dbx 160A COMPRESSOR / LIMITER

1:1 Unity

®

PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS

 

+20

RED

 

 

Above Threshold

(dB)

+15

2:1

 

+10

 

LEVEL

4:1

 

+5

20:1

 

OUTPUT

0

:1

 

-5

Rotation Point Threshold

 

 

OUTPUT LEVEL (dB)

+20

+15

+10

+5

0

5

YELLOW

1:1

2:1

4:1

:1

RED

Above Threshold

-10

 

 

GREEN

-15

Below Threshold

-15 -10 -5 0 +5 +10 +15 +20

INPUT LEVEL (dB)

Figure 1: Hard Knee Compression Curve

and threshold LEDs

10

 

 

G

RE

EN

 

 

OverEasy Range

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below Threshold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

10 5

0 +5 +10 +15 +20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INPUT LEVEL (dB)

Figure 2: OverEasy® Compression Curve

and threshold LEDs

OUTPUT GAIN Control:

Adjust this control to vary the amount of fixed gain (up to +20dB) in the 160A's output amplifier stage. The OUTPUT GAIN control does not interact with the threshold of compression.

DISPLAY Button and LED:

Depress this button to make the upper LED array display the INPUT LEVEL to the 160A. With the button out, the OUTPUT LEVEL is displayed. A pair of LEDs immediately above the DISPLAY button indicates the selected display.

INPUT/OUTPUT LEVEL and GAIN REDUCTION Displays:

The upper row of 19 LEDs displays either the INPUT or OUTPUT LEVEL, as selected with the DISPLAY button. This display is factory set so that 0dB is equivalent to +4dBu input or output level (1.23VRMS), but may be reset with the rear panel METER CALIBRATION trimmer. (See following pages.)

The lower row of 12 LEDs displays up to 40dB of GAIN REDUCTION (although the 160A is actually capable of deliv- ering up to 60dB of gain reduction). Note that fixed gain changes due to the OUTPUT GAIN control are not displayed by the GAIN REDUCTION LEDs but are reflected in the OUTPUT LEVEL display.

Rear Panel

 

15 WATTS

 

 

 

 

 

A HARMAN INTERNATIONAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

 

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

100V

50/60Hz

MADE IN USA

120V

 

60Hz

MODEL 160A

 

 

 

 

COMPRESSOR/LIMITER

MANUFACTURED UNDER ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING U.S. PATENTS 4,234,804 4,316,107 4,329,598 4,331,931 4,377,792 4,403,199 4,409,500 4,425,551 4,434,380 4,454,433 4,471,324 4,473,793 OTHER PATENTS PENDING

INPUTS

 

OUTPUTS

XLR:

DETECTOR

METER

STEREO

BAL / UNBAL

 

UNBALANCED

PIN 1

INPUT

CALIBRATION

STRAPPING

XLR

 

 

PIN 2

 

 

 

GND

 

PHONE:

 

 

 

 

PIN 3

 

 

 

LIFT

 

 

 

 

 

TIP

PHONE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLEEVE

TIP

 

 

 

 

BALANCED

BALANCED

RING

 

 

 

LIFT

SLEEVE

 

 

TRS 160A ONLY

 

 

 

 

INPUT (BALANCED) Jacks:

The Tip/Ring/Sleeve phone jack and XLR-type jack are wired in parallel; either INPUT will accept an audio signal for processing by the 160A. The phone jack accepts a standard TRS 1/4Ó phone plug for a balanced input source, or a 2-cir- cuit (Tip/Sleeve) 1/4Ó phone plug for an unbalanced source. The XLR-type jack is wired pin 2 HOT (+), pin 3 COLD (-) and pin 1 GROUND.

OUTPUT (BALANCED) Jack:

The 160A's OUTPUT (BALANCED) jack is driven by a floating active-balanced amplifier that simulates a true trans- former output. This allows for the load at the OUTPUT to be either balanced with respect to ground, or single-ended to ground (unbalanced) with very little difference (less than 0.5dB) in output level. For proper unbalanced operation, the unused pin (either pin 2 or 3) MUST be grounded.

Nominal output signal level is +4dBu into 600½, and typical maximum output level is +25dBu into 600½. This jack accepts XLR-type connectors, wired pin 2 HOT (+), pin 3 COLD (-), and pin 1 chassis ground.

For applications which require a ÒtrueÓ transformer output, an optional output transformer can be installed. Contact our Customer Service Department at the phone number listed on the back cover for details. If outside the United States, con- tact your dbx distributor.

OUTPUT (UNBAL) Jack:

The 160A has a separate single-ended (unbalanced) output amplifier capable of driving a 600½ (or greater) load to

4

Page 6
Image 6
dbx Pro 160A manual Output Gain Control, Display Button and LED, INPUT/OUTPUT Level and Gain Reduction Displays