dbx 166XL

The dbx 166XL is a compressor - limiter - gate in the form of a rackmountable piece of outboard gear. It is an analog piece of equipment and it has both XLR microphone inputs and outputs and has 1/4 inch inputs and outputs. This is handy because I can either plug my instrument direct or plug a microphone into it before I send it to my audio interface.

UTILIZATION

The configuration of the 166XL is straightforward and is your basic compressor. It is easy to get a good sound out of it and is capable of getting a couple of different types of sounds out of it - ranging from a light compression sound to really squishing the signal, and it is also a sufficient gate. It all depends on what you'd like to do with it. The manual is pretty complete and was helpful when setting it up with my configuration.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality of the dbx 166XL is a little bit above average in my opinion. While its pretty clean, the sound won't blow you away. It is a basic compressor and is definitley helpful to have a few of them around for recording drums if you like to track with compression. I have used this on snare drum, kick drum, guitars, and bass guitar. I like it a lot on drums, as it will fatten up your signal a bit and is clean. Its faults I think come in the that it sometimes gets too tinny, but if you use it in the right situations, it usually is reliable and sounds good.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the 166XL for a few years. They are a real cheap option for the home studio owner who wants a few compressors to use for tracking. They sound good and are easy to use, while being quite well built and reliable in terms of it not breaking down. I like this model better than the dbx 266XL, but they are pretty similar in nature, I just think that the 166xl sounds better and cleaner, and is probably worth the difference in price. I definitley recommend those home studio owners on a budget to check out the 166XL as a reliable option for using compression.

Gate + + compression limiter

UTILIZATION

Simple enough

automatic features easy editing +

SOUND QUALITY

Compression top
limiter PeakStop: blah but it does not matter in auto mode

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 2 years
the esoteric (Urei, Tube Tech, Avalon & co) is very beautiful and very expensive, but it dbx
works well ... and that's why he remains a true benchmark in terms of compression.

Course to 10 times the price there is better, but it pays me the price of everything else.

Those who found this product "limit" do not know how to use a compressor in my opinion!

Gate / Compressor / Limiter 1 or 2 mono channels Stereo Gate rglage threshold and relchement Comp: rglage threshold, compression ratio, speed and dclenchement relchement, gain Output Limiter: rglage level of the peak max Connectors: XLR and Jack except sidechain (Jack only)

UTILIZATION

Use of live voice and bass drum mainly in insert.
Manuel clear, even if I find lightweight, I would have AIM, for example schmas assembly, with the sidechain, not just an explanation ...
Good point, to outline the key which does not compress much lower than the rest of the spectrum.

SOUND QUALITY

For the small live, great! No noise gate, compression efficient, effective rglages.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a year and a half, I hsit with the 266xl.
Previously I had the S-Com More Samson. Finally I took the 166XL for the limiter. I do not regret at all the extra cost compared to the S-Com Plus. Much better sound level, compression is not the sound of the gate, the quality of manufacturing is felt more at the touch of the notches of pots ...
I do not regret buying the S-Com Plus, because it made me realize the difference between the two machines. For me the diffrence in price is justified and weaker and weaker.
In this price range, there is also the MaxCom BBE (no essay.
I intend to buy one in order to compress multiple vocal tracks.

July 2009 Edit: I have a ratchet deuxime, and they really suit me. Now I look for one with a little grain of characters for variety.