DBX 166 Sensitivity Question.

tourtelot

I used a new (to me) DBX 166 yesterday, and found that when I sent a -12DBFS signal from my panel (maybe peaking at -9) that I was right up against the top of the threshold control at +20(!). I had no room to make any adjustment on ratio that wouldn't send this fairly restrained level into hard compression.

I worked around this by taking bus outs to the compressors and re-inserting them to give me control over input levels to the 166, and made up the gain in the reinserts so it was pretty quiet.

But what am I doing that might cause the 166 to be so sensitive when I used it as a master out compressor?

D.

Gadget

I don't know, maybe your hitting it too hard on the front end with the main outs?

tourtelot

Panel meters are correct as to the output level at the main out. It would seem to indicate input sensitivity (like a -10 setting) but I find no indication of internal jumpers or DIP switches that might account for that. I will put a signal generator and a meter on it later today.

D.