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dbx 160A COMPRESSOR / LIMITER
OUTPUT GAIN Control:
Adjust this control to vary the amount of fixed gain (up to +20dB) in the 160A's output amplifier stage. The OUTPUT
GAIN control does not interact with the threshold of compression.
DISPLAY Button and LED:
Depress this button to make the upper LED array display the INPUT LEVEL to the 160A. With the button out, the
OUTPUT LEVEL is displayed. A pair of LEDs immediately above the DISPLAY button indicates the selected display.
INPUT/OUTPUT LEVEL and GAIN REDUCTION Displays:
The upper row of 19 LEDs displays either the INPUT or OUTPUT LEVEL, as selected with the DISPLAY button. This
display is factory set so that 0dB is equivalent to +4dBu input or output level (1.23VRMS), but may be reset with the
rear panel METER CALIBRATION trimmer. (See following pages.)
The lower row of 12 LEDs displays up to 40dB of GAIN REDUCTION (although the 160A is actually capable of deliv-
ering up to 60dB of gain reduction). Note that fixed gain changes due to the OUTPUT GAIN control are not displayed
by the GAIN REDUCTION LEDs but are reflected in the OUTPUT LEVEL display.
Rear Panel
INPUT (BALANCED) Jacks:
The Tip/Ring/Sleeve phone jack and XLR-type jack are wired in parallel; either INPUT will accept an audio signal for
processing by the 160A. The phone jack accepts a standard TRS 1/4” phone plug for a balanced input source, or a 2-cir-
cuit (Tip/Sleeve) 1/4” phone plug for an unbalanced source. The XLR-type jack is wired pin 2 HOT (+), pin 3 COLD (-)
and pin 1 GROUND.
OUTPUT (BALANCED) Jack:
The 160A's OUTPUT (BALANCED) jack is driven by a floating active-balanced amplifier that simulates a true trans-
former output. This allows for the load at the OUTPUT to be either balanced with respect to ground, or single-ended to
ground (unbalanced) with very little difference (less than 0.5dB) in output level. For proper unbalanced operation, the
unused pin (either pin 2 or 3) MUST be grounded.
Nominal output signal level is +4dBu into 600Ω, and typical maximum output level is +25dBu into 600Ω. This jack
accepts XLR-type connectors, wired pin 2 HOT (+), pin 3 COLD (-), and pin 1 chassis ground.
For applications which require a “true” transformer output, an optional output transformer can be installed. Contact our
Customer Service Department at the phone number listed on the back cover for details. If outside the United States, con-
tact your dbx distributor.
OUTPUT (UNBAL) Jack:
The 160A has a separate single-ended (unbalanced) output amplifier capable of driving a 600Ω (or greater) load to
4
1:1
2:1
4:1
:1
−
15
−
10
−
5
0
+5
+15
+20
+10
INPUT LEVEL (dB)
OUTPUT LEVEL (dB)
−
15
−
10
−
5
0
+5
+15
+20
+10
RED
Below Threshold
Above Threshold
OverEasy Range
G
RE
E
N
A
M
BE
R
YELLOW
-15
-10
-5
0
+5
+15
+20
+10
INPUT LEVEL (dB)
OUTPUT LEVEL (dB)
-15
-10
-5
0
+5 +15
+20
+10
1:1 Unity
2:1
4:1
:1
20:1
RED
Above Threshold
GREEN
Below Threshold
Rotation Point Threshold
160A
COMPRESSOR/LIMITER
LEVEL
INPUT
OUTPUT
BYPASS SLAVE OVEREASY
THRESHOLD COMPRESSION
RATIO
OUTPUT
GAIN
DISPLAY
+20dBu
+10
0
-40dBu -1:1
-2:1
-5:1
10:1
6:1
4:1
1:1 +20dB
+10
0
-20dB
-10
2:1
3:1
-30
-20
-10
BELOW ABOVE
-40 30 20 15 10 86543210124610 20+
GAIN REDUCTION
:1
85-3998-A 160AD rear buyoff (5-20-98)
85-3999-A 160AD front buyoff (5-20-98)
15 WATTS
100V 50/60Hz
120V 60Hz
MANUFACTURED UNDER ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING U.S. PATENTS 4,234,804 4,316,107 4,329,598 4,331,931 4,377,792 4,403,199 4,409,500 4,425,551 4,434,380 4,454,433 4,471,324 4,473,793 OTHER PATENTS PENDING
PHONE:
TIP
SLEEVE
PHONE:
TIP
RING
SLEEVE
XLR:
PIN 1
PIN 2
PIN 3
INPUTS OUTPUTS
DETECTOR
INPUT
STEREO
STRAPPING
TRS 160A ONLY
METER
CALIBRATION
UNBALANCEDBAL / UNBAL
XLR
GND
LIFT
LIFT
A HARMAN INTERNATIONAL
COMPANY
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
MADE IN USA
MODEL 160A
COMPRESSOR/LIMITER
BALANCED BALANCED
Figure 1: Hard Knee Compression Curve
and threshold LEDs
Figure 2: OverEasy® Compression Curve
and threshold LEDs