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DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

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DBX 286S Microphone Preamp
Product no: AXL-DBX286S Bax Music Warranty: This product comes with a 3-year warranty.

General

The DBX 286S is a fully equipped channel strip preamplifier. It consists of a studio-grade microphone/instrument preamp as well as four processors that can be used independently or in any combination.

Functionality

Why record vocals and instruments through a noisy, distorting mixer? The sonically high-quality DBX 286S preamp has all the features you need including wide-ranging input gain control, switchable +48V phantom power and an 80 Hz high-pass filter to remove low frequency hum.

Compression

Use the patented DBX OverEasy compressor to transparently smooth out uneven acoustic tracks or to deliver a classic ‘in your face’ vocal performance. Eliminate vocal sibilance and high-frequency distortion from instruments such as cymbals with the frequency-tuneable De-Esser. Fine-tune the Enhancer HF Detail control to add clarity and sharpness to your tracks. You can also make adjustments to the LF Detail control to add fullness and depth to vocals and bass instruments while cleaning up the muddy low and mid range frequencies.

Connectivity

The separate threshold and ratio controls allow you to subtly reduce headphone leakage or radically gate noisy guitar amps. The DBX 286S offers a full range of meters and status LEDs to visually guide you to achieving the right sound. The floating balanced XLR microphone input is suited for balanced or unbalanced inputs to connect professional and home-end microphones. The additional 6.3mm TRS line input is also suited for balanced and unbalanced signals to process live electronic instruments or pre-recorded tracks in the mix down phase.

External effect modes

You can use the insert jack to interface between the microphone preamp and the signal processing sections to loop out external processors, such as EQ or delay unit. You can also use it to mix the signal of the mic preamp to an external destination.

The costs and inconvenience of patching multiple processors for use on one track can be frustrating. The DBX 286S provides you with all the mic processing you need in one device with the shortest and cleanest signal path to make your music sound its best!

Tips or comments about this product

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Specifications

Product features

19-inch rack size	1U
Number of channels	1
Digital output	no
Sustainable product	not specified
Energy source	AC
Phantom power	yes
Phase reverse	no
Headphone output	no
Built-in compressor	yes
Built-in equaliser	no
Built-in limiter	no
Connection sockets	2x TRS send/return (balanced)
Stereo function	no
Analogue audio input type	microphone input (XLR)
Analogue audio output type	unbalanced line out (TS jack)
Type of dynamic processor	compressor, expander, gate, de-esser
Equipped with tube	no

Weight and dimensions including packaging

Weight (incl. packaging)	3,0 kg
Dimensions (incl. packaging)	56,5 x 29,0 x 6,5 cm

Product specifications

studio-grade mic preamp / channel strip processor
classic DBX compression puts great sound within reach
frequency-tuneable de-esser reduces sibilance and high-frequency distortion
enhancer increases the detail and definition of the high and low frequencies
programme adaptive expander/gate
insert jack for adding an external processor
full range of meters and status LEDs
+48V phantom power
precision dented controls
microphone input, type: floating balanced, pin 2 hot
microphone input, impedance: ~4.2 kOhms
microphone input, max. level: 0.25 Vrms, gain: 30 dB
microphone input, gain adjustment range: 0 dB to +60 dB
microphone input, phantom power: 48 VDC, applied to XLR pins 2 and 3 through 6.81 kOhms resistors
microphone input, CMRR: > 40 dB, typically 55 dB
microphone input, EIN: -125 dBu, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, 150 ohms source impedance
line input, type: floating balanced, tip hot
line input, impedance: 10 kOhms unbalanced, 20 kOhms balanced
line input, max. level: > +21 dBu, balanced or unbalanced
line input, gain adjustment range: -15 dB to +45 dB
line input CMRR: > 40 dB, typically 55 dB
insert, type: 6.3mm TRS phono jack, normalised, tip is send, ring is return
insert, ring impedance: > 5 kOhms
insert, ring max. level: > +21 dBu
insert, tip impedance: 100 ohms
insert, tip max. level: > +21 dBu, > +20 dBm (600 ohms load)
insert, noise: < 89 dBu, unweighted (20 Hz - 20 kHz); line gain control set to 0 dB
insert, distortion: < 0,01% THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu
line output, type: 6.3mm TRS phono jack; balanced/unbalanced
line output, impedance: 100 ohms unbalanced, 200 ohms balanced
line output, max. level: > +21 dBu, > +20 dBm (600 ohms load)
line output, gain adjustment range: -30 dB to +10 dB
line output: noise < -80 dBu unweighted (20 Hz - 20 kHz); both gain controls set for 0 dB, all processing controls off
line output, frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-0.5 dB
line output, distortion: < 0,08 THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBU, all processing controls off
compressor, threshold range: -40 dBu to +20 dBu
compressor, threshold characteristic: OverEasy
compressor ratio > 4:1 for input levels beyond 20 dB above threshold
compressor, max. compression: 30 dB
compressor, attack time: program dependant; > 2 for small level increases down to 10ms for large increases
compressor, release time: program dependant; adjustable between approximately 1 dB/sec and 75 dB/sec
compressor, distortion: typically < 0.05%THD, 20Hz-20kHz, 15dB G/R, +10dBu Output, density @ 0
compressor, SMTPE intermodulation distortion: < 0,05%; 60 Hz - 7 kHz 4:1, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu output level, density @ 0
de-esser, characteristic: wideband gain reduction
de-esser, frequency range: 800 Hz to 10 kHz high pass, 12 dB/octave
de-esser, release time: program dependent approximately 1 ms/dB
enhancer, HF detail characteristic: program-controlled shelving equalizer, approximately 15 dB maximum HF boost
enhancer, LF detail characteristic: bell-shaped boost @ 80Hz, bell-shaped cut @250Hz, ratio is approximately 2:1
expander/gate, threshold range: off to +15dBu
expander/gate ratio: adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1
expander/gate, max. depth: > 50 dB
expander/gate, attack time: program-dependant, approximately 2 ms (at maximum attenuation)
expander/gate, release time: program-dependant, approximately 10 ms/dB
expander/gate, typically 105 dB
operating temperature: 0 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius
power consumption: 15W
operating voltage: DO 120VAC 60Hz, 100VAC 50/60Hz EU 230VAC 50/60Hz
dimensions: 45 x 146 x 485 mm
weight: 2.04 kg

