Most compressor/gates provide less than musical compression, coupled with gating that swallows transients—or closes 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 produce 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 aggressive “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 V1 VCA to design in an extra-wide threshold 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 follows 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.

Recommended for: Portable, Tour, Studio.

Features

• Goof 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-mode operation
• Balanced inputs and outputs on 1/4" TRS and XLR
• Side Chain insert
• Classic dbx® "Auto" mode

The dbx 166XL is a classic dual-channel compressor / limiter / noise gate used in:

• recording studios
• live sound racks
• broadcast setups
• home studios

It has 2 independent channels

• stereo link mode
• balanced XLR/TRS I/O
• sidechain insert
• dbx “OverEasy” compression mode

What it sounds like
The 166XL is generally considered:

• clean
• punchy
• easy to use
• more “utility” than “vintage character”

The dbx “OverEasy” mode gives softer, smoother compression compared to hard-knee compression.
People often use it for:

• taming vocal peaks live
• tightening bass guitar
• compressing kick/snare
• protecting speakers with limiting
• gating tom drums
• adding sustain to guitars

Key specs

• 2-channel compressor/limiter/gate
• 1U rackmount
• Analog balanced XLR + TRS
• Stereo coupling
• PeakStop limiter
• Auto attack/release mode
• OverEasy or hard-knee compression
• Dynamic range >115 dB