In 1976 David Blackmer built the first solid-state VCA compressor and changed recording forever. The dbx 160 VU is brutally simple, three knobs and a big switchable VU meter, but it does one thing better than almost anything since: it grabs transients. Engineers reach for it on kick, snare and bass guitar, where its program-dependent, slightly grabby compression adds punch, glue and that unmistakable thwack. It earned its place next to the 1176 and LA-3A as a studio standard, and its transformerless design has stayed in front-line use for nearly fifty years. Simple, fast, and addictive.

FEATURES & PROS:

• The Original VCA: The first solid-state VCA compressor ever made, designed by dbx founder David Blackmer.
• Transient Magic: Famous for adding punch and thwack to kick, snare and bass.
• Dead-Simple Controls: Threshold, compression ratio (1:1 to infinity) and output, nothing to get lost in.
• Program-Dependent: Attack and release follow the material for natural, musical compression.
• Big Switchable VU: Meter shows input, output or gain reduction at a glance.
• Studio Standard: Mentioned in the same breath as the 1176 and LA-3A, on countless records.
• Drum-Bus Glue: Slam a parallel drum bus or tighten a bass in seconds.

THE WORD: Attack Magazine, ranking the all-time great compressors, rates the dbx 160 among the finest VCA compressors ever built, prized for its warm, grainy punch and the unmistakable knock it lends kick, snare and bass. Read the Attack Magazine feature.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: dbx 160 (160 VU); exact variant confirmable on request
• Year: introduced 1976
• Designer: David Blackmer
• Type: VCA compressor/limiter, transformerless solid-state, half-rack
• Controls: threshold, compression ratio (1:1 to infinity:1), output gain (-20 to +20dB)
• Metering: large VU, switchable (input, output, gain reduction)
• Attack/release: program-dependent
• Condition note: vintage unit; may benefit from a service