dbx 1066 Dual Compressor Limiter Gate

After producing the world's most renown series of compressors, the task of producing a new compressor worthy of dbx's reputation would be daunting for most engineers. Not for dbx. Our engineers know audio like no one else in the world. Now the fruits of their talents are available to you in the form of the 1066 Stereo Compressor/Limiter/Gate.

Want to instantly add that classic dbx response to your mix? It's there at the touch of the "Auto" button. Or use the independent Attack and Release controls to tailor the 1066 to your specific needs. Unwanted frequencies or mic bleed in the signal path? Frequency dependent gain control is a snap to set up and execute with the Side Chain External button (SC Ext). Use the Side Chain Monitor button (SC Mon) and your favorite EQ to dial in the specific frequencies you want to trigger the device. As has become dbx standard, the contour switch allows entire mixes to be easily smoothed with soft compression while keeping low frequencies from punching holes in the overall mix. Selectable input and output metering allow you to make sure that everything is matched up level-wise, maximizing your signal-to-noise ratio.

For overall speaker protection, the new PeakStopPlus does all previous circuits one better. With a new design, the PeakStopPlus represses those unwanted transients from blowing your drivers while minimizing the distortion common to many other "hard" limiters. Selectable Hard-Knee or OverEasy(R) characteristics make the 1066 ideal for your gain control needs, whether you're looking for "heavy" almost-special-effects compression or soft, smooth gain leveling. New lightpipe technology replaces standard LED's found on most other units, making the 1066 both very easy to read and much easier to operate.

In the studio, broadcast facility or on the road with a P.A. system, the 1066 is designed for perfectly simple operation. The 1066 allows you to eliminate unwanted signals, flexibly control overall signal gain, and guard your overall mix in dual mono or stereo operation.

At the heart of the 1066 is the new dbx V2 VCA. Developed especially for the 1066, 1046 and other 10 Series products to come, this revolutionary VCA boasts superb dynamic range characteristics while maintaining very low distortion and almost immeasurable noise characteristics. The bottom line is this: a new VCA working in conjunction with world class design makes the dbx1066 perform better than compressors selling for hundreds more.

State-of-the-technology VCA's, meticulous component selection, and scrupulous testing procedures are just a few more reasons that the new dbx1066 is the latest in a long line of pedigreed dbx signal processors.

Features
Selectable auto (classic dbx) or manual (variable Attack and Release) compression

Contour switch removes unwanted low frequency information from detector circuit

Selectable OverEasy or Hard Knee compression modes

PeakStopPlus limiting for setting maximum allowable level with minimal distortion

SC Ext and SC Mon for setting up and monitoring external devices for gating function

True differentially balanced gold-plated XLR and 1/4 in. inputs and outputs.

True RMS level detection

Precision metering of input level, output level, and gain reduction

True stereo or dual mono operation

Switchable +4dBu or -10dBV operation per channel

Proudly designed, manufactured, and tested in the USA

Technical Info

Input
Connectors: XLR and 1/4 in. TRS (Pin 2 and tip hot)
Type: Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced > 50 kOhm, unbalanced > 25 kOhm
Max Input Level: > +24 dBu balanced or unbalanced
CMRR: Typically > 50 dB at 1 kHz

Outputs
Connectors: XLR and 1/4 in. TRS (Pin 2 and tip hot)
Type: Servo-balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced 120 Ohm, unbalanced 60 Ohm
Max Output Level: > +21 dBu, > +20 dBm

Sidechain Input
Connector: 1/4 in. TS
Type: Unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: > 10 kOhm
Max Input Level: > +24 dBu

Sidechain Output
Connector: 1/4 in. TRS (tip hot)
Type: Impedance balanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced 2 kOhm, unbalanced 1 kOhm
Max Output Level: > +21 dBu balanced or unbalanced

System Performance
Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0/0.5 dB
Frequency Response: 0.35 Hz to 90 kHz, +0/-3 dB
Noise: < -96 dBu, unweighted, 22 kHz measurement bandwidth
Dynamic Range: > 118 dB, unweighted
THD+Noise: 0.008% typical at +4 dBu, 1 kHz, unity gain
0.08% typical at +20 dBu, 1 kHz, unity gain
< 0.1%, any amount of compression up to 40 dB, 1 kHz
IMD: < 0.1% SMPTE
Interchannel Crosstalk: < -80 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Stereo Coupling: True RMS Power Summing

Compressor
Threshold Range: -40 dBu to +20 dBu
Ratio: 1:1 to :1
Threshold Characteristic: Selectable OverEasy(R) or hard knee
Attack/Release Characteristic: AutoDynamic
Attack/Release Modes: Selectable Manual or Auto
Manual Attack Time: Scalable program-dependent
Manual Release Time: Scalable program-dependent
Auto Attack Time: Program-dependent
Auto Release Time: Program-dependent
Output Gain: -20 to +20 dB

Limiter
Threshold Range: +4 dBu to +24 dBu (off)
Ratio: :1
Limiter Type: PeakStopPlus two-stage limiter
Stage 1: PeakStop brickwall limiter
Attack Time: Zero
Release Time: Zero
Stage 2: Predictive intelligent program limiter
Attack Time: Program-dependent
Release Time: Program-dependent

Expander/Gate
Threshold Range: Off to +15 dBu
Ratio: 1:1 to 30:1
Attack Time: < 100 usec
Release Time: Program-dependent

Function Switches
SC Ext: Routes the external sidechain input signal to the detector.
SC Mon: Routes the sidechain signal to the output, interrupting the normal audio.
OverEasy: Activates the OverEasy compression function.
Contour: Activates the frequency-dependent detector function.
Auto: Activates automatic program-dependent attack and release times, disabling the manual Attack and Release controls.
I/O Meter: Switches between monitoring input and output levels on the Input/Output Level meter.
Bypass: Activates the direct input-to-output hard-wire relay bypass. Relay automatically hard-wire bypasses unit at power-down and provides a power-on delay of 1.5 sec.
Operating Level (rear panel): Switches the nominal operating level between -10 dBV and +4 dBu simultaneously for both input and output levels.
ST Link: Links both channels for stereo operation. Channel One becomes the master.

Indicators
Gain Reduction Meter: 12-segment LED bar graph at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30 dB
Input/Output Meter: 8-segment LED bar graph at -24, -18, -12, -6, 0, +6, +12, and +18 dBu
Compressor Threshold Meter: 3-segment LED bar graph at Below (-), OverEasy, and Above (+)
Exp/Gate Threshold Meter: 2-segment LED bar graph at Below (-) and Above (+)
Limiter, Threshold Meter: 1 LED to indicate PeakStopPlus limiting
Function Switches: LED indicator for each front-panel switch

Options
Output Transformer
Per Channel: Jensen JT-123-dbx or JT-11-dbx, BCI RE-123-dbx, or RE-11-dbx

Power Supply
Operating Voltage: 100-120 VAC 50/60 Hz 200-240 VAC 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 20 Watts
Fuse: 100-120 VAC: 250 mA Slow Blow
200-240 VAC: 125 mA Type T
Mains Connection: IEC receptacle

Physical
Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.75 x 19 x 9 in. (4.4 x 48.3 x 20.1 cm)

In the studio, there's no substitute for quality compression. The 1066 offers dual-mono or linked-stereo operation to tighten-up all your tracks. For that classic dbx presence, engage the auto-mode and prepare to be amazed. Manual attack/release is also available. Side-chain mode for frequency-dependent operation. XLR and 1/4" I/O.