybody know where i can still get the 160XT cuz i cant seem to find it..

and can anybody tell me the difference between the XT and the X?

and wats the diff. between those and the 160A...400 is alot for a compressor:-/
 
I hate to tell you this, but $400 is not a lot to spend on a compressor. :eek:

You'll have to buy a 160X or 160XT used, because they are no longer in production and haven't been for quite some time.

The X is the oldest, then came the XT, and finally the current A version. There are differences in circuit board design, different parts are used I'm sure. Also, there might be some differences as far as what audio jacks are available on the rear of the unit. The X has barrier strips and 1/4" jacks, and I think the barrier strips went away with the XT version.

I've heard the "T" in XT refers to "transformer", but I'm not 100% sure about that.

I owned a couple 160X's for a while and liked them a lot. If you can find an X or XT in great shape it is a nice compressor to have.
 
ONE WORD....... RNC, well more than one word. Really Nice Compressor, 199 bucks, best buy out there. I finally got one,love it.
 
FWIW, from what I've been able to ascertain on various boards, the XT is essentially the same as the X except it has XLR connectors instead of a barrier strip and some differences in parts. There apparently was a transformer option offered, but most Xs and XTs are without transformers (and there is significant confusion about this). The A is the "modern" version designed to use auto insertion surface mount manufacture. People who have owned them have posted to the effect that they think the X and XT sound somewhat better (admittedly a subjective assessment) and feel more solid than the A and that they also like the XT better than the X.

Here are a couple GS threads with a more extensive discussion:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=67388&highlight=160xt

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=40037&highlight=160xt

To summarize from one of the threads:

"Per Tom Cram, [who work(ed/s) at DBX] and a couple others who know hardware, the 160A and 160X/T is the same thing - but of course, to most, it doesn't sound the same. I think this might be due to older units having less precise calibration, etc.

As he puts it in another thread "The differences are quite minimal. They use the same input circuit and same VCA . The 160a was redesigned from the 160x/xt to allow for auto insertion manufacture. Even though it is the same exact circuit, the law requires a new revision name. In fact excluding older "tin can" VCA's, this is why there are so many different 160 family members." The difference is that "the XT was a hand stuffed PCB and the 160a is machine stuffed surface mount"

Now, as far as the difference between the X and the XT - per Jim Williams "The older 160 X has a lf351 opamp with a couple of really slow output transistors which give the X a cloudy sound. The XT has the identical circuit for the unbalanced output. The XT's balanced output uses a couple of 5534 opamps without the slow transistors. This is the sonic difference between the two. Many folks have commented on the sonic difference on these outputs. With the XT you have options: a cleaner, faster output or a "vintage" cloudy unbalanced output."

Of course there are also the obvious differences apparent by looking at them that the XTs (as mentioned above) have the 1/4" and XLR connections vs. the X's barrier strip and 1/4".

As for the transformer option - Tom says that the 160X has that option and that the VU, XT and A do not. There was a posting however that someone (I believe it was "no ssl yet") had an XT manual which said he had the transformer option. Tom said there may have been a revision on the XT that he was not aware of or the manual could be erroneous."

I have an XT and it is a very nice and useful compressor. Going price seems to be about $225 to $275 on e-bay. Much, much better than a DBX 266. I wouldn't bother with one of those. I have one and it resides in my guitar rack since that is about all it is good for IMHO.

In this price range, I'd certainly look at an RNC or an RNLA. I have a couple RNCs and they are very nice, useful transparent compressors. Some people have spoken well of the ART VLA, but I haven't used one. The Symetrix 501 is also very nice and inexpensive and I use one solely for bass.
 
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