DBX286SV Instrument, Microphone Preamp & Channel Strip Processor, with Compression, De-Esser, Enhancer, Expander/Gate, Loop-Out. Metering LEDs, XLR and ¼” inputs. Rack Mountable 1U. Silver

When it first arrived, I admit that I was prepared to find fault with this relatively low cost device. However, I have since found it to be a very competent performer. The dbx 286S Audio Processor packs a lot of features and performance for the approximately $200 that I paid for it. This one rack space (1.75") high device contains a microphone preamplifier with switchable phantom power for condenser microphones, a limiter, expander/gate, and a two-band effects equalizer. All of the processing sections are interconnected such that a signal inserted at the front end passes through all of the sections before emerging at line level out of this device. The amount of audio limiting, expansion/gating and equalization can be set to taste and even individually turned off if you need a particular function. All of the sections "play" well together, making audio tweaks fairly easy to accomplish. Keep in mind that this is a monaural device that can accept balanced microphone or line level input signals. I found the background noise level to be very low (virtually inaudible), even at high mic preamplifier gain settings, and I found the frequency response surprisingly wide and pleasant. This processor brought out the better qualities of the several dynamic and condenser microphones that I auditioned through it. Everything comes through clear and clean at low to moderate control settings, although it is possible to significantly modify your audio, for better or for worse, at higher control settings. Download the manufacturer's manual for this device to learn about its individual features and functions, and how they are used. I find that I really have no complaints about the dbx 286S Audio Processor. It is now in daily use in my modest studio. The 286S does what the manufacturer's literature says it's supposed to do, and it does it crisply and cleanly without added noise or fuss. You can buy high end separate mic preamplifiers, limiters, expander/gates, and equalizers, then connect them all together to do what this little dbx box does. But, you will spend very much more money to achieve or exceed the same level of performance offered by the dbx 286S. Strong bang for the buck. Highly recommended!

I'm a Twitch streamer and I've fiddled with every sort of software solution I could dig up. I have a Rode NT1 mic with a Scarlet 2i2 interface and a Roland VT3 Voice Transformer. I've struggled with noise in the line, as well as the fact that even on the weakest setting the Noise Suppression filter in OBS colors my voice. I finally broke down and ordered one of these because I'd heard good things. The dbx 286s has blown me away. Not only did it meet my needs as a pre-amp, Noise Gate, and Compressor... but the de-esser is an awesome bonus, as well as the Low and High Frequency Enhancer. My mic is sounding cleaner than it ever has, and my voice is sounding better than ever. When my wife heard my voice over my stream she was instantly moistened. I really don't have enough good things to say about this piece of hardware. You can spend a little bit less to get bits of kit that do some these things individually, but for $50-$100 more having all of these tools in one piece of hardware that works so well is the way to go. From my research you can also spend more on similar pieces of hardware, but for my purposes and for home broadcasting/recording purposes I can't imagine the more expensive solutions being worth the jump in cost. Seriously, if you're on the fence about the dbx 286s, just do it. It's very easy to set up. The settings are very easy to dial in, depending on how anal you are. The results are just magical. My chain right now is RODE NT1 > dbx 286s > Roland VT3 Voice Transformer > Line6 M13 (mainly just to use a foot pedal for volume control to mute during stream) > Scarlet 2i2 > PC

I have a shure sm7db hooked into this, which then runs into a scarlet focusrite, and into my pc, and my gosh does it sound incredible. I get radio quality vocals without any post processing. My microphone is fairly decent, but this thing is doing a ton of heavy lifting. I followed the settings listed in another reviewers Amazon review, which I highly recommend, and haven't needed to tweak it since. The raw audio requires next to nothing done to it after the fact, I'm not an audiophile, but it sounds almost perfect to my ears. Using this on calls is phenomenal, it is super crispy, even over most websites trashy audio bitrate. Shure SM7s and their variations are good at blocking out background noise, but with this thing, it's unbelievable. My recording desk is in an unfinished room, with two large fish tanks directly behind it. I always have a dehumidifier running in the room, and usually a fan. My microphone doesnt pick up on a single sound, even in the background while I'm talking, its actually insane. I bought mine for $200, and even at that price I thought it was amazing. Ive seen it go as low as $150. If youre looking for a stellar processor that doesnt cost a grand, go with this thing.

En mis pruebas lo he utilizado con voces, a través de un micrófono AKG C414 XLS en posición cardiode y conectándolo en uno de los puntos de inserción balanceados de mi interfaz Audient ID22. La salida del previo es balanceada TRS (jack "estéreo"). La señal así obtenida es de gran limpieza. Me gusta, en particular, que el dbx 286s tenga nivel de ganancia a la entrada del micro y otro nivel de ganancia a la salida por separado. Esto permite realizar combinaciones entre ambas para obtener un resultado óptimo y distintos "colores" en la señal. Asimismo, me ha sorprendido muy gratamente el expander/gate para reducir el ruido de fondo. Funciona muy bien y no se aprecian cortes bruscos en la onda salvo que lo usemos a niveles demasiado altos. El resto de efectos me parecen que funcionan bastante bien y en niveles razonables no he apreciado sonidos enlatados ni distorsiones. Su funcionamiento es muy simple y aunque bien se puede objetar que cuentan con pocos parámetros para configurar yo lo veo más bien como una ventaja puesto que el sonido obtenido es de calidad sin necesidad de realizar complicados ajustes. En resumen, me parece en su conjunto un producto de lo más interesante, útil para uso en estudio o en vivo y que ofrece un gran sonido con una relación calidad/precio espectacular.

Der DBX 286s Mikrofonvorverstärker & Kanalzug ist in meinem Studio unverzichtbar ! Jede Stimme läuft bei mir durch dieses Gerät, weil es einfach super klingt und vielseitige Einstellmöglichkeiten bietet. Der Mic-Preamp arbeitet sauber und zuverlässig (Kondensator und Dynamische Mikros), und der De-Esser macht genau das, was er soll – und das hörbar gut! Besonders beeindruckend finde ich das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis . Im Vergleich zu anderen Herstellern bekommt man hier ein professionelles Studio-Tool für wenig Geld . Die Filter- und Anpassungsmöglichkeiten sind durchdacht und effektiv , sodass man den Sound perfekt optimieren kann. Fazit: Top-Vorverstärker für Sprach- und Gesangsaufnahmen! Einfach zu bedienen, flexibel und preislich unschlagbar. Absolute Empfehlung für jedes Studio! 🎧✅

I did a LOT of research before dishing out for this unit and it seemed to be just what I was looking for. It was. The pre-amp is strong and quiet. The effects are very user friendly and easy to set up for any voice. The expander/gate is particularly effective for raising the sound floor and eliminating much of the room noise, that will hamper any smaller scale recording setup.

Alta calidad en el producto, todo llego en tiempo y forma a Playa del Carmen Quintana Roo México. Lo recomiendo y volvería a comprar lo recomienda al 100%

Ottimo , fa il suo lavoro egregiamente. Ottimo rapporto qualità prezzo.Consigliatissimo