To see product details, add this item to your cart.
Ships from: Focus Camera LLC Sold by: Focus Camera LLC
To see product details, add this item to your cart.
Ships from: Audiosavings Sold by: Audiosavings
Other Sellers on Amazon
dbx 286s Microphone Preamp & Channel Strip Processor, Mono 4-way
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | dbx |
Style | with Mic XLR connectors |
Product Dimensions | 19"L x 5.75"W x 1.75"H |
Item Weight | 5.1 Pounds |
Voltage | 48 Volts |
About this item
- Studio quality mic preamp/channel strip processor
- Classic dbx compression puts great sound within easy reach
- Frequency tuneable de-esser reduces sibilance and high frequency distortion
- Enhancer increases the detail and definition of the high and low frequencies
- Program adaptive expander/Gate. Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
- Input: 1/4" TRS (x2) and XLR (x1); output: 1/4" TRS (x1)
- Operating voltage: 120VAC 60Hz, 100VAC 50/60Hz
- Purchase includes: dbx286s, power cord, operation manual, and rack mount screws and washers (x4)
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
- dbx 266xs Professional Audio Compressor/Gate Dynamic Processor Silver 1.75 x 5.75 x 19.00 inchesAmazon's Choicein Effect Processor CompressorsFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31
- Behringer MIC2200 V2 2-channel Tube Microphone PreampFREE ShippingGet it Mar 28 - Apr 1Only 16 left in stock - order soon.
- dbx 286S Preamplifier Channel Strip Mic Pre Amp w/ 2X 25' XLR CablesFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
- PreSonus STUDIOCHANNEL Vacuum-Tube Channel Strip, BlueFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31
Product information
Item Weight | 5.1 pounds |
---|---|
Product Dimensions | 19 x 5.75 x 1.75 inches |
ASIN | B004LWH79A |
Item model number | 286s |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #22,770 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #42 in Microphone Preamps |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | February 11, 2011 |
Hardware Interface | USB |
Signal Format | Analog |
Size | Mono 4-way |
Power Source | Corded Electric |
Voltage | 48 Volts |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product guides and documents
What's in the box
Videos
Videos for this product
6:34
Click to play video
Customer Review: Solid Mic Pre-amp for my Shure SM7B
Caleb Wojcik
Videos for this product
1:51
Click to play video
dbx 286s 2 in 1 Mic Preamp and Live Sound Processing
OrbitGuy
Videos for this product
4:26
Click to play video
DBX 286s Mic Pre-Amp Review - You should know this...
Dave’s Faves
Product Description
Product Description
dbx 286s Microphone Preamp & Channel Strip Processor
From the Manufacturer
The cost and hassle of patching together multiple processors for use on one track can be frustrating. The dbx 286s provides you with all the mic processing you need in one box, with the shortest, cleanest signal path to keep your music sounding its best! The floating balanced XLR mic input Accepts balanced or unbalanced inputs to easily connect to professional and home studio microphones. The additional 1/4" TRS line input can accept balanced/unbalanced signals to process live electronic instruments or pre-recorded tracks at mix down. Use the insert jack to interface between the mic preamp and the signal processing sections to "Loop out" to external processors (such as EQ or delay unit) or to mix the mic preamp's signal out to an external destination.
From the manufacturer
dbx 286s
Microphone Preamplifier/Channel Strip Processor
The dbx 286s is a full-featured Channel Strip Processor that delivers a studio-quality microphone/instrument preamplifier and four processors that can be used independently or in any combination. The sonically pristine dbx 286s Mic Preamp has all the features you need, including wide-ranging input gain control, switchable +48V phantom power, and an 80Hz high-pass filter to remove low frequency hum, rumble or wind. Use the patented dbx OverEasy compressor to transparently smooth out uneven acoustic tracks or deliver that classic “in your face” vocal performance that only a dbx compressor can. Fine-tune the Enhancer HF Detail control to add sparkle and crispness to your tracks and make adjustments to the LF Detail control to add fullness and depth to vocals and bass instruments while cleaning up the muddy low mid-range frequencies. Plus, the separate threshold and ratio controls on the Expander/Gate allow you to subtly reduce headphone leakage or radically gate noisy guitar amps.
