Help: Connecting a DBX 266XL to my SWR SM 900?

[Ronny49]

Hey guys... anyone know how to connect a DBX 266XL compressor/gate to the SWR SM
900 head? I have never done this before and have usually run a compressor pedal. But a
friend gave me this DBX unit and its suppose to add sustain to the bass/guitar.

Does this get connected to the crossover on the back of the head?

I've never messed with the crossover either, so I have not a clue as to how this all works.

Any insight on this will be much appreciated!

[georgestrings]

If your amp has an effects loop, run from the effects send jack into the comp, then back out of the comp into the effects return... I've used a dbx266 this way with my 700rb-II, and it worked out pretty well - make sure to use instrument cables for this...


- georgestrings

[Ronny49]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

If your amp has an effects loop, run from the effects send jack into the comp, then back out of the comp into the effects return... I've used a dbx266 this way with my 700rb-II, and it worked out pretty well - make sure to use instrument cables for this...


- georgestrings

Not speaker cables?

I am really curious in how to use the built in crossover too.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by Ronny49

Not speaker cables?

I am really curious in how to use the built in crossover too.

Nope - and can't help you with the crossover part... Generally speaking, use of a crossover means biamping - which is pretty much a waste of time and effort in bass amplification, IME/IMO...



- georgestrings

[Ronny49]

Well, my effect send and return is stereo/mono.

The two send inputs on the amp say LEFT and SEND.
The two return jacks say RIGHT and MONO.

Any idea which to use? I run the SWR in stereo and
not sure that I really need both channels on the DBX.

[georgestrings]

IME, most stereo systems use the left jacks for mono applications...

Seems to me that if you actually run your amp "in stereo", why wouldn't you use the comp the same way??? If it's a matter of control, those comps can be linked with a switch so that both channels run exactly the same - it's employed by pushing the "stereo couple' button on the front panel...


- georgestrings

[Ronny49]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

IME, most stereo systems use the left jacks for mono applications...

Seems to me that if you actually run your amp "in stereo", why wouldn't you use the comp the same way??? If it's a matter of control, those comps can be linked with a switch so that both channels run exactly the same - it's employed by pushing the "stereo couple' button on the front panel...


- georgestrings

I don't know... I just have never messed with this kind of stuff before. never felt the need. But since this was "given" to me, I figured I might as well learn something new!

But the right jacks say send and mono... hmmm...

[JimmyM]

bass > compressor in, compressor out > amp in. repeat for second channel. you can use the effects loop, but effects loops suck imho.

[Son of Bovril]

the compressor and the crossover are separate things, do not connect them. IME the comp woks best set up like Jimmy suggested, just don't run too much output gain on the comp into the head. You can put it in the FX loop and it'll work fine but feeding the amp a pre compressed signal lets it do it's job more efficiently and helps protect it as well.

[Ronny49]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

bass > compressor in, compressor out > amp in. repeat for second channel. you can use the effects loop, but effects loops suck imho.

Ok, but I just read in the SWR SM 900 manual that the effects send and return (left and right) can not be used simultaneously. I found that it said to use the jacks Right and Mono and I depressed the button on the front of the DBX that says Stereo Couple.

Is this all I can do in this situation?


EDIT: But you know... I don't understand then... if you can't use them simultaneously, then why are they there? I don't think I understand this, still.

[parsons]

You need a fellow SWR owner to help you with this one. Those who've never had an SM 400 or 900 dont know how that rear panel works.

The 400 and the 900 have similar send and return jacks but the 900 has xover jacks added.

To hookup your compressor, you would go from the Effects Send on the lower right hand corner into the the input on the DBX, From the DBX output to the Mono Return on the lower left hand corner on the SWR.

If you want to use the crossover in the amp, youll need to have two cabinets typically. You can biamp with one cab, but it needs two seperate speaker inputs for seperate speakers, they cant be shared.

To bi amp it, run a cable from the xover HI out to the Right effect return and from xover Lo to Left effect return. When you plug a cab into the Left speaker output on the SWR, itll be your low end frequencies, the right will the high end frequencies. You can adjust the point at which the cabs play by using the crossover knob on the front of the amp. The compressor would stay hooked up the same way in this scenario.

[Mingo Sanders]

Amp Manual

Compressor/Gate manual

You should probably base your questions on what you read in these manuals.

[Ronny49]

Originally Posted by parsons

You need a fellow SWR owner to help you with this one. Those who've never had an SM 400 or 900 dont know how that rear panel works.

The 400 and the 900 have similar send and return jacks but the 900 has xover jacks added.

To hookup your compressor, you would go from the Effects Send on the lower right hand corner into the the input on the DBX, From the DBX output to the Mono Return on the lower left hand corner on the SWR.

If you want to use the crossover in the amp, youll need to have two cabinets typically. You can biamp with one cab, but it needs two seperate speaker inputs for seperate speakers, they cant be shared.

To bi amp it, run a cable from the xover HI out to the Right effect return and from xover Lo to Left effect return. When you plug a cab into the Left speaker output on the SWR, itll be your low end frequencies, the right will the high end frequencies. You can adjust the point at which the cabs play by using the crossover knob on the front of the amp. The compressor would stay hooked up the same way in this scenario.

THANKS MAN... BIG HELP!!!

[parsons]

Originally Posted by Ronny49

THANKS MAN... BIG HELP!!!

anytime. If you have more questions about how to hook something up, just send me a PM.