Adding a dbx® 266xs Compressor/Limiter/Gate to your live sound rig or studio gives you more dynamic control to help create a more polished, professional sound. Having compression in your audio chain gives you the ability to smooth out uneven levels, add sustain to guitars and fatten up your drums. It also makes it easy to bring vocals to the front of your mix - adding greater clarity and making them stand out from the surrounding instruments.

dbx knows compressors...after all we invented them! The 266xs is the latest in a long line of the world most successful compressors from the inventors of the technology. Its patented Overeasy® compression technology provides smooth and musical performance while the AutoDynamic™ attack and release controls, found only on dbx compressors, puts great sound within easy reach. The 166xs can operate in stereo or dual-mono modes, has true RMS power summing and features quality XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs and outputs. It cuts no corners on visual feedback with gain reduction metering and easy-to-read backlit switches.

Product Features

• Error proof operation to smooth uneven levels, add sustain to guitars, fatten drums or tighten up mixes
• New gate timing algorithms ensure the smoothest release characteristics
• Program-adaptive expander/gates
• Great sounding dynamics control for any type of program material
• Separate precision LED displays for gain reduction, compression threshold and gate threshold allow quick, accurate setup
• Stereo or dual-mono operation
• Balanced inputs and outputs on 1/4" TRS and XLR connectors
• Side Chain insert
• Classic dbx® "Auto" mode

Product Specifications

Inputs

• Connector: 1/4" TRS, female XLR (pin 2 hot)
• Type: Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
• Impedance: 40kΩ balanced, 20kΩ unbalanced
• Maximum Level: >+22dBu Balanced or Unbalanced

Outputs

• Connector: 1/4" TRS, female XLR (pin 2 hot)
• Type: Impedance-balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
• Impedance (+4dBu): 100Ω balanced, 50Ω unbalanced
• Impedance (-10dBu): 1kΩ balanced, 500Ω unbalanced
• Maximum Level: >+21dBu balanced/unbalanced into 2kΩ or greater, >+18dBm balanced/unbalanced (into 600Ω)

Sidechain Insert

• Connector: 1/4" TRS Phone, Normalled: Ring = Output (send); Tip = Input (return)
• Impedance: Tip = >10kΩ (Input), Ring = 2kΩ (Output)
• Maximum Level: Tip = >+22dBu (Input), Ring = >+20dBu (Output)

Compression

• Threshold Range: -40dBu to +20dBu
• Threshold Characteristic: Selectable OverEasy® or hard knee
• Compression Ratio: 1:1 to Infinity:1
• Attack Time: Scalable Program-Dependent AutoDynamic™
• Release Time: Scalable Program-Dependent AutoDynamic™

Expander/Gate

• Threshold Range: -60dBu to +15dBu
• Expansion Ratio: 1:1 to 4:1
• Attack Time: <100µSec
• Release Time: Program-Dependent

System

• Bandwidth: 0.35Hz - 90kHz, +0/-3dB
• Frequency Response (Flat): 20Hz - 20kHz; +0/-0.5dB,
• Noise: <-93dBu, unweighted (22kHz measurement bandwidth)
• THD + N: <0.2%; Any Amount of Compression @1kHz
• Intermodulation Distortion: <0.2% SMPTE
• Dynamic Range: >114dB, unweighted
• Interchannel Crosstalk: <-95dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
• CMRR: >40dB, typically >55dB at 1kHz
• Stereo Coupling: True RMS Power Summing™

Power

• Power Consumption: 15 Watts Maximum
• Operating Voltage: 100 VAC 50/60Hz; 120VAC 60Hz; 230 VAC 50/60 Hz
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)

Physical

• Dimensions: 1.75" x 5.75" x 19" (4.45 cm x 14.6 cm x 48.26 cm )
• Weight: Net weight: 4.84 lbs (2.19 kg)
• Shipping weight: 6.6 lbs (2.99 kg)