dbx 160xt vs. demeter compulator?

hunta · #1 02-11-2008, 12:57 PM

So I went dumpster diving in a super sweet dumpster, and among other things, I got a dbx 160xt out of the trash. Yes I know... I suck

So I'm thinking about replacing my demeter with it. Any opinions? I do like the demeter but even with the internal trim pot turned all the way down, I still manage to clip it when I play real hard with my Jazz Deluxe. I need to play with the dbx a bit more but so far it's sounding quite nice.

WJGreer · #2 02-11-2008, 01:01 PM

Funny, I had the opposite experience with my Compulator. In order to get a satisfying volume out of it I had to crank the internal pot up so high that the thing hissed like crazy. I've heard so many good things about Compulators, I assume it was a bad match between it and my (passive) instrument. From a compression standpoint, it was extremely discrete.

grovest · #3 02-11-2008, 01:03 PM

Interesting, I have my trim pot all the way off in the Compulator for use with my passive Precision. And, I wonder if it still doesn't clip a little.

hunta · #4 02-11-2008, 01:14 PM

It's a very subtle clip, but it's there. It really bothered me for a while because none of the reviews I read before I ordered it said anything about clipping, but I got used to it because overall the compulator improved my sound a lot. I would love to not have a compressor that clips all the time when I yank my string though..

Ryan Mohr · #5 02-11-2008, 01:29 PM

Isn't the point of a compressor to stop your amp from clipping when you play hard (not the point , but one of its uses)?

hunta · #6 02-11-2008, 02:20 PM

Yes that would be one desirable effect of a compressor.. The problem is when you clip the input on the compressor. I don't know whether to blame demeter or fender lol.

bongomania · #7 02-11-2008, 02:29 PM

The nice thing about a Demeter? How good it sounds for most people considering it has only a bare minimum of controls and such a limited range of control. The sucky thing about a Demeter? If you are one of the people whose bass or rig or style doesn't fall within the mainstream "bell curve" where it sounds good. That's where a unit with more controls, better range of control, and higher headroom will come to save the day. The 160XT is my favorite dbx, but if you find that its lack of attack and release controls is messing you up then try a 166 or 166X (cheap) or a 1066 (spendy).

TrevorOfDoom · #8 02-11-2008, 02:32 PM

i gotta say, if you've turned the internal trimpot all the way down and the demeter still clips, you're playing WAY TOO HARD!!
now, if it didn't sound good, or the sound wasn't for you, that's another issue. maybe you have a bad pedal. give Demeter a call, see if they'll fix it for you. or you could stop using the Jack Hammer on your bass, and start playing with your fingers.

Swift713 · #9 02-11-2008, 02:34 PM

I had to crank my compulator's input way down to deal with my OLP Tony Levin. I actually use my multi's limiter sometimes to combat this but I think it may have more to do with the pre in the bass, it seems a little early to need a new battery already.

incognito89x · #10 02-11-2008, 04:15 PM

I got a 160XT based on reviews and information I got here and I'm very fond of it. Haven't tried the Demeter.

fishstix · #11 02-11-2008, 04:23 PM

I don't know about the dbx 160xt but I like my 160A which from what I've been told doesn't hold a candle to the xt. Sounds like you struck gold.

hunta · #12 02-25-2008, 08:52 AM

I'm really kind of surprised, but after playing with them both for a while, I think I'm sticking with the Demeter... The 160xt adds a nice punch to the sound but it definitely seems to be sucking out some of my high end clarity. Are the 160's known for tone sucking?

bongomania · #13 02-25-2008, 09:19 AM

All dbx models (IMO, IME, AFAIK, etc.) will roll off some highs when set to engage greater amounts of compression. Less compression = less loss of highs.

hunta · #14 02-25-2008, 11:13 AM

Bummer :-\ I only had it at 4:1 but it just seems to smush the highs more than everything else. I guess I need to find something else for my bass rack, I'll have to test the 160xt the next time I record some live drums since I've heard it's "great" on a kit. O well ;(

bongomania · #15 02-25-2008, 11:21 AM

Hmm... It's not just the ratio, it's the threshold. Try raising the threshold before you lose faith in the dbx.

hunta · #16 02-25-2008, 11:36 AM

I tried fiddling with the threshold too, but I wasn't having any luck.
I was going to try it out for a jam session this past weekend but I ended up swapping it for my pedal when the dbx wasn't cutting through the way I like. I'm not sure what else it could be, if the calibration is off, will it affect the sound? I haven't tried to recalibrate yet (my understanding is it just affects the meters). Seems like a lot of people like this compressor, I'd hate to give up on it.

Maybe I'll set up a mic and record some clips so I can really A/B it next weekend.

bongomania · #17 02-25-2008, 11:57 AM

There's a lot more to calibrate than just the meters; and unfortunately it takes a bit of intensive electronics know-how to bring one of these units back to proper spec. Unfortunately that is one of the pitfalls of buying vintage rack processors, is they have a good chance of being out-of-spec when you buy them, resulting in questionable performance. It's a gamble. If you had the time, money, and inclination there are plenty of people who do these recailbrations as a business, but with shipping and labor you'd probabaly be looking at $100 or more.

hunta · #18 02-25-2008, 12:25 PM

Mmm.. Yea just had a peek at the calibration manual on the dbxpro site. I have access to some diagnostic gear but not quite that much. I wish I knew more what the "in-spec" sound on this box should be like, maybe it's just not my thing. It didn't cost me anything so I guess I can't complain in any case