dbx 266XS

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 Connectors	1/4" TRS and female XLR (pin 2 hot)
Input Type	Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Input Impedance	40kΩ balanced/unbalanced
Max Input	>+22dBu Balanced or Unbalanced
Output Connectors	1/4" TRS, female XLR (pin 2 hot)
Output Type	Impedance-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)
Sidechain	1/4" TRS Phone, Normalled: Ring = Output (send); tip = Input (return)
Sidechain Impedance	Tip = >10kΩ (Input), Ring = 2kΩ (Output)
Sidechain Max Input Level	Tip = >+22dBu (Input)
Sidechain Max Output Level	Ring = >+20dBu (Output)
Compressor Threshold Range	-40dBu to +20dBu
Compressor Threshold Characteristic	Selectable OverEasy® or hard knee
Compressor Ratio	1:1 to Infinity:1
Compressor Attack Time	Scalable Program-Dependent AutoDynamic™
Compressor Release Time	Scalable Program-Dependent AutoDynamic™
Expander/Gate Threshold Range	-60dBu to +15dBu
Expander/Gate Ratio	1:1 to 4:1
Expander/Gate Attack Time	<100µs
Expander/Gate Release Time	Program-dependent
Bandwidth	0.35Hz - 90kHz, +0/-3dB
Frequency Response	Flat: 20Hz-20kHz, +0, -0.5dB
Noise	<-93dBu unweighted (22kHz measurement bandwidth)
THD+Noise	Typically <0.2%; Any Amount of Compression @1kHz
IMD	Typically <0.2% SMPTE
Dynamic Range	>114 dB, unweighted
Interchannel Crosstalk	<-95dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
CMRR	>40dB, typically >55dB at 1kHz
Stereo Coupling	True RMS Power Summing™
Power Consumption	15 Watts Maximum
Operating Voltage	100VAC 50/60Hz; 120VAC 60Hz; 230VAC 50/60Hz
Operating Temperature	0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
Dimensions	1.75" x 5.75" x 19" (4.45 cm x 14.6 cm x 48.26 cm )
Unit Weight	4.84 lbs (2.19 kg)
Shipping Weight	6.6 lbs (2.99 kg)
Reference	0dBu = 0.775Vrms