The legendary dbx Boom Box: an all-analog subharmonic synthesizer that doesn't just boost your bass, it manufactures it. Feed it a signal and it tracks the bass already there, synthesizes a clean tone one full octave below, and blends it back in, rebuilding the deep 25 to 50Hz octave that vinyl, tape and small speakers throw away. Two controls, wood-panelled 70s charm, and a low end you feel in your chest. A cult favourite in dub, disco and club sound systems, and a secret weapon for fattening drum machines and synth bass.

FEATURES & PROS:

• Real Subharmonic Synthesis: generates a tracked octave-down tone, not just an EQ boost.
• Fills the Bottom Octave: rebuilds the deep lows that recordings and small systems lose.
• Two Simple Controls: subharmonic level and a contoured low-frequency boost, set by ear in seconds.
• All-Analog, Made in USA: classic late-70s dbx engineering with that wood-panel look.
• Tighter Than a Pedal: tracks faster and cleaner than guitar-style octave boxes.

GENRE / USE

• Dub, disco and house, where synthesized sub-bass moves club PAs
• Fattening drum machines, 303 lines and synth bass with a tracked sub-octave
• Restoring lost low end on vinyl and tape playback
• Live and DJ low-end reinforcement that tracks tighter than an octave pedal

THE WORD: Audiofanzine's reviewer found the Boom Box a simple, effective way to add a rounder bottom to a track, great on bass guitar and especially promising on synth bass for extra girth. Read the review at Audiofanzine.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: dbx Model 100 "Boom Box" Subharmonic Synthesizer
• Era: late 1970s to early 1980s, made in USA
• Type: all-analog subharmonic bass synthesizer and enhancer
• Function: synthesizes a tone one octave below the existing bass and blends it in
• Controls: subharmonic level, low-frequency boost, bypass
• Connections: RCA in and out, for tape-monitor or preamp-loop insertion
• Condition: used

Further reading: dbx 160, 160A, 160X, 160XT, 160VU, 160S: Which One Are You Actually Looking At?