Good combination? I'd love a good compressor to go with this awesome head! Has anyone tried this out before? 
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EA iAmp + DBX 160A = ?
- Thread starter needmoney
- Start date
If the compressor is good quality, it should go with any amp IMO. I have an older model a DBX 160x, and together with my Markbass SA450(little mark with para-mids) it sounds good to me
I love the 160x / 160a. It is perhaps the most common compressor in pro-PA. It is also a compressor that will allow you to protect your amp and speakers, while allowing you to stay a dynamic player. I love playing dynamic, (softly when needed, harder other times, etc...), and actually hear a lot of the volume changes in your speakers. However, sometimes a song calls for changing playing styles while keeping the same volume (Think Billy Idol), this is where IMO a higher compression is needed. I actually tried an expander a few years back. I thought it was absolutely great, especially for low volumes, but at higher volumes, not many amps and speakers can take it. Anyway, I can absolutely reconmend the 160a as a compressor for any bass player.
First off -I am digging your avatar (since I work for EA), I am digging your rig (my main rig is an iamp 500 with an NL-210 and CXL-112) and I checked out your profile and we share the same birthday (although I'm a bit older than you)needmoney said:
Peace
Mike Dimin
Mike Dimin, king of understatement...
I think that if money, space, and weight were no object, I would carry a couple 160a compressors for my rig. I currently just use my iAmp800 for the power section, but I may go back to the preamp as well at some point. I wish the EA guys would put out a nice little pure power amp, mono or stereo.
I think that if money, space, and weight were no object, I would carry a couple 160a compressors for my rig. I currently just use my iAmp800 for the power section, but I may go back to the preamp as well at some point. I wish the EA guys would put out a nice little pure power amp, mono or stereo.
bongomania
Commercial User
Just because I am a nerdy compressor-obsessed fool, check out the links in my sig for more opinions about compressors. Nothing wrong with the 160A, though, it is a classic and a standard as others have said.
What kind of result do you want from a comp? Different comps provide different types of squash, from invisible to effect-y, and add different (or no) coloration to your tone. Some people want a totally transparent comp that just keeps the peaks in check without any other side effects, and some people are looking for more "punch", "thickness", "warmth", brightness, sustain, etc.... There's a proper tool for every job.
Believe it or not, my favorite comp right now is a (modified, not stock) Boss CS3 pedal. It sounds nicer, for my tastes and purposes, than the rack units I've used. But it is not as transparent or noise-free as the better rack units.
So, yeah, what results did you want?
What kind of result do you want from a comp? Different comps provide different types of squash, from invisible to effect-y, and add different (or no) coloration to your tone. Some people want a totally transparent comp that just keeps the peaks in check without any other side effects, and some people are looking for more "punch", "thickness", "warmth", brightness, sustain, etc.... There's a proper tool for every job.
Believe it or not, my favorite comp right now is a (modified, not stock) Boss CS3 pedal. It sounds nicer, for my tastes and purposes, than the rack units I've used. But it is not as transparent or noise-free as the better rack units.
So, yeah, what results did you want?
bongomania said:
That's basically what I want. I don't want a compressor that over-squishes everything and crushes my dynamics. Doesn't really need to add warmth/sustain either, and I don't really need more punch than what my rig will eventually offer (two NL-210's)!
Think of like a Marcus Miller, or Alain Caron style compression. Something that keeps the slapping nice and even with everything else.
I hope I don't sound like a fool!
bongomania
Commercial User
Not a bit! Sounds like you're on the right track. In addition to the dbx, check out the Link Removed, the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], and the Ashly CLX51. All are capable of transparent performance.
bongomania said:
Yeap both the Ashly and FMR have crossed my mind also. The Ashly may be a little bit hard to acquire out here though, but I can pick up an FNR quite cheap around here, quite a bit less than the DBX actually. How does the RNC compare to the 160a?
The DBX is a great unit for sure. I decided against using rack mounted units and went for the Demeter COMP-1 Compulator which I am using with an EA 500. It, of course, doesn't go through the effects loop, but it does a great job in smoothing out your playing before the signal hits the amp. And is nicely portable.
bongomania
Commercial User
I haven't actually owned either one yet, so I can only say what I've gathered from other people's reviews:needmoney said:
The FMR may be a bit more transparent and "hi-fi" than the dbx.
The dbx is more ruggedly-built than the FMR.
The FMR has more controls than the dbx, with a bit wider range of control, which actually means the dbx will be easier to dial in a good action.
The 160A is mono, the FMR is stereo (but can be used as mono).
Cool!
I'm definitely heading towards the 160A just for ease of use! Is it better to run it before the input as opposed to in the effects loop??
I'm definitely heading towards the 160A just for ease of use! Is it better to run it before the input as opposed to in the effects loop??
bongomania
Commercial User
The 160A needs a line-level signal so it has to be run after the preamp, in the fx loop, and if your loop has a blend knob it should be set to 100% wet.
bongomania said:
Good thing I kept my Bayou Patch Cables handy! By 100% wet do you mean, the knob set to full?
bongomania
Commercial User
Yep. In a parallel fx loop if you have the blend set to less than full, you'll be combining the compressed bass signal with the uncompressed signal, and there's a very good chance that will result in phase cancellation (heard as wimpy, thin tone). There are comps which can mix the two signals, but they are specifically designed to avoid cancellation.
Hmm. I just checked out the EA site and downloaded the manual, and they are not clear about your fx loop. On the site it says "series and parallel post eq with independant level controls", but the image only shows one loop and one level control, and the manual indicates it is a SERIES loop. If it really is a series loop, then the level control is not a blend- it just controls the volume of the whole signal coming back in from the loop. You'll still want it on "full" for this purpose, unless you have the dbx set to a high output level.
Hmm. I just checked out the EA site and downloaded the manual, and they are not clear about your fx loop. On the site it says "series and parallel post eq with independant level controls", but the image only shows one loop and one level control, and the manual indicates it is a SERIES loop. If it really is a series loop, then the level control is not a blend- it just controls the volume of the whole signal coming back in from the loop. You'll still want it on "full" for this purpose, unless you have the dbx set to a high output level.
