dbx 1066 Stereo Compressor/Limiter/Gate
January 18, 1996
dbx's new 1066 is a stereo compressor, limiter and gate is designed to provide simple, flexible operation for recording, broadcast or live sound reinforcement applications.
At the heart of the 1066 is dbx's new V2(TM) VCA. Developed especially for the 1066, 1046 and other 10 Series products to come, this revolutionary VCA boasts superb dynamic range characteristics while maintaining very low distortion and almost immeasurable noise. The new VCA, combined with the unit's world-class design, enables the 1066 to perform like compressors selling for hundreds more.
For overall speaker protection, dbx's new PeakStopPlus(TM) does all previous circuits one better. With a new design, the PeakStopPlus prevents unwanted transients from blowing drivers while minimizing the sine wave distortion common to many other "hard" limiters. Selectable hard knee or OverEasy(R) characteristics make the 1066 ideal for gain control needs from "heavy" almost-special-effects compression to soft, smooth gain leveling.
The "classic" dbx response (with program-dependent attack and release times) is instantly available at the touch of the "Auto" button. Independent Attack and Release controls can also be used to tailor the 1066 to the user's specific needs. Unwanted frequencies or mics bleed into the signal path? Frequency-dependant gain control is a snap to set up and execute with the Side Chain External (SC Ext) button. The Side Chain Monitor button (SC Mon), used with an external equalizer, lets the user dial in the specific frequencies desired to trigger the device. Selectable input and output metering helps determine that everything is matched up level-wise, maximizing signal-to-noise ratio.
As has become the dbx standard, the unit's contour switch allows entire mixes to be easily smoothed with soft compression and keeps the low frequency peaks from punching holes in the overall mix while maintaining the integrity of the low end. New lightpipe technology replaces standard LEDs found on most other units, making the 1066 both very easy to read and much easier to operate.
The 1066 effectively allows the user to gate out mic leakage and noise, flexibly control the entire signal gain and provide overall system protection in dual mono or stereo operation.
Features of dbx 1066 include:
- True differentially-balanced gold-plated XLR and 1/4-inch inputs and outputs
- True RMS level detection
- Precision metering of input level, output level and gain reduction
- Dual mono or stereo with true RMS power-summing operation
- Selectable auto (classic dbx) or manual (variable Attack and Release) compression
- Proudly designed, manufactured and tested in the USA
- Selectable OverEasy(R) or hard knee compression modes
- Switchable +4dBu or -10dBv operation per channel
- PeakStopPlus(TM) limiting for setting maximum allowable level with minimal distortion
- SC Ext and SC Mon for setting up and monitoring external devices for gating function
- Contour switch removes unwanted low frequency information from detector circuit
For more information, visit their web site at www.dbxpro.com. | 
