DBX 1046 Quad Compressor/Limiter
In today's recording and sound reinforcement environments, the need for multiple channels of high quality, easy to use, compression is growing rapidly. The new dbx 1046 is designed to provide the audio professional with just that: 4 channels of great sounding dbx compression for a variety of applications. Incorporating the industry standard dbx designs and the latest available manufacturing techniques, the dbx 1046 provides pristine sonic quality with that classic dbx sound.The 1046 provides 4 channels of smooth classic dbx OverEasy® or hard knee compression that are perfectly suited for use on individual tracks of your multitrack recorder, and in virtually all applications the separate channels can be individually interfaced and used for entirely independent purposes. Additionally the newly developed PeakStopPlus is ideal for protecting your system from the oppressive peaks that can take out valuable drivers in your sound reinforcement rig or studio monitors. All four channels feature balanced gold plated XLR and 1/4" inputs and outputs, and switchable +4dBu or -10dBV operating level to interface each individual channel with any other device.So whether you need to control the level, placement in the mix, or overall characteristics of 4 independent signals or control the gain leveling on a couple of stereo pairs, the dbx1046 is for you.
Controls
All four channels have the following controls:
Threshold - allows you to set the level at which the compressor starts affecting the gain
OverEasy® - allows you to select between soft compression for overall gain control or hard-knee compression based on the famous curve found in the original dbx160
Ratio - allows you to set the slope of gain reduction affecting the signal over the threshold level.
Input/Output Meter - allows you to set the meter to check the input and output levels for maximum signal-to-noise ratio and best level matching
Output Gain - allows you to add make-up gain or to adjust the output level for that channel to match the next device's input gain
Bypass - hard wire bypass allows you to hear how the compressor is affecting your signal
PeakStopPlus - allows you to set the maximum signal level you want to pass through this channel. While it's virtually impossible to eliminate distortion, the PeakStopPlus circuit does it gracefully and effectively with minimal distortion.
Stereo Link - allows you to link channels 1&2 and 3&4 for two channels of true stereo compression
Specifications
Input Connectors
XLR and 1/4" TRS (Pin 2 and tip hot)
Type: Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced > 40 kOhm, unbalanced >20 kOhm
Max Input Level: > +22 dBu balanced or unbalanced
CMRR: Typically >50 dB at 1 kHz
Output Connectors: XLR and 1/4" TRS (Pin 2 and tip hot)
Type: Servo-balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced 30 Ohm, unbalanced 15 Ohm
Max Output Level: > +22 dBm balanced, > +20 dBm 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 P> 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® or hard knee
Attack/Release Characteristic: AutoDynamic
Attack Time: Program-dependent
Release Time: Program-dependent
Output Gain: -20 to +20 dB
Limiter
Threshold Range: 0 dBu to +24 dBu (off)
Ratio: 1:1 to inf.: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-dependen
Function Switches
OverEasy®: Activates the OverEasy® compression function
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 bypass
Operating Level (rear panel): Switches the nominal operating level between -10 dBV and +4dBu simultaneously for both input and output levels
ST Link: Links channels in stereo pairs. Channels One and Three become the master channels
Indicators
Gain Reduction Meter: 8 segment LED bar graph at 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 20,25, and 30 dB
Input/Ouptut Meter: 8-segment LED bar graph at -24, -18, -12, -6, 0,+6, +12, and +18 dBu
PeakStop®: 1 LED to indicate PeakStop® limiting
Function Switches: LED indicator for each front-panel switch