Rack compressor compare.(dbx 1066, 160a, 160x)

Rack compressor compare.(dbx 1066, 160a, 160x)
1066/160a : made in usa
160x : made in japan.

[@fibboobbif]

I just bought another 1066 (180 Euro, even cheaper in the USA) when i realized some days ago that this machine is still beating most "reasonable priced" stereo comp/lim, regarding useful quick "mastering" of rough mixes, and overload protection. I bought a new joemeek stereo compressor (280 Euro) some years ago that i used for acoustic guitars only, but this one failed in the master insert... Problem is the bass sensitivity. So in a nutshell, i recommend buying a DBX 160 for single tracks, and a 1066 for stereo out-of-the-box quick "mastering" or live PA protection, and as a quick drum compressor/noise gate.

[@decadesofsegregation9677]

Shhhhhh don’t give out the secret. Agree with all the above. The 1066 is one hell of a sleeper drum buss comp. The 160X is amazing on kicks and snares though.

[@joecaner]

I also liked the sound 160x more that the others, but it would have been nice if more attention was paid to matching the output levels of the units under test.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Yes. Near useless 'comparison' ...

[@jeromelester8]

The dbx 160x adds some richness, weight and musicality, that i like. The dbx 160A is a more SSL-ish sounding compressor. It is the most versatile compressor, because of the sidechain option.

[@drewstapleton231]

My 160X and 160A both have detector circuits, but neither have sidechain.

[@jeromelester8]

Drew Stapleton Absolutely, thanks for your advice - sidechain is incorrect!

[@coma8coma1]

it's amazing how different they sound, even with almost no gain reduction occurring.

[@leoenrico]

seems the 1066 were with the high pass filter engaged

[@SoundweaversRecording]

thanks for this, the 160X wins this comparison. the 160A really that bright? Btw, does your 160X has transformer output?

[@weitseng5301]

Thanks so much! This helped a lot. I finally got a dbx 160XT.

[@wholesounds3653]

Man I love DBX for having some useful budget compressors out there. I did a similar video including affordable Drawmer and Alesis units

[@stanleycastaneda7608]

Link me a video of that if you can thanks

[@persianchris2451]

Dbx 160x. Glad I picked it over the others too before watching this vid!

[@benriner]

I have a lead on a pair of used affordable 160A's. Your vid helped my decision to buy them. Thanks!!

[@discotechwreck]

The 160X seemed to be the most neutral with the 160A & 1066 adding a noticeable high end

[@guitarwhores2562]

I liked the 160x best for my ears. I'd like to hear the with some gain. Can you say which is quietest?

[@vadz]

Wow. It looks like 1066 with 'Contour' turned on brightens the sound a lot.

[@MrRoskoPeko]

For me. 160x has good character. The 1066 sucks the life out of the guitar and is far too brittle sounding. 160a has no mojo compared to the X.

[@mayonaze2g]

my thoughts exactly

[@DiogoSarcinelli]

It might had been the "countour" knob engaged on the 1066

[@bavarianmonkey8326]

@@DiogoSarcinelli The contour button does only affect the detector path. It should not affect the audio path at all!

[@MrZyrenda]

Great demonstration. It shows that only USA Version is good. Japan and China cannot compete. Also 560a sound not good. I like best DBX 160X. It has transients and sound thick.

[@Woundstring]

1066 definitely sounds brighter...I would want it to cut through like that. The others are good too..but 1066 is my favourite in your examples.

[@weitseng5301]

Would you mind sharing what is your signal chain like? For example, is it something like this? Gtr -} Amp -} Mic -} Mic Pre -} Dbx160 -} Audio Interface

[@VenomousB6U6R6N]

Yeah, very subtle but with the low end but you can hear the high end increase the brightness dramatically with all of them, they all seem to do their job and work just fine. Only need one I guess lol

[@IamWalterBenjamin]

160X is louder. It sounds better because of that... Makes the comparison a bit unfair...

[@kierenmoore3236]

Yes - this guy had no idea what he was doing, when he made this 'comparison' ... levels aren't equalised, 1066 has the contour HPF on ... totally useless garbage ...

[@jimigrok]

nice to see the differences - thanks

[@andresilvasophisma]

To those complaining that the 1066 sounds thin, that happens in part due to the fact that he has enabled the contour button which removes lower frequencies.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Yes - this guy had no idea what he was doing, when he made this 'comparison' ... levels aren't equalised, either ... totally useless garbage ...

[@bavarianmonkey8326]

From the detector path only. It does not affect the audio path!

[@s.g.3042]

1066 for vocals or for quick & dirty "hi-fi mastering" on a budget / on a deadline anyday!

[@abrahamchapman3332]

The different input impedance is messing with the tone of your guitar it sounds like.

[@derChili]

Sadly the contour button is activated on the 1066. It is a hi-pass ... thanks anyway

[@jasonwhitaker6281]

I don't think this is a very good demo video. Watch the gain reduction meters throughout this video. Only 1-2 db of gain reduction is occurring. On the 1066 I didn't see the gain reduction meter light up at all. That means no compression was happening.

[@dillpereira250]

There's no wrong way to using compression. It's just an artistic process!

[@kierenmoore3236]

The levels don't seem to be equalised, either ... This is a near useless comparison ...

[@heitor5998]

And at the 1066 the button Contour is turned on. On 1066, this button creates a low shelf EQ on the bass to prevent rumble lows, but here it made the sound lost some of its bottom end.

[@johnoxford9989]

1 dB compression is more or less the same as no compression at all. This test is useless...

