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DBX short history
Dbx, Inc. was an American Company, founded by David E. Blackmer in 1971, for production of professional audio recording equipment. The early products were based on the concept of using a new technique of compression/expansion, called linear decibel companding, which gave the company its name, for reducing the tape noise. The term companding is the portmanteau (combination of two or more words) of compressing and expanding. The dbx noise reduction system, surely more effective then the previous Dolby system in reducing tape noise, used compression while recording an audio track and symmetric expansion when playing it back.
In 1976 they introduced the dbx 160 compressor, based on new circuits for much smoother gain reduction, named Overeasy Compression, a soft-knee when compression first starts. The 163 and 164 series came successively.
Dbx manufactured only signal processing equipment until was bought in 1979 by BSR (Birmingham Sound Reproducers), a British manufacturer of record player turntables.
The dbx production line ends in 1989, when the BSR was acquired by Chinese Sanju Chiba and changed its name to ELP, solding out the dbx business.
| Model 163 |
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Front view 12 LED display the amount of instantaneous gain from -2 to -30 dB. Compression slider: varies the threshold of compression from +4dB to -36dB when moved from left to right (toward MORE) |
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Rear view IN : mono input OUT: mono output NOMINAL OPERATING LEVEL: +4 dB / -10dB (fixed switched levels) / variable level (adjustable by screwdriver from -20 to +10 dB) |
| Model 163A |
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Front view STEREO SLAVE LED display POWER display 12 LED display the amount of gain reduction from -2 (right) to -30 dB. Compression slider: varies the threshold of compression when moved from left to right (toward MORE) LEVEL set control: for adjusting the operating output level (from -30 to +10 dB) Hi-Z INPUT jack: connects to internal low-noise FET preamp. The gain is such that all low level instrument, like guitars and some high impedance mics can be plugged in directly using 1/4" phone connectors. If necessary, it can use the rear panel Hi-Z trim. |
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Rear view INPUT : mono input OUTPUT: mono output (both for mono 1/4" phone connectors) Hi-Z TRIM : for adjusting Hi-Z front input level. STEREO STRAPPING INPUT: for stereo 1/4" phone connectors only. Connecting this jack to the same jack of another 163A you have a true RMS-detecting stereo compressor /limiter. SLAVE/MASTER SWITCH: press the switch to set slave position for stereo configuration or release the switch for mono use. POWER INPUT. for removable AC cord.
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| Model 163X |
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Front view STEREO SLAVE LED display POWER LED display 12 LED display the amount of gain reduction from -2 (right) to -30 dB. Compression slider: varies the threshold of compression when moved from left to right (toward MORE) LEVEL set control: for adjusting the operating output level (from -30 to +10 dB) Hi-Z INPUT jack: connects to internal low-noise FET preamp. The gain is such that all low level instrument, like guitars and some high impedance mics can be plugged in directly using 1/4" phone connectors. If necessary, it can use the rear panel Hi-Z trim. |
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Rear view INPUT : mono input OUTPUT: mono output (both for mono 1/4" phone connectors) Hi-Z TRIM : for adjusting Hi-Z front input level. Voltage selector : 120 or 240V STEREO STRAPPING INPUT: for stereo 1/4" phone connectors only. Connecting this jack to the same jack of another 163A you have a true RMS-detecting stereo compressor /limiter. SLAVE/MASTER SWITCH: press the switch to set slave position for stereo configuration or release the switch for mono use. |