DBX 286S Microphone Pre-amp Processor

The DBX 286S Microphone Pre-amp Processor is a full featured Channel Strip Processor that delivers a studio quality microphone/instrument preamplifier and four processors that can be used independently or in any combination. Why mic up vocals and instruments through a noisy, blurry mixer? The sonically pristine dbx 286s Mic Preamp has all the features you need, including wide-ranging input gain control, switchable +48V phantom power, and an 80Hz high-pass filter to remove low frequency hum, rumble or wind. Use the patented dbx OverEasy compressor to transparently smooth out uneven acoustic tracks or deliver that classic "in your face" vocal performance that only a dbx compressor can.

Eliminate vocal sibilance and high frequency distortion from instruments such as cymbals with the frequency tunable De-Esser. Fine-tune the Enhancer HF Detail control to add sparkle and crispness to your tracks and make adjustments to the LF Detail control to add fullness and depth to vocals and bass instruments while cleaning up the muddy low midrange frequencies. And, the separate threshold and ratio controls on the Expander/Gate allow you to subtly reduce headphone leakage or radically gate noisy guitar amps.

The dbx 286s offers a full compliment of metering and status LEDs to visually guide you to achieving the right sound. The floating balanced XLR Mic Input accepts balanced or unbalanced inputs to easily connect to professional and home studio microphones. The additional 1/4" TRS Line Input can accept balanced/unbalanced signals to process live electronic instruments or pre-recorded tracks at mixdown. Use the Insert jack to interface between the Mic Preamp and the signal processing sections to loop out to external processors (such as EQ or delay unit) or to mix the Mic Preamp's signal out to an external destination.

The cost and hassle of patching together multiple processors for use on one track can be frustrating. The dbx 286s provides you with all the mic processing you need in one box, with the shortest, cleanest signal path to keep your music sounding its best.

Product Specification:

Mic Preamp Connector: XLR Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot

Mic Preamp Input Impedance: ~4.2kΩ

Mic Preamp gain: 0dB to +60dB

Mic Preamp Phantom Power: +48VDC, applied to XLR pins 2 and 3 through 6.81kΩ resistors

CMRR: >40dB, typically 55dB

Mic Preamp max input level: 0.2Vrms, Gain = 30dB

Mic Preamp Equivalent Input Noise (EIN): -125dBu, 22Hz-22kHz, 150Ω source impedance

Input Connectors: (line) Floating balanced, TIP Hot

Input Impedance: (line) 10kΩ unbalanced, 20kΩ balanced

Input Gain Range: (line) -15dB to +45 dB

Insert Connector: 1/4" TRS: Normalled; tip is Send, ring is Return

Insert Impedance: >5kΩ (ring-return); 100Ω (tip-send)

Insert Max Level: >+21dBu; >+20dBm (600Ω load-tip)

Insert Noise: <-84dBu, unweighted (20Hz-20kHz); LINE GAIN Control set to 0dB

Insert Distortion: <0.01% THD, 20Hz-20kHz, +10dBu

Output Connectors: 1/4" Balanced/Unbalanced TRS Connectors

Output Impedance: 100Ω unbalanced, 200Ω balanced

Max Output: >+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load)

Gain Adjustment Range: -30dB to +10dB

Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5, -0.5dB

Compressor Threshold Range: -40dBu to +20dBu

Compressor Ratio: >4:1 For input levels beyond 20dB above threshold

Max Compression: 30dB

De-esser Characteristic: Wideband Gain Reduction

Expander/Gate Threshold Range: OFF to +15dBu

Expander/Gate Ratio: Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1

Expander/Gate Max Depth: >50dB

Power Consumption: 15W

Operating Voltage: DO: 120VAC 60Hz, 100VAC 50/60Hz; EU: 230VAC 50/60Hz

Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)

Dimensions: 1.75" x 5.75" x 19" (4.5cm x 14.6cm x 48.5cm)

Unit Weight: 4.5 lbs/2.04 Kgs

Shipping Weight: 6.54 lbs/2.97 Kgs