DBX 160 Compressor / Limiter Vintage Racked Pair (Serial Numbers: 9483 & 9494)

Introducing this DBX 160 Compressor/Limiter Vintage Racked Pair, featuring serial numbers 9483 and 9494 is a previously used item showcasing signs of cosmetic wear. However, it is fully operational and functions as intended, ensuring its reliability and authenticity for your audio processing needs. To further enhance convenience, the unit has received a fresh installment of XLR pigtails, facilitating seamless integration into your studio setup.

Whether enhancing synths, bass guitar, or a drum bus, the DBX 160 bestows a distinct, tactile low-end glue and radiates an authentic old-school character, adorned with unique nonlinearities—making it an indispensable addition to any discerning engineer's compressor toolkit.

The release of the DBX 160 compressor in 1976 marked a transformative moment, firmly establishing DBX on the audio map. It holds the distinction of being the first commercially successful audio compressor to integrate a voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) as its gain reduction element, swiftly gaining acclaim among recording engineers and producers. David Blackmer, with training from the Navy, Harvard, and MIT, played an integral role in its development. Throughout the 1960s audio era, Blackmer, an engineer and circuit designer, focused on maximizing the dynamic range of recorded media.

Launched in 1976, DBX's inaugural dynamic range compressor for professional audio initially faced skepticism from Blackmer, who was primarily focused on increasing the dynamic range of recorded audio. Nevertheless, the two-rackspace, half-width box gained popularity among engineers seeking cost-effective alternatives to classics like the LA-3A and 1176, despite its relatively limited feature set.