[@mitjh]

a good comparison, well done mate

[@doofered]

why all of these compressors have different EQs?

[@DystopianOwl]

Why does the 160A add some sort of EQ to the sound??

[@joolm4976]

Correction: 160x USA and 160A Asia

[@petervitusaudio]

Nice video! Do you know some thing about the chinese ones? thanks

[@conceptofdread]

GREAT VIDEO Love that 160X gotta love japan. How did you make the cool masking tape looking labels?

[@darknature79]

His 160x is a usa made model right before the.Japanese model i just picked up.a usa model cor $150 i am very happy.

[@technopunks]

dbx 1066 BEST!

[@cmetruth2567]

Михаил Вавер 😂😂😂

[@kierenmoore3236]

With levels equalised, and HPF not engaged, it's probably up there, yeah ... Not a good 'comparison' ... :P Goes to show, you should learn to use things properly, before you demo/compare them on YT ... and waste everyone's time ... but you'll get hits, so what do you care, right ... :/

[@2011hifi]

160x sounds warmer than 160 a and 1066.

[@Michael-st9ky]

160x Sound more bassy. Only because you have the output a few dB higher

[@Eskimo1973]

Thanks a lot for posting this!

[@JasonAltuna]

I just bought a dbx 160x, and was wondering if any of yall know how to connect this compressor up with a drum machine? More specifically an SP-12. 1/4" (IN) -1/4" (OUT) but what gets plugged to the IN, and what to the OUT?

[@datamasked623]

From way back in 1985! Whoa! That's sweet. Where'd you get one of those? I looked at an image of the I/O section on the back of the unit. Looks like there's only one input for the incoming sample, but 8 analog outs. Right? If it's a really simple setup you have, I'd just run the output of whatever channel on the SP-12 you want compressed to the input of the DBX...then take the output of the DBX to wherever you want it to go. You using it in a studio? If so, just return it to one of the analog inputs of your audio interface or to a mixer and route it into your DAW.

[@JasonAltuna]

I dont run off DAW, just hardware/analog. Just incorporated a cassette player into my setup. I found the DBX on ebay! I appriciate your help with my question, that makes great sence

[@datamasked623]

Jay Altuna Yeah, so if your tape deck is your recording device, and it has 1/4 TRS inputs, then it would be output of the SP12 --> input of the DBX then output of DBX-->input of tape recorder. Either way, the compressor needs signal to be fed into it for it to work (obviously). Enjoy. It's a cool little unit.

[@JasonAltuna]

I here if I get a second Dbx 160x I can set compression on all channels? I just got it hooked up with my SP12 and playing with the compression settings now.

[@JasonAltuna]

Hear*

[@simondo3]

The 160a volume is much lower, about 4db, so an unfair comparison to the 160X, you need to match the levels when A/Bing but thanks the 160's do sound great compared to the 1066 which sounded thin thin thin!!

[@kierenmoore3236]

The 1066 was the quietest of the bunch ... this was a shite 'comparison' ...

[@johnnybrit804]

1066 wins!!!! beaultfull!

[@TheIronSean]

The fact that the video is out of sync with the audio is really distracting.

[@inUR2teeth]

close your eyes...........

[@doremi3847]

160A clear sound

[@killer268]

the x and a are close enough for government work. the 1066 is miles away.

[@MiracleDee]

160x...for me

[@sahapo]

DT - The silent man :D

[@71dhwand]

The 160X sounds more thick and have more vibe, the 160A is a bit more smoother and the 1066 sounds lifeless !!!

[@falangistavaleroso9689]

yes, I am the unlucky owner of a 1066

[@MrVinylistic]

160x sounds best for me on this guitar...hehe. The 160a sounds better on bass than on guitar. 1066 sounds thin and digital here - most dbx plugins sounds better. I'm wondering because the cheaper 166A and 166XL sound also great - why the 1066 not? Maybe the settings are not identical....strange???

[@kierenmoore3236]

Yes - this guy had no idea what he was doing, when he made this 'comparison' ... levels aren't equalised, either ... totally useless garbage ...

[@jesseldrummer]

Thanks dude

[@esmeulonsouzadeoliveira3636]

Show Gostei 🏴‍☠️⚡🏴‍☠️ .

[@maldonadocorrea]

160x 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@pedroparamo9]

160A wins...it's bright, but not so much, it's warm... because the 1066, the sounds it's cheaper, without warm, without body...

[@tonysmith5564]

The 160A sounds thin and brittle. I much prefer the 160X.

[@djnando2004]

160x....Top

[@bpromusicandfamily4388]

Yes yes! 160x

[@bramsleon6852]

yes...160x

[@iamsevaivanov]

This video does not even show how the compression works, because the GR is around -4 at extreme and most of the time it is zero. What's the point showing how these compression units work if you ain't compressing? Impedance mismatch makes it all worse, and contour button engaged as a cherry on a cake.

[@SVRsoundproduction]

Видео о том как не нужно использовать компрессоры

[@HansChristianmusic]

dbx 160X sounds best to me...

[@youngshakespeareans7834]

160a

[@JoaoRicardo-wy9li]

fender stratocaster

[@himekoyami100]

debe aprender a calibrarlos primero antes de comparar...

[@tomlebeau7921]

Compression and outputs aren’t matched.

[@Luigi1984]

the 160x is more warm

[@kdchmln]

levels weren't matched properly so this comparison is a waste of time

[@londonolnol]

You should not use 1066 in Auto mode because it's horrible

[@greg4272]

all of them sounds terrible. like a chinise copy of a good one

[@AudioReplica2023]

👎🏻