266XS

Compressor / Gate

SRP £139.00 inc VAT

Bring a more professional sound to your mix

Adding a dbx® 266xs Compressor/Limiter/Gate to your live sound rig or studio gives you more dynamic control to help create a more polished, professional sound. Having compression in your audio chain gives you the ability to smooth out uneven levels, add sustain to guitars and fatten up your drums. It also makes it easy to bring vocals to the front of your mix - adding greater clarity and making them stand out from the surrounding instruments.

dbx knows compressors...after all we invented them! The 266xs is the latest in a long line of the world's most successful compressors from the inventors of the technology. Its patented Overeasy® compression technology provides smooth and musical performance while the AutoDynamic™ attack and release controls, found only on dbx compressors, puts great sound within easy reach. The 266xs can operate in stereo or dual-mono modes, has true RMS power summing and features quality XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs and outputs. It cuts no corners on visual feedback with gain reduction metering and easy-to-read backlit switches.

  • Error proof operation to smooth uneven levels, add sustain to guitars, fatten drums or tighten up mixes
  • New gate timing algorithms ensure the smoothest release characteristics
  • Program-adaptive expander/gates
  • Great sounding dynamics control for any type of program material
  • Separate precision LED displays for gain reduction, compression threshold and gate threshold allow quick, accurate setup
  • Stereo or dual-mono operation
  • Balanced inputs and outputs on 1/4" TRS and XLR connectors
  • Side Chain insert
  • Classic dbx® "Auto" mode
Input Connectors1/4" TRS and female XLR (pin 2 hot)
Input TypeElectronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Input Impedance40kΩ balanced/unbalanced
Max Input>+22dBu Balanced or Unbalanced
Output Connectors1/4" TRS, female XLR (pin 2 hot)
Output TypeImpedance-balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Output Impedance+4dBu: 100Ω balanced, 50Ω unbalanced; -10dBu: 1kΩ balanced, 500Ω unbalanced
Max Output>+21dBu balanced/unbalanced into 2kΩ or greater; >+18dBm balanced/unbalanced (into 600Ω)
Sidechain1/4" TRS Phone, Normalled: Ring = Output (send); tip = Input (return)
Sidechain ImpedanceTip = >10kΩ (Input), Ring = 2kΩ (Output)
Sidechain Max Input LevelTip = >+22dBu (Input)
Sidechain Max Output LevelRing = >+20dBu (Output)
Compressor Threshold Range-40dBu to +20dBu
Compressor Threshold CharacteristicSelectable OverEasy® or hard knee
Compressor Ratio1:1 to Infinity:1
Compressor Attack TimeScalable Program-Dependent AutoDynamic™
Compressor Release TimeScalable Program-Dependent AutoDynamic™
Expander/Gate Threshold Range-60dBu to +15dBu
Expander/Gate Ratio1:1 to 4:1
Expander/Gate Attack Time<100µs
Expander/Gate Release TimeProgram-dependent
Bandwidth0.35Hz - 90kHz, +0/-3dB
Frequency ResponseFlat: 20Hz-20kHz, +0, -0.5dB
Noise<-93dBu unweighted (22kHz measurement bandwidth)
THD+NoiseTypically <0.2%; Any Amount of Compression @1kHz
IMDTypically <0.2% SMPTE
Dynamic Range>114 dB, unweighted
Interchannel Crosstalk<-95dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
CMRR>40dB, typically >55dB at 1kHz
Stereo CouplingTrue RMS Power Summing™
Power Consumption15 Watts Maximum
Operating Voltage100VAC 50/60Hz; 120VAC 60Hz; 230VAC 50/60Hz
Operating Temperature0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
Dimensions1.75" x 5.75" x 19" (4.45 cm x 14.6 cm x 48.26 cm )
Unit Weight4.84 lbs (2.19 kg)
Shipping Weight6.6 lbs (2.99 kg)
Reference0dBu = 0.775Vrms