All user reviews of 4/5 for the dbx 166XL

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!

150 times worth remembering that these details are found in the manual or tlchargeable resellers ...

Only dtail I do not really like, but with which one learns easily live: No button on / off (can be another hallmark of DBX found on other mod the most expensive).

VU had a little nitre t nice to compare the output level with that of ...

But given the difficulty of putting more on the faade, I Tolra ... as the main sound quality, flexibility and robustness of the machine.

UTILIZATION

Used mainly to gain momentum only to change the sound. And it does plutt well.

Without going into dtails, there are more suitable compressors situations than others. Ms. compressor trs premium, if t could dcevoir some poorly chosen. Because quite often it is more expensive, the more typ ... a bit like cars.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is clean trs, may be even be a little too much.

Some are not transparent enough, which I find ridiculous since before the compression is done really feel, even when it is necessary to go a little in the excs level rglages ... it is also the concern of the compressors in these price ranges: the lack of grain.

APRS when I read that the compression is felt even too much, I think these people do not know what a LA2A or 1176 o the sound is really most striking about the pump ... they may be they need a behringer finally (you turn the knobs and you always feel be bypassed until the time for the source).
Transparency is good, but too much not to make money and SAVE ...

In short, trs matrisable compression, a small lack of personality when looking cratifs effects on a battery or bass.
Contour button quite effective and the function OverEasy.

The peak limiter is quite efficient and relatively transparent.
The expander / gate when he is much better than I could use on aircraft of this price, but not as flexible as it should be ... and in this case it is better to be vigilant about the sources of isolation by optimal placement of microphones.

OVERALL OPINION

For those who do not want to ruin it's really a good product, reliable and well thought out.

This is a good camera to learn to use a compressor, as it requires to really get the rglages to get out a good rsultat. Trs instructive when searching, you can really get out of pretty things (personal, bass drum and snare and supercharged gain roundness).

A ct of I has an optical compressor circuit with a Class A lamp that is more musical but ultimately less flexible.
For a more pro, I think it belongs in a toolbox, as if they have another compressor to sound more color to broaden the possibilities.

Analog compressor

UTILIZATION

Yes Yes

SOUND QUALITY



OVERALL OPINION

Used on a console soundcraft M8 for 2 channels.
Easy to use, it is an effective compressor through the automatic functions of management and attack and release mode overeasy "apparently typical of DBX.
It's my first compressor, so I do not really have a point of comparison.
My settings: ratio 3 / 1, Threshold set to be a reduction of 5-6 dB in loud and gain to 5-6 dB and OverEasy engaged and attack / release in the car. No audible noise live. It is a subtle voice and it's put forward without being aggressive.
Here, I use it only in this application and lightly, but the difference is clearly audible.
I would do without hesitation that choice if I were to resume this type of material.

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.