Andrew C. 30 July 2024

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

Good unit, actually in stock!
Using it to boost a KU5a into a Focusrite Clarett 4+ PRe, and it works well, especially the noise gate/expander. Needs quite a hot signal to trigger compression, and the controls are a little quirky. The top panel is liable to pick up any vibrations eg from PC cooling fan on top of my rack trolley. But electronically this is quiet and clean, very good value.

Bax online service did a good job in sending on, for free, on request, a UK power cable that was originally missing from a parcel obviously packed for the Netherlands market.

Only real grumble is that this DBX 286s lacks a mains power switch so I need to cut the power to the whole rack, when I'd prefer to charge up the battery on my portable.

Peter N. 21 October 2017

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

As the others mention, the unit cleans,sparkles and boosts the audio beautifully, its ideal to have inline for improving your sound or using instead of a cloudlifter. Its a low noise high quality device.

I do want to add what it wont do. I needed a unit to really flatten my mic peaks and regulate all spikes and peaks on a live stream. This unit was not correct for that, unless an additional limiter/compressor in a final output stage was used. The DBX left me with too much variation on output level even at its most aggressive setting. Don't let this put you off if you want a unit that provides some audio regulation and a huge dynamic range improvement but it wont squash up your level to a brick wall.... I give it 100% providing you are buying it for the right reason. Peter

Shezada C (O.G.S Productions) 25 April 2017

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

What a delightful little product.

Packed with excellent features which boosts/cleans your vocal signal before recording.

But if you know how to set up sends from your DAW, you can use this as an external effect on any channel in your DAW. This allows the flexibility of getting a better quality of recording.

The mic pre-amps on my audio interface are really good but this adds 10/20% better quality which is significant.

And for the price it is a bargain.

Az 14 April 2017

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

You can't go wrong at this price! Superb bit of kit with so many features on it. Have tried it a few times and gotten used to it now. It did take a while to get the settings to suit my voice.

Robust piece of kit too.

Reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews into English View original reviews

Alexandra 21 September 2024

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

Hele goede microfoonvoorversterker! Hij werd me aangeraden door een vriend, omdat ik last had van pieken en dalen in mijn audio, te veel scherpte... Hij raadde me deze aan en het werkt prima. Mijn audiokwaliteit is niet te vergelijken met ervoor en hij is ook makkelijk in te stellen en te personaliseren voor jouw stem. Voor de prijs, doet ie zeker wat ie beloofd.

Charles 14 November 2023

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

Dit is echt een hele goede microfoonvoorversterker. Laatst nog eentje aangeschaft. Wil je je stem professioneler laten klinken dan is dit een absolute aanrader. Een keer instellen en je opnames klinken gelijk goed. De de-esser werkt ook erg goed. Essentieel om te hebben :-)

Robert Scheepstra 8 May 2023

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

Gekocht onder b-stock voldoet de dbx prima !! unboxen..fine tunen..en draaien maar,ik gebruik hem als insert op mengtafel..beste koop!!
Gr Robert

Rocco Flego 14 April 2023

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

Amazing piece of equipment.

clement V. 7 March 2023

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

De DBX 286s die ik onlangs gekocht heb is een prima toestel alleen ben ik niet tevreden over de service/communicatie bij Bax. Ik heb tot 5 keer toe moeten bellen voor een probleem opgelost was met een retour zending. En je hangt dan iedere keer een half uur aan de telefoon voordat je iemand aan de lijn krijgt. Doordat het ook steeds iemand anders is die je aan de lijn krijgt moet je alles altijd opnieuw uitleggen. Gelukkig is na mijn 5de poging alles toch in orde gekomen. Iets bestellen en de levering gaat heel snel, maar als er een probleem is en je wil contact zoeken dan moet je veel geduld hebben voor het opgelost raakt. Dus wat de service/communicatie betreft ben ik wel teleurgesteld in Bax.

MAURICE B. 2 July 2022

Wrote the following about DBX 286S Microphone Preamp

Mijn DBX 286S valt regelmatig uit tijdens het zingen. Ik moet dan even brullen in de microfoon om hem weer te doen functioneren en je hoort dan heel duidelijk een KLIK. De Gate functie gebruik ik niet daar kan het niet aan liggen. Iemand enig idee hoe dat komt?

Show all 68 reviews

Package deal

DBX 286S + Innox IVA 39

Product no: 9000-0062-1301

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1 x DBX 286S Microphone Preamp £155
1 x Innox IVA 39 19-inch 10U Desktop Rack £16.90

Recommended price £171.90
Now as combination for £169
You save £2.90

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