dbx 160XT compressors, set #79. Sequential serial numbers (three digits apart). Sold as a matched pair with a stereo link cable. In very good condition with minor marks. These are switchable voltage units (110/220 Volt) so useable worldwide. Photos show a pair of 160XTs sold previously

These have been refurbished & aligned in our workshops and the power supplies have been recapped. They match well as a stereo pair, with or without stereo linking enabled

The 160XT is probably the best-known of the classic dbx 160 compressors. The original 160 was a half-width 2U box and the 160X was the first of the familiar 1U dbx rack compressors. The 160XT is similar to the 160X but adds XLR connectors and some updates to the circuitry

The 160XT is deceptively simple with just three controls: threshold, compression ratio and output gain. Threshold and output level are self-explanatory. Compression ratio is infinitely variable from 1:1 through 4:1, 8:1 all the way to ∞:1 and beyond, to negative ratios, where output decreases with input. This allows for some pretty extreme compression effects

The front panel has an Over Easy switch, to change the shape of the threshold knee, meter input / output switch, bypass switch and a slave switch for stereo linking. Metering is via two horizontal LED bargraphs, one for input or output level and one for gain reduction. Dynamics of the LED displays are excellent and it’s easy to see what the compressor is doing, even from a distance and under poor lighting conditions

“The 160x/xt is fantastic. Don’t be fooled by the price. You should buy one whatever happens”

“160X’s have that unique ability to be aggressive with grit that few compressors have”

The 160XT is famous as a drum compressor. It adds punch & attitude to kicks & snares and is excellent for squashing overheads and ambience mics. Use a pair for drum bus parallel compression and you’ll have instant punch to beef up the drum mix. The 160XT is also superb for bass guitars and synths – it’s one of my favourites for bass guitar as it sits the bass just where you want it without killing the dynamics

The 160XT is definitely a compressor with its own sound. It’s not a transparent, invisible compressor, but more like a giant hand that grabs hold of the signal to bend & twist it. The Americans call the 160XT a “color compressor”. I can’t argue with that description as it adds colour and aggression to any signal that passes through it. It doesn’t suit every situation but it’s a hard compressor to live without once you’ve used one

I tested the 160XT on Fender bass and a lead vocal and got superb results. Using quite large amounts of compression I found it sat the singer in a good space and brought up the vocal character & inflection. It also worked well with a lower ratio (between 2:1 and 4:1) with gain reduction just on the peaks. It’d be interesting to chain the 160XT with a softer compressor to use the best of both approaches

The dbx 160XT sits at #3 in my newly-revised Compressor Top Ten

• UREI 1176
• UREI LA-2A
• dbx 160XT
• SSL 4000E Bus Compressor
• Fatso EL7X
• Distressor EL8X
• Valley People Dynamite
• Gain Brain
• dbx 163X
• FMR Really Nice Compressor

Technical
The 160XT keeps the jack socket ins & outs of the 160X model and adds balanced input & output connections via XLRs. Both jack & XLR outputs are active simultaneously and are driven by different circuitry. The line driver is different and is capable of delivering a higher output level than before

The XT can be retrofitted with an output transformer made by Jensen Transformers. Stereo strapping and sidechain inputs are on jacks (stereo link cable supplied) and there's a ground lift switch for the input. Power input is switchable 110 / 220 Volts and the compressors have a fixed power cable with a UK power plug

Condition
dbx 160XT compressors, set #72. Sold as a matched pair with a stereo link cable. In very good condition with minor case scratches. These are switchable voltage units (110/220 Volt) so useable worldwide. Photos show the compressors for sale

These have been refurbished & aligned in our workshops and the power supplies have been recapped. They match well as a stereo pair, with or without stereo linking enabled

Tested & working 100%. Photos show a pair of 160XTs sold previously