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: Reverb describes the dbx 160 as David Blackmer's 1976 VCA classic, widely used to shape transients on kick, snare and bass. Read more at Reverb.

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