dbx dbx 566 dbx 566 brochure

8760 S. Sandy Pkwy.

Sandy, Utah 84070

Phone [phone]

Fax [phone]

Int’l Fax [phone]

[e-mail]

http://www.dbxpro.com

A Harman International Company

• Hand selected Premium 12AU7
vacuum tubes in path

• +4/-10 operation

• Drive control for a wide variety of
great tube effects

• PeakPlus™ limiter on each channel

• Complete sidechain, OverEasy®,
and Auto functions

• Optional TYPE IV™ Conversion
System outputs

• Separate 1/4" sidechain insert send
and return

• Custom designed analog VU meters
monitor tube drive, gain reduction,
or output levels

566

dbx’s traditional spot atop the pro audio industry continues with the introduction of its new “Silver
Series.” The inclusion of 2 vacuum tubes makes the 566 Vacuum Tube Compressor no ordinary
compressor. Of course, it’s loaded with all the features you’d expect from a compressor, including
custom designed analog VU meters that monitor tube level, gain reduction, or output levels. The 566
Vacuum Tube Compressor also has full sidechain functionality, including sidechain monitor, and our
unique Contour function, which allows low frequency material to pass through the threshold without
triggering unmusical compression effects. It also includes the dbx OverEasy® threshold characteristic,
and Auto attack and release. Line/Instrument and mic inputs make the 566 versatile enough to use with
virtually any source device. Add to this impressive list of standard features extras like a sidechain insert
loop, True RMS Power Summing™, and the new patent-pending PeakPlus™limiting topology and you
have a compressor that strengthens dbx’s outstanding reputation.

The premium 12AU7 vacuum tubes are hand selected for ideal triode gain matching, distortion, micro­phonics and drive characteristics. You get the best tube sound with the most versatility available today.
And with the optional dbx TYPE IV™ Conversion System output, you can translate the essence of tube
processing directly to the digital world, without leaving the box. The digital output offers the ability to
communicate in either AES/EBU or S/PDIF at 16, 20, or 24 bit word lengths. In addition, TYPE IV™
offers the ability to select noise shape algorithms and dither types that best suit your music and your
medium. The 566 also has all the rear panel versatility and connectivity that make it easy to setup and
patch into any system. Gold plated Neutrik® connectors for the audio ins and outs ensure solid connec­tions and pristine sound every time. Separate 1/4" connectors for the sidechain sends and returns, as
well as +4/-10 operating level switching make it a snap to use.

Compressor

Vacuum Tube

®

+

3

0

¤

3

-15

DECIBELS

5

-20 -10

7

-25 -5

10

-30 0

20

-

PEAK

5

50

dB/Sec

RELEASE

250

125 12.5

AUTO

.15

.04

.35

ATTACK

dB/mSec

3

1

6:1

3:1

∞:1

2:1

RATIO

1:1

1.5:1

1.2:1

OverEasy

+10

+20

dB

-10

THRESHOLD

-40

-20 0

-30

-

0

+

LEVEL

LEVEL

OUTPUT

OUTPUT

GAIN

LEVEL

INSERT

REDUCTION

METER SOURCE

METER SOURCE

CHANNEL TWO

DRIVE

LEVEL

DRIVE

LEVEL

+20

Off

+15

0

+10

+5

LIMIT

+15

0

-15

CONTOUR BYPASSSC ENABLE

SC MON

+15

0

-15

UNLINK

dB

PeakPlus

dB

LEVEL

dB

DRIVE

THRESHOLD

SHAPEDITHER

Red: Shape 2

TYPE IV

2

CONVERSION SYSTEM

Off: None Off: None

Red: SNR

Green: TPDF Green: Shape 1

+

3

0

¤

3

-15

DECIBELS

5

-20 -10

7

-25 -5

10

-30 0

20

-

PEAK

5

50

dB/Sec

RELEASE

250

125 12.5

AUTO

.15

.04

.35

ATTACK

dB/mSec

3

1

6:1

3:1

∞:1

2:1

RATIO

1:1

1.5:1

1.2:1

OverEasy

+10

+20

dB

-10

THRESHOLD

-40

-20 0

-30

-

0

+

LEVEL

LEVEL

OUTPUT

OUTPUT

GAIN

LEVEL

INSERT

REDUCTION

METER SOURCE

METER SOURCE

CHANNEL ONE

DRIVE

LEVEL

DRIVE

LEVEL

+20

+15

+10

+5

LIMIT

0

CONTOUR BYPASSSC ENABLE

SC MON

0

UNLINK

Off

dB

0

+15

dB

-15

+15

dB

-15

PeakPlus

THRESHOLD

LEVEL

DRIVE

PUTS

onnectors: Female XLR Pin 2 hot and TRS 1/4”

pe: Electronically balanced/unbalanced

mpedance: 20.1 kΩ nominal, or 470 kΩ with rear-

panel INST switch engaged

aximum Input Level: > +30 dBu, or +22 dBu with rear-panel

INST switch engaged

UTPUTS

onnectors: Male XLR Pin 2 hot and TRS 1/4”

pe: Servo-balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered

mpedance: Balanced 120Ω, unbalanced 60Ω

aximum Output Level: +21.5 dBu, balanced or unbalanced

DECHAIN

onnectors: TRS 1/4”

pe: Impedance balanced/unbalanced

(SEND), electronically balanced/unbal­anced (RETURN)

mpedance: 100Ω bal./50Ω unbal. (SEND), 20kΩ

(RETURN)
ominal Send Level: +4 dBu
ominal Return Level: +4 dBu

OMPRESSOR

eshold range: -40dBu to +20dBu
atio: 1:1 to ∞:1
hreshold Characteristic: Selectable OverEasy® or hard knee

curves

Attack/Release Characteristic: AutoDynamic™
Attack/Release Modes: Selectable Manual or Auto
Manual Attack Time: Scalable program-dependent. Typically

