Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Good Rack Mount Compressor?
- Thread starter GraffixNyc
- Start date
I'm not sure about the current market value (check eBay), but the dbx 160A is well-loved for bass. The 160A doesn't have as many controls as some others out there, which may or may not be a plus for you.
I'm sure bongomania will be along any minute to give you all the info you need.
A search for "rack compressor" in this forum will certainly give you a bunch of reading material as well.
I'm sure bongomania will be along any minute to give you all the info you need.
A search for "rack compressor" in this forum will certainly give you a bunch of reading material as well.
How do you want to use it? Speaker protection? "Mwah" effect or? Bring out thump? Squish? Leveler?
bongomania
Commercial User
[Lurch voice] Youu raaannnggg? [/Lurch]
The 160A typically sells for around $200 used, but don't sweat it because there are some cheaper ones that I liked better: the dbx 166A, the Symetrix 501, and the Rane DC 24. You can read the full reviews on my reviews page linked in my sig.
The 160A typically sells for around $200 used, but don't sweat it because there are some cheaper ones that I liked better: the dbx 166A, the Symetrix 501, and the Rane DC 24. You can read the full reviews on my reviews page linked in my sig.
[Lurch voice] Youu raaannnggg? [/Lurch]
The 160A typically sells for around $200 used, but don't sweat it because there are some cheaper ones that I liked better: the dbx 166A, the Symetrix 501, and the Rane DC 24. You can read the full reviews on my reviews page linked in my sig.
I've never seen a 160A got for that cheap (not to imply that you haven't), but I have seen the 160X sell for that, about the $150-$200.
Although I am not a huge fan of Berhinger, the Autocom 1400 is a really good unit and sells for well under $200. It has a ton of features, two channels and lots of pretty lights!
I used to use one channel for comp and one for speaker protection and it worked very well. I still have mine but now just use the built in compressor on my Navigator and it saves me a rackspace.
I used to use one channel for comp and one for speaker protection and it worked very well. I still have mine but now just use the built in compressor on my Navigator and it saves me a rackspace.
bongomania
Commercial User
I just checked Ebay's completed auctions, and two 160A's sold for $150 BIN in the last couple of days. The prices were all over the map though, others sold for the mid-$200's, the mid-$300's, even one for $435!!! I have no idea why, and I didn't feel like reading all of the auction descriptions. When I sold mine I got $200 for it. Luck of the Ebay draw?
I mostly want to use it for leveling.
bongomania: I read your reviews and you said you like the dbx 166A better then the 160a. I saw a few 166A's on ebay would you recommend that one? someone also told me the Alesis 3630 is pretty good for the money.
bongomania: I read your reviews and you said you like the dbx 166A better then the 160a. I saw a few 166A's on ebay would you recommend that one? someone also told me the Alesis 3630 is pretty good for the money.
+1 for a used dbx 160A (or the older "X" version). These have zero clicking, are easy to use and bomb-proof, and do the job they're supposed to. No more, no less.
On the other hand, I think pretty much anything in the $100-$250 range will serve you well. Anything less than that and they're probably skimping on quality and function.
bongomania
Commercial User
It is nicknamed the "dirty-six-dirty" because of its tendency to distort. Some people like that distortion, or they don't know any better.
So which would you recomend of the 3? the DBX 1066? DBX 160A? or the DBX 166A?
It is nicknamed the "dirty-six-dirty" because of its tendency to distort. Some people like that distortion, or they don't know any better.
You can replace the opamps in a 3630 and make it sound pretty darn good. There are mod pages out there; Google will show you the way.
For what it's worth I LOVE pushing my Brice 6 string through the 3630. I have a Behringer Autocom 2100 and it doesn't even compare - the Behringer has a built in 10dB 'soft knee' so you have to set your threshold 10db lower than you want to get compression at the threshold.
For what it's worth I LOVE pushing my Brice 6 string through the 3630. I have a Behringer Autocom 2100 and it doesn't even compare - the Behringer has a built in 10dB 'soft knee' so you have to set your threshold 10db lower than you want to get compression at the threshold.
I had a good experience with a PreSonus BlueMax. I think they are out of production, but can be found used for under a hundred. One advantage is that they have a number of presets that eliminate the need to micro-tweak the knobs (which you can also do if you want).
bongomania
Commercial User
If it's my tastes and your budget, the answer is the 166A. The 1066 sounds a trifle better, but it costs way more. The 160A sounds a trifle less good (to me), and it costs way more.
I got my 160X for about $150.00. It is an older version of the 160A, made before the current owner bought dBX (owned by HK now). When I was shopping around, I spoke to some pro engineers- guys that literally have had every compressor made at their disposal. They said they favored the 160X over the 160A becasue HK switched to cheaper components. I don't know if it is true or not, but that's what I was told. They favored it as a low end pro quality studio compressor.
I use the 160X basically for speaker protection (leveling the signal). My experience is that is it is very transparent. The tone of your signal out is the identical to the tone in.
I use the 160X basically for speaker protection (leveling the signal). My experience is that is it is very transparent. The tone of your signal out is the identical to the tone in.
It is nicknamed the "dirty-six-dirty" because of its tendency to distort. Some people like that distortion, or they don't know any better.
OK - so i'm a dbx fan as well but I've had great luck with the 3630 in the past. The dirty-six-dirty name has more to do with a clever rhyme than anything else is my guess. Kinda like the old, no hi's, no low's - must be Bose ... You can get some real wierdness out of the Alesis at extreme settings as well. When set up for typical (-10, -20, 2:1, 4:1 ...) sorts of settings it does fine.
I perfer my old 166's but - the 3630 is plenty servicable in a bass or live PA rig.
In some circles, taking a drum machine through a 3630 with some extreme squash and gate would be considered lo-fi heaven... I think that's an example of the wierdness part. Just 'cause you can, doesn't mean you should though - unless of course you're into hip hop in which case, by all means!
Where do you guys see a DBX 166A? I just searched DBX's web site and Musician's Friend, and all they both have is a 166XL.
Weren't you guys saying the 166XL is the older model to the 166A?
Then why wouldnt DBX's web site have the new model?
Weren't you guys saying the 166XL is the older model to the 166A?
Then why wouldnt DBX's web site have the new model?
I had an Alesis 3630. It was greatness. 2 channels compressor and noise gate. For $100. Great piece. I kinda miss it, but I'm gonna get a pedal compressor sometime.
bongomania
Commercial User
Read carefully.
dbx has many, many models with very similar numbers/names. When they upgrade or change the design of one model, they give it a slightly different number/letter appellation.The 166XL is the current version of the 166A. I reviewed the "A" version because they are so plentiful in the used market.
The 160A is the current version of the earlier 160X.
