® Most compressor/gates provide less than musical compression, coupled with gating that swallows transients—or clos- es early, cutting off decay and reverb tails. The superb engineering in the 166XL ensures that both its compression and gating provide versatility and excellent sonic performance in situations where other compressor/gates typically pro- duce undesirable processing artifacts. When using the 166XL’s Attack and Release controls, artists and engineers will find that the center settings deliver classic dbx compression, while the full control range produces voicings that extend from slow “leveling” to aggres- sive “peak” limiting. The 166XL’s advanced gate circuitry uses a completely new, program-dependent timing algorithm to produce ultra- smooth release characteristics—even with complex signals, such as voice or reverb decays. dbx engineers went on to take advantage of the wide dynamic range and high precision of the dbx V2™ VCA to design in an extra-wide thresh- old range and ensure top gating performance for each application. Separate precision LED displays for gain reduction, compression threshold and gate threshold allow quick, accurate setup, while the 166XL’s intuitive operation lets users easily smooth uneven levels, add sustain to guitars, squash drums or tighten up mixes. In Stereo couple mode, the Channel 1 controls become Master controls, and Channel 2 fol- lows precisely to ensure a rock solid stereo image—even with high amounts of compression, through True RMS Power Summing™. Professionals and newcomers alike will find that the 166XL sets up rapidly and musically the first time it is used, especially with the Auto attack and release function. Advanced applications are now easy, with the 166XL’s full sidechain functionality, and the ability to use either hard knee or OverEasy® compression algorithms. Add to this already impressive list of features the venerable PeakStop limiter, and you’ve got a strong finisher, every time. The dbx 166XL processor is the result of an intensive engineering and product development effort aimed at taking advantage of the latest and best advances in manufacturing technology to deliver true dbx audio performance and reli- ability to our customers at the lowest possible cost. The 166XL puts a completely new level of compressor/gate per- formance within everyone’s reach. • Goof proof operation to smooth uneven • Stereo or dual-mono operation. levels, add sustain to guitars, fatten drums • Balanced inputs and outputs on 1/4" TRS or tighten up mixes. and XLR. • New gate timing algorithms ensure the • Side Chain insert. smoothest release characteristics. • Classic dbx “Auto” mode. • Program-adaptive expander/gates. • Great sounding dynamics control for any 8760 S. Sandy Pkwy. type of program material Sandy, Utah 84070 Phone (801) 568-7660 • Separate precision LED displays for gain Fax (801) 568-7662 customer@dbxpro.com reduction, compression threshold and gate http://www.dbxpro.com threshold allow quick, accurate setup. A Harman International Company 18-1660-C 08/05 GAIN REDUCTION (dB) GAIN REDUCTION (dB) BELOW ABOVE BELOW ABOVE 30 25 20 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 ABOVE BELOW ABOVE BELOW ABOVE 30 25 20 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 ABOVE CHANNEL ONE CHANNEL TWO -25 -10 2:1 0 +10 -25 -10 2:1 0 +10 -20 0 -20 0 4:1 4:1 1.3:1 1.3:1 -10 -10 +10 +5 +15 -10 -10 +10 +5 +15 166XL -45 -45 COMPRESSOR -30 +10 -30 +10 Stereo LIMITER / GATE Couple SC Enable Contour OverEasy Auto Bypass SC Enable Contour OverEasy Auto Bypass OFF +15 Fast Slow -40 +20 1:1 :1 Fast Slow Fast Slow -20 +20 0 +20 OFF +15 Fast Slow -40 +20 1:1 :1 Fast Slow Fast Slow -20 +20 0 +20 dBu dBu dB dBu dBu dBu dB dBu THRESHOLD RELEASE THRESHOLD RATIO ATTACK RELEASE OUTPUT GAIN PEAKSTOP THRESHOLD RELEASE THRESHOLD RATIO ATTACK RELEASE OUTPUT GAIN PEAKSTOP MASTER EXPANDER/GATE COMPRESSOR LIMITER EXPANDER/GATE COMPRESSOR LIMITER 166XL COMPRESSOR / LIMITER / GATE GAIN REDUCTION (dB) GAIN REDUCTION (dB) BELOW ABOVE BELOW ABOVE 30 25 20 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 ABOVE BELOW ABOVE BELOW ABOVE 30 25 20 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 ABOVE CHANNEL ONE CHANNEL TWO -25 -10 2:1 0 +10 -25 -10 2:1 0 +10 -20 0 -20 0 1.3:1 4:1 1.3:1 4:1 +10 +10 -10 -10 +5 +15 -10 -10 +5 +15 166XL -45 -45 COMPRESSOR -30 +10 Stereo -30 +10 LIMITER / GATE SC Enable Contour OverEasy Auto Bypass Couple SC Enable Contour OverEasy Auto Bypass 1:1 1:1 OFF +15 Fast Slow -40 +20 :1 Fast