3dB/ms to .04dB/sec

Manual Release Time: Scalable program-dependent. Typically

250dB/sec to 5dB/sec

Auto Attack Time: Program-dependent. Typically 15ms for

10dB, 5ms for 20dB, and 3ms for 30dB

Auto Release Time: Program-dependent. Typically

125dB/sec

Output Gain: -15 to +15dB

PeakPlus LIMITER

Type: Two-stage proprietary
Threshold Range: +4 dBu to >+ 22 dBu (off)
Ratio: ∞:1
Stage 1 Attack and Release Time: Zero
Stage 2 Attack Time: Program-dependent, typically < 5ms
Stage 2 Release Time: Program-dependent, typically 22dB/sec

SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

DRIVE Control Range: +10 dB to +60 dB
LEVEL Control Range: -15 dB to +15 dB

0.5 dB Bandwidth: 15 Hz to > 90 kHz +0/-0.5 dB
Frequency Response: <10 Hz to >200 kHz +0/-3.0 dB
EIN: Typically -126 dBu, 150Ω source

impedance, unweighted, 20 Hz to 20
kHz measurement bandwidth

THD + Noise: 0.04% typical at +0 dBu out, 1kHz, 33

dB gain, 3.5% typical at +21 dBu out,

1kHz, 35 dB gain
Deviation From Linear Phase: < 20 degrees, 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Interchannel Crosstalk: Typically -98 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

POWER SUPPLY

Operating Voltage: 100V, 120V, or 220-240VAC 50/60 Hz.
Power Consumption: 30 Watts maximum.
Fuse: 100V: 315mA 250V Slow Blow 5mm X

20mm

120V: 315mA 250V Slow Blow 5mm X

20mm

220-240V: T160 mA250V 5mm X
20mm
Mains Connection: IEC 320 Receptacle

PHYSICAL

Dimensions: 3.5" H X 19" W X 8" D
Weight: 12 lbs (5.5 kg)
Shipping Weight: 13 lbs (5.9 kg)

Note: 0 dBu = 0.775V RMS. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

VACUUM TUBE COMPRESSOR

566

SHAPEDITHER

566

Vacuum Tube

Compressor

Off: None Off: None

Green: TPDF Green: Shape 1

Red: SNR

2

Red: Shape 2

TYPE IV

CONVERSION SYSTEM

INSERT
LEVEL

METER SOURCE

DRIVE
LEVEL

OUTPUT

LEVEL

20

10

7

5

3

0

3

+

-

®

DECIBELS

-15

-20 -10

-25 -5

-30 0

DRIVE

dB

-150+15

THRESHOLD

dB

-40

-30

-20 0

0

-

-10

+

+10

+20

CONTOUR BYPASSSC ENABLE

RATIO

1:1

1.2:1

1.5:1

2:1

3:1

6:1

∞:1

ATTACK

dB/mSec

3

1

.35

.04

.15

OverEasy

RELEASE

dB/Sec

250

125 12.5

50

5

UNLINK

AUTO

LEVEL

dB

-150+15

PeakPlus

THRESHOLD

dB

0

+5

+10

Off

+20

+15

SC MON

LIMIT

PEAK

CHANNEL TWO

20

10

7

5

3

0

3

+

-

®

DECIBELS

-15

-20 -10

-25 -5

-30 0

GAIN

REDUCTION

METER SOURCE

DRIVE
LEVEL

OUTPUT

LEVEL

METER SOURCE

DRIVE
LEVEL

OUTPUT

LEVEL

DRIVE

dB

-150+15

THRESHOLD

dB

-40

-30

-20 0

0

-

-10

+

+10

+20

CONTOUR BYPASSSC ENABLE

RATIO

1:1

1.2:1

1.5:1

2:1

3:1

6:1

∞:1

ATTACK

dB/mSec

3

1

.35

.04

.15

OverEasy

RELEASE

dB/Sec

250

125 12.5

50

5

AUTO

LEVEL

dB

-150+15

PeakPlus

THRESHOLD

dB

0

+5

+10

Off

+20

+15

SC MON

LIMIT

PEAK

CHANNEL ONE

GAIN

REDUCTION

METER SOURCE

DRIVE
LEVEL

OUTPUT

LEVEL

dbx engineers are constantly working to improve the quality of our
products. Specifications are, therefore subject to change without notice.

®

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

dbx Professional Products

8760 S. Sandy Pkwy.

Sandy, Utah 84070

Phone [phone]

Fax [phone]

Int’l Fax [phone]

[e-mail]

http://www.dbxpro.com

A Harman International Company