dbx 160A User Manual

MODEL 160A

COMPRESSOR

LIMITER

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

ATTENTION: WARNING:

SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE

The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products. The lightning flash with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle means that there are dangerous voltages present within the unit. The exclamation point in an equilateral triangle indicates that it is necessary for the user to refer to the owner’s manual.

These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open the unit. Do not attempt to service the unit yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Opening the chassis for any reason will void the manufacturer’s warranty. Do not get the unit wet. If liquid is spilled on the unit, shut it off immediately and take it to a dealer for service. Disconnect the unit during storms to prevent damage.

NOTICE FOR CUSTOMERS IF YOUR UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER CORD.

WARNING: THIS APPLIANCE SHALL BE CONNECTED TO A MAINS SOCKET OUTLET WITH A

PROTECTIVE EARTHING CONNECTION.

The cores in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:

RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS OUVRIR

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC

Safety InStructIonS

WARNING FOR YOUR PROTECTION

READ THE FOLLOWING:

KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS

HEED ALL WARNINGS

FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS

THE APPARATUS SHALL NOT BE EXPOSED TO DRIPPING OR SPLASHING LIQUID AND NO OBJECT FILLED WITHI LIQUID, SUCH AS VASES, SHALL BE PLACED ON THE APPARATUS.

CLEAN ONLY WITH A DRY CLOTH.

DO NOT BLOCK ANY OF THE VENTILATION OPENINGS. INSTALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS.

DO NOT INSTALL NEAR ANY HEAT SOURCES SUCH AS RADIATORS, HEAT REGISTERS, STOVES, OR OTHER APPARATUS (INCLUDING AMPLIFIERS) THAT PRODUCE HEAT.

ONLY USE ATTACHMENTS/ACCESSORIES SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

UNPLUG THIS APPARATUS DURING LIGHTNING STORMS OR WHEN UNUSED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not ﬁt your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

Use only with the cart stand, tripod bracket, or table speciﬁed by the manufacture, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

GREEN and YELLOW - Earth BLUE - Neutral BROWN - Live

As colours of the cores in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the

coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:

•

The core which is coloured green and yellow must be connected to the terminal in the

plug marked with the letter E, or with the earth symbol, or coloured green, or green and yellow.

•

The core which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal marked N or

coloured black.

•

The core which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal marked L or

coloured red.

This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending on the available power source at installation. If the attachment plug needs to be changed, refer servicing to qualified service personnel who should refer to the table below. The green/yellow wire shall be connected directly to the units chassis.

CONDUCTOR

L LIVE BROWN BLACK

N NEUTRAL BLUE WHITE

E EARTH GND

WIRE COLOR

Normal Alt

GREEN/

YEL

GREEN

WARNING: If the ground is defeated, certain fault conditions in the unit or in the system to which it is connected can result in full line voltage between chassis and earth ground. Severe injury or death can then result if the chassis and earth ground are touched simultaneously.

Refer all servicing to qualiﬁed service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

POWER ON/OFF SWITCH: If the equipment has a Power switch, the Power switch used in this piece of equipment DOES NOT break the connection from the mains.

MAINS DISCONNECT: The plug shall remain readily operable. For rackmount or installation where plug is not accessible, an all-pole mains switch with a contact separation of at least 3 mm in each pole shall be incorporated into the electrical installation of the rack or building.

FOR UNITS EQUIPPED WITH EXTERNALLY ACCESSIBLE FUSE RECEPTACLE: Replace fuse with same type and rating only.

MULTIPLE-INPUT VOLTAGE: This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending on the available power source at installation. Connect this equipment only to the power source indicated on the equipment rear panel. To reduce the risk of ﬁre or electric shock, refer servicing to qualiﬁed service personnel or equivalent.

If connected to 240V supply, a suitable CSA/UL certiﬁed power cord shall be used for this supply.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

eLectroMaGnetIc

coMPatIBILIty

This unit conforms to the Product Specifications noted on the

Declaration of Conformity. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

• this device may not cause harmful interference, and

• this device must accept any interference received, including

interference that may cause undesired operation.

Operation of this unit within significant

electromagnetic fields should be avoided.

• use only shielded interconnecting cables.

DecLaratIon of

conforMIty

Manufacturer’s Name: dbx Professional Products Manufacturer’s Address: 8760 S. Sandy Parkway Sandy, Utah 84070, USA

declares that the product:

Product name: dbx 160A Note: Product name may be suffixed by the EU.

Product option: None

conforms to the following Product Specifications:

Safety: IEC 60065 -01+Amd 1

EMC: EN 55022:2006 (N/A; Analog Product) IEC61000-4-2 IEC61000-4-3 IEC61000-4-4 IEC61000-4-5 IEC61000-4-6 IEC61000-4-8 IEC61000-4-11

u.K. MaInS PLuG WarnInG

A molded mains plug that has been cut off from the cord is

unsafe. Discard the mains plug at a suitable disposal facility.

NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU INSERT A DAMAGED OR CUT MAINS PLUG INTO A 13 AMP POWER SOCKET.

Do not use the mains plug without the fuse cover in place. Replacement fuse covers can be obtained from your local retailer. Replacement fuses are 13 amps and MUST be ASTA approved to BS1362.

If you want to dispose this product, do not mix it with general household waste. There is a separate collection system for used electronic products in accordance with legislation that requires proper treatment, recovery and recycling.

Private household in the 25 member states of the EU, in Switzerland and Norway may return their used electronic products free of charge to designated collection facilities or to a retailer (if you purchase a similar new one).

For Countries not mentioned above, please contact your local authorities for a correct method of disposal.

By doing so you will ensure that your disposed product undergoes the necessary treatment, recovery and

recycling and thus prevent potential negative effects on the environment and human health.

Supplementary Information:

The product herewith complies with the requirements of the: Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC EMC Directive 2004/108/EC. RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC

With regard to Directive 2005/32/EC and EC Regulation 1275/2008 of 17 December 2008, this product is designed, produced, and classified as Professional Audio Equipment and thus is exempt from this Directive.

Roger Johnsen Vice President of Engineering 8760 S. Sandy Parkway Sandy, Utah 84070, USA Date: November 1, 2010

European Contact: Your local dbx Sales and Service Office or

Harman Music Group 8760 South Sandy Parkway Sandy, Utah 84070, USA Ph: (801) 566-8800 Fax: (801) 568-7583

dbx 160A COMPRESSOR / LIMITER

Manual Contents

QuiCk set-up ............................................ 2

inspeCtion .............................................. 2

introduCtion............................................ 2

appliCations ............................................ 3

operating notes......................................... 5

ConneCting the 160a to your systeM ...................... 10

installation Considerations .............................. 12

teChniCal support / FaCtory serviCe ...................... 13

perating Controls ..................................... 3

Warranty .............................................. 13

speCiFiCations ........................................... 14

dbx 160A COMPRESSOR / LIMITER

QUICK SETUP

To get your unit up and running as quickly as possible, do the following steps. For more detailed information, refer to the specified pages.

• Unpack and Inspect the 160A Package.

• Set Levels and Controls as Needed.

• Connect the 160A to Your System.

INSPECTION

Verify that the 160A package contains the following:

• 160A Unit

• AC Power Cord

• Operation Manual (including Registration Card)

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on purchasing the dbx 160A Compressor/Limiter. We recommend you take a moment and read through the manual as it provides information that will assist you from system installation to operation to special applications. Features include:

• OverEasy®/Hard Knee Selection -- allows selection between our famous OverEasy compression curve and the classic “Hard Knee” curve popularized by the original dbx 160, 161 and 162.

• True RMS Level Detection™ -- senses the power in the program in a musical manner, much as the ear does, giving results superior to peak or average detection.

• Hardwire System Bypass Button -- allows the audio to pass even if the unit is unplugged, and is also useful for compar-

ing the processed and unprocessed signal.

• Front Panel SLAVE Button -- couples two 160As together for stereo operation at the push of a button. Note: a 160A unit cannot be stereo-coupled with a dbx 160XT, 160X, 160, 161 or 162 unit.

• True Power Summing -- When two 160A units are slaved together, the RMS energy of the signal presented to the slave unit is summed with the RMS energy of the signal presented to the master unit to prevent phase cancellation of the two

signals from causing unmusical compressor action.

• LED Displays -- 19-Segment LED Display for high resolution monitoring of True RMS INPUT and OUTPUT LEVELs; 12-Segment LED Display for GAIN REDUCTION (up to 40dB).

• Meter Calibration -- Input/Output meter calibration, so the 160A can be used in a variety of situations where the “0” ref-

erence is not consistent.

• XLR-type Input and Output Jacks -- because the 3-pin XLR connector has been recognized as the most durable and widely used connector for professional applications. (An optional output transformer is available.)

• Input and Output Jacks -- with the output capable of driving its own additional 600Ω load (single-ended) in addition to any load on the XLR output.

• Input Ground Lift Switch -- internally disconnects pin 1 of the input XLR jack from 160A chassis ground to eliminate

any ground loop hum problems that may arise.

• Detector Input -- useful for special applications including frequency conscious compression in which an external equalizer is used.

• DC-controlled Parameters -- the signal does not pass through any of the parameter controls. Instead a DC voltage controls all functions; this eliminates any possibility of potentiometer noise developing over time.

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