dbx 160SL Description
Since its inception the 160S has become the mark for which other compressors
reach. As the leader in VCA and compressor design and engineering, we at dbx
are always seeking to improve our products and give you the best possible
compression solutions. With the newly improved 160SL, we introduce the
patent-pending AutoVelocity technology. With AutoVelocity it is now easier than
ever to dial up the exact attack and release effect you are looking for, via the
program-dependent, or non program dependent manual mode. Still on board is the
venerable dbx Auto mode. Now you can set your maximum preferred settings in
manual mode, and let the 160SL do the rest for you, depending on your program
material.
The same striking blue front panel machined from 1/4" aircraft aluminum,
handcrafted solid aluminum knobs, LEDs mounted individually in machined
stainless steel housings, custom VU meters with peak indicators, and heavy
gauge chassis still mark the 160SL as the leader for decades to come. The 160SL
combines the best features of all the great dbx compressors, past and present,
and gives you more versatile performance than ever before. In addition to
having the auto attack and release as well as the hard knee threshold
characteristics of the classic dbx 160, the 160SL now offers AutoVelocity
manual mode, in addition to our classic OverEasy® mode, made standard by the
classic dbx 165A. And speaking of the 165A, all of its features, including
variable attack and release controls, as well as dbx's latest limiting
algorithm PeakStopPlus, are included in the 160SL.
The heart of any dynamics processor is its VCA. The dbx 160SL is no different.
It features dual proprietary V8 VCA modules. This state-of-the-art
implementation of dbx's original Blackmer decilinear VCA boasts an unheard-of
127dB dynamic range and ultra-low distortion. Encased in a specially designed
aluminum-zinc housing for shielding and thermal characteristics, the V8
maintains its superior performance in harsh environments. The new 160S takes
full advantage of the most technologically superior components available today.
Premium active electronics, precision 0.1% and 1% metal film resistors, great
sounding temperature stable polypropylene capacitors, high-reliability
board-to-board connectors with gold-palladium-nickel contacts, Jensen®
transformers, gold plated Neutrik® XLRs, rare earth magnet relays with gold
contacts in a hermetically sealed nitrogen environment, military grade glass
epoxy circuit boards, to mention a few, contribute to the most technologically
advanced compressor in the world.
dbx 160SL Features
- Patent-pending
AutoVelocity™ circuit
- 127dB of
Dynamic
Range
- High-Drive
output transformer circuit drives 1000 ft. of Belden® cable at +30dBu with only
.007% THD
- Switchable
between Hard-knee and OverEasy® Compression
- Program-dependent
"Auto," AutoVelocity™ or fully variable attack ad release manual modes
dbx 160SL Specifications
INPUTS
Connectors:
Female XLR Pin 2 hot, pin 1 lift switch
Type: Electronically
balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced
> 20 k ohm, unbalanced > 10 k ohm
Maximum
Input Level: >+30dBu balanced, > +26dBu unbalanced
CMRR: >100dB
20 Hz to 200 Hz, >80dB 200 Hz to 2 kHz, >60dB 2 kHz to 20 kHz
OUTPUTS
Connectors:
Male XLR Pin 2 hot
Type: Transformer
balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced
50ohm, unbalanced 25ohm
Maximum
Output Level: Bal >+30dBm (into 600 ohm)
Unbalanced (with UNBAL switch engaged) >+24dBm (into 600 ohm)
SIDECHAIN SEND (OUTPUT)
Connector: Male
XLR Pin 2 hot
Type: Unbuffered,
hard-wired to INPUT, RF filtered
SIDECHAIN RETURN (INPUT)
Connector: Female
XLR Pin 2 hot
Type: Electronically
balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced
>20 k ohm, unbalanced >10k ohm
Maximum
Input Level: >+30dBu balanced or unbalanced
SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
0.1dB
Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0/-0.1dB, no gain reduction, unity gain
1.0dB
Bandwidth: <4 Hz to >40 kHz +0/-1.0dB, no gain reduction, unity gain
Frequency
Response: <2 Hz to >200 kHz +0/-3.0dB, no gain reduction, unity gain
Noise: <-92dBu,
unweighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz measurement bandwidth
Dynamic
Range: >122dB
THD +
Noise: 0.008% typical at +4dBu, 1kHz, unity gain
0.05% typical at +30dBu, 1kHz, unity gain
<0.1% any amount of compression up to 30dB, 1kHz
IMD: <0.02%
SMPTE 4:1, no gain reduction, unity gain
Deviation
From Linear
Phase: <1.0 degree, <10 Hz to 200 kHz, 30dB of compression
Interchannel
Crosstalk: <-100dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
VCA: dbx
V8™
VCA
Dynamic
Range: >127dB
VCA THD +
Noise: 0.006% typical at +4dBu, 1 kHz, unity gain
Stereo
Coupling: True RMS Power Summing™
COMPRESSOR
Threshold
Range: -40 to +30dBu
Ratio: 1:1
to 4:1
Threshold
Characteristic: Selectable OverEasy® or hard knee
Attack/Release
Modes: Selectable Manual or Auto
Manual
Attack Time: Scalable program-dependent. Typically 400dB/msec to 1dB/msec
Manual
Release Time: Scalable program-dependent. Typically 4000dB/sec to 10dB/sec
Auto Attack
Time: Program-dependent, typically 15 ms for 10dB, 5 ms for 20dB, 3 ms for 30dB
Auto
Release Time: Program-dependent, typically 120dB/sec
Output
Gain: -20 to +20dB
LIMITER
Threshold
Range: +4dBu to >+30dBu (off)
Ratio: 4:1
Limiter
Type: PeakStopPlus® two-stage limiter
Stage 1: Instantaneous
Transient Clamp
Attack
Time: Zero
ReleaseTime:
Zero
Stage 2: Intelligent
Predictive Limiting
Attack
Time: Program dependent, typically <5 msec.
Release
Time: Program dependent, typically 22dB/sec
PHYSICAL
Dimensions:
3.5” H X 19” W X 11.25” D
Weight: 20.5
lbs (9.3 kg)
Shipping
Weight: 25.0 lbs (11.3 kg)
Note: 0 dBu = 0.775V RMS