What is the deal with all the dbx 160 series compressors?

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tubedude

tubedude

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There is a 160, 160x, 160vu, 160st of something, a bunch of them. Its rather confusing and I have no idea which of them are worth a crap. Whcih ones are good, and which ones suck?

Does dbx have an optical out there somewhere?
 
The ones that are 1 rack space, the 160x, the 160xt, the 160a, etc. are the crap ones... the original 160 that was 2 RU tall by 1/2 a rack size wide is the balls when they've been properly maintained... the new "blue" stereo one is pretty cool too.

Best of luck with it.
 
I rather like the x/xt (really the same thing except the xt has balanced ins). . dunno about the newer ones, didnt dbx get into some sort of legal trouble with the x series and have to revamp it?
 
A lot of people recommend the 160x ones. Just remember that Fletcher uses our pres to eat his dinner on, and his dinner is better than ours. That should put some of his comments into perspective. :)
 
Fletcher said:
The ones that are 1 rack space, the 160x, the 160xt, the 160a, etc. are the crap ones... the original 160 that was 2 RU tall by 1/2 a rack size wide is the balls when they've been properly maintained... the new "blue" stereo one is pretty cool too.

Best of luck with it.
Click to expand...

2 RU by 1/2 a rack wide....





Why!? :eek: :confused:


Was there something about the circuitry that prevented it from being built in a more sensible configuration like say, ooh I dunno, 1 RU by 1 rack wide.
 
Oh... Lets see... Transfo height and the ability to fit two next to each other for stereo?
 
I have ab so lute ly no idea what transfo is (is it one of those words you pros make up to bamboozle the laity :confused: ), but I can't see why you couldn't link two 19" by 1 RU units up to achieve the same end. Sure, it'd look odd. But so does a 2 x 1/2 full rack space.
 
I was fortuneant to land a dbx118 for $30 at a local high end stereo dealer...its the same as the 160 Im told.
 
Sorry, but chances of that are next to none... I wish I was wrong. I hope I am wrong...
 
I beg to differ on the 160x being crap. Granted yes, they are cheapest, but they are very reliable, fast and quite accurate compressors/limiters for the price.

Besides the fact that you see them in almost every professional studio is probably a hint as well.

I've heard the blue series is kick ass, but way pricier. And of course its the old saying - "use your ears"

-dano
 
RE are you answering my post or another...I have heard that said in about 5 places about the dbx118 having the same circutry and the over-easy compression...I like to use it.
 
Yours... Yeah, I've seen a few other people mention it too.

I really have no idea. But I'm betting it's just a hopeful myth... But like I said... I hope I'm completely wrong.

Plus, if they really were anywhere close to the same, and ANYONE knew, there wouldn't be over a 5-6 hundred dollar difference between them.
 
The 118 and the 119 utilize the same VCA as the 160VU and very similar input output circuits. If you find a 119 in working condition consider yourself lucky. The 119 I have sounds just like my 160VU. I paid $400 for my 160VU and $40 for my 119. The 118 and the 119 are unbalanced, so keep that in mind. I use mine mostly on inserts so it makes no difference to me.

They are VERY close to the same and NOBODY knows.

edit: spelling


Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support
(801) 568-7530
tcram@dbxpro.com

"I should have been a plumber."
-Albert Einstein-
 
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Where does the 160A fit in.

Is the A a revamp of the original 160???
 
Tom Cram said:


They are VERY close to the same and NOBODY knows.

Click to expand...

You mean nobody used to know... Now the prices are gonna sky rocket! Doh!


SoMm
 
You mean nobody used to know... Now the prices are gonna sky rocket! Doh!
Click to expand...

Nah, they just don't have the cache' that the 160VU has. And since they are 1/4 size, wood sided, and unbalanced, they are non-standard and awkward enough to be overlooked.
 
Well it seems the gear slutness of alot of AE's allude to looks do matter then ;)

Maybe Ill track some down and rerack them to be more.... attractive :)


SoMm
 
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