Slow Fast Slow -20 +20 0 +20 OFF +15 Fast Slow -40 +20 :1 Fast Slow Fast Slow -20 +20 0 +20 dBu dBu dB dBu dBu dBu dB dBu THRESHOLD RELEASE THRESHOLD RATIO ATTACK RELEASE OUTPUT GAIN PEAKSTOP THRESHOLD RELEASE THRESHOLD RATIO ATTACK RELEASE OUTPUT GAIN PEAKSTOP MASTER EXPANDER/GATE COMPRESSOR LIMITER EXPANDER/GATE COMPRESSOR LIMITER The compressor/limiter/gate shall have two iden- Inputs (1/4” TRS Phone and XLR) Floating Balanced; XLR: Pin 2 and TIP HI, Expander/Gate Impedance >50kΩ balanced, >25kΩ unbalanced Threshold Range OFF to +15dBu Maximum Level +24dBu, Balanced or Unbalanced Expansion Ratio 10:1 tical channels, each with an audio frequency CMRR >40dB at 1kHz, typically >55dB Maximum Depth >60dB Attack Time <500µs (from Maximum Depth) response of 5Hz-40kHz, +0, -0.5dB, a balanced Sidechain Insert (1/4” TRS Phone)Normalled: Ring = Output (send); Tip = Release Time Adjustable, 30ms to 3sec (to 30dB attenua- Input (return) tion) input impedance of not less than 40kΩ, with a Impedance Tip = >10kΩ (Input) PeakStop® Limiter Ring = 2kΩ (Output) Threshold Range 0dBu to +20dBu maximum input level of not less than +21dBu and Maximum Level +24dBu Gain Adjustment Range Variable; -20dB to +20dB Outputs (1/4” TRS Phone and XLR)Floating Balanced; XLR: Pin 2 and TIP HI a 1/4" TRS input connector. The output imped- Impedance 120Ω balanced, 60Ω unbalanced Interchannel Crosstalk <-80dB, 20Hz to 20kHz Maximum Level +21dBu,>+20 dBm into 600Ω, balanced or Dynamic Range >115 dB ance shall be no more than 50Ω unbalanced, 100Ω unbalanced Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz; +0, -0.5dB,Typical 3dB points Stereo Coupling True RMS Power Summing™ balanced with a maximum output level of not less are 0.35Hz and 110kHz, unity gain Operating Voltage 100 VAC 50/60Hz; 120VAC 60Hz Noise <-90dBu, 22Hz to 22kHz, no weighting, unity 230 VAC 50/60 Hz than +20dBu, a minimum load impedance at not gain THD+ N Typically <0.04%; Any Amount of Power Consumption 15 Watts Maximum Compression Up to 40dB@1kHz more than 600Ω and the connector type shall be Operating Temperature 0˚C to 45˚C (32˚F to 113˚F) SMPTE IMD Typically <0.08% @ +10dBu (15dB Gain reduction) Dimensions (H x W x D) 1.75" x 19" x 6.75" (4.45 cm x 48.2 cm x 1/4" TRS. Total Harmonic Distortion shall be less 17.15 cm) Compressor Threshold Range -40dBu to +20dBu Rack Space 1 Rack Unit (1U High) than 0.2% with any amount of compression at Threshold Characteristic Selectable OverEasy or Hard Knee Weight Net weight: 5.05 lb (2.29 kg) Compression Ratio Variable; 1:1 to Infinity:1; 60dB Maximum 1kHz, and Intermodulation Distortion shall be less Shipping weight: 7.20 lb (3.27 kg) Compression Attack Time Variable program-dependent; 3ms to 340ms than 0.2%. The unit shall have an output noise for 15dB gain reduction Note: 0dBu =0.775Vrms. Release Rate Variable program-dependent; 200dB/Sec to level of not more than -93dBu unweighted, and a 3dB/Sec Specifications are subject to change. dynamic range not less than 114dB. Outputs shall be gain adjustable in the amount of ±20dB from nominal gain via front-panel Output Gain controls, and all outputs shall be capable of driving a short circuit indefinitely with max- imum input applied. The compressor attack and release times shall be scalable and pro- gram dependent. The gate attack time shall be <100µsec. The compression threshold shall range from -40 to +20dB. The gate threshold range shall be from -60 to +10dBu. The compressor/gate shall have a stereo coupling switch as well as the following controls for each channel: Compressor Threshold, Compressor Ratio, Attack, Release, Auto switch Output, Gain, Expander/Gate Threshold, Expander/Gate Ratio, Bypass. The fol- lowing metering LEDs shall exist for each channel: Compressor Threshold (Below, At Above), Gain Reduction and Gate Threshold (Above and Below). The unit shall operate from a power source of 100 VAC 50/60 Hz to 120 VAC 60 Hz for a domestic unit and 230 VAC 50 Hz for a european unit via IEC type AC cable and shall consume no more than 15 W. The net weight shall be 7lbs. (3.2kg). The unit shall be a dbx 166XL Compressor/Gate. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: dbx Professional Products dbx engineers are constantly working to improve the quality of our products. 8760 S. Sandy Pkwy. Specifications are, therefore subject to change without notice. Sandy, Utah 84070 Phone (801) 568-7660 Fax (801) 568-7662 Int’l Fax (801) 568-7583 ® customer@dbxpro.com http://www.dbxpro.com A Harman International Company