- Studio quality Mic Preamp/Channel Strip Processor
- Program-adaptive Expander/Gate
- Frequency tunable De-Esser reduces sibilance and high frequency distortion
- Enhancer increases the detail and definition of the high and low frequencies
- Full compliment of meters and status LEDs
- Insert jack allows you to add an external processor
- Precision detented controls
Who uses this product?
|
|
|
---|---|---|
|
|
|
dbx 286s Stereo 2-Way, Mono 4-Way Crossover with Mic XLR connectors | dbx 676 Tube Microphone Preamp Channel Strip | dbx 580 Compact, Professional Mic Preamp | |
---|---|---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars
781
|
2.7 out of 5 stars
7
|
4.4 out of 5 stars
50
|
Mic Input | Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot | Female XLR (Pin 2 Hot) | Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered |
Impedance | ~ 4.2kΩ Balanced | 1.9 kΩ | 1.7 kΩ |
CMRR | >40dB, typically 55dB | >85 dB from 20 Hz to 3 kHz, >70 dB from 3 kHz to 20 kHz | >60 dB; typically >70 dB from 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
Power Requirements | 15 Watts | 20 Watts | 2.56 Watts |
Instrument Input | Floating balanced, Tip Hot | Tip-Sleeve ¼” Jack (Front Panel) | Tip-Sleeve ¼” Jack (Front Panel) |
Output Type | 4” TRS phone (Balanced/Unbalanced) | Male XLR and Tip-Ring-Sleeve ¼” (Pin 2 and Tip hot) | Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered |
Low Detail | Bell-shaped boost @ 80Hz, bell-shaped cut @250Hz, ratio is approximately 2:1 | 100 Hz, Low-pass shelving filter | 0 to +15 dB boost, simultaneous bell filter boost (125 Hz center frequency) and bell filter cut (400 Hz center frequency) |
High Detail | Program-controlled shelving equalizer, approximately 15dB maximum HF boost | 10 kHz, High-pass shelving filter | 0 to +15 dB boost, high-shelving filter (10 kHz corner frequency) |
Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.75” x 5.75” x 19” | 3.5" x 19" x 8" | 5.25” x 1.5” x 6” |
Weight | 4.5 lbs | 8.1 lbs | 1.3 lbs |
Looking for specific info?
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, performance, quality and value of the guitar effect device. They mention that it makes a difference in sound quality and that it works very well. They also appreciate the value for money, saying it's a great budget pre-amp/processor. Customers also say it brings your microphone to life and that its one of the best microphone upgrades.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the guitar effect device. They say it makes a difference in sound quality, the audio is smooth, and the shelving EQ works nicely. They also say their voice sounds clear, and that the audio has a professional sound. Customers also appreciate the decent de-esser, tone enhancement, and low noise floor. They love the noise gate and compressor, and are amazed at how much it improves their voice-overs.
"...I found the background noise level to be very low (virtually inaudible), even at high mic preamplifier gain settings, and I found the frequency..." Read more
"...It's a clean, very low-noise preamp; compressor/limiter; noise gate to reduce breath, mouth and room noise; simple EQ (lo and hi-tone) and even a de-..." Read more
"...The audio is very smooth and the shelving EQ works very nicely allowing a lot of control over lows and highs...." Read more
"...The audio is untreated - directly recorded and uploaded, so you can hear how my settings sound...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the performance of the guitar effect device. They mention that it works well, is functional, and is a very versatile piece of gear. Some say that the compressor and expansion/gate work great, and the de-esser works better than a software plug-in. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...settings, and I found the frequency response surprisingly wide and pleasant...." Read more
"...in' on my USB audio interface and once I've set levels it's a very consistent device...." Read more
"...Although the DBX over-easy compressor works well, it has always been my preference to have the compressor/limiter as the last component in my audio..." Read more
"...bonus was some basic EQ. my pleasant surprise was the gate. it just works™ ! leave a mic open, tweak it until it closes and you're set...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the guitar effect device. They mention it's a great piece of gear, brings out the better qualities of several dynamic and condenser microphones, and is truly professional grade. The compressor is extremely solid and adds that "studio quality" to recordings, with plenty of gain.
"...This processor brought out the better qualities of the several dynamic and condenser microphones that I auditioned through it...." Read more
"As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a solid and professional mic processor.I'm preparing to start doing YouTube videos...." Read more
"...People constantly ask me how did I record my music it has great quality. Great buy !" Read more
"...and this pretty much makes that a frustrating, cumbersome and fruitless waste of time. Super bummed." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the guitar effect device. They say it provides excellent bang for your buck, is a great budget pre-amp, and is well worth it.
"...exceed the same level of performance offered by the dbx 286S. Strong bang for the buck. Highly recommended!" Read more
"...Considering what it does, it's a pretty great value. It provides phantom power to mics that need it...." Read more
"...It’s worth the money way cheaper than building sound booths or putting up sound deadening material...." Read more
"...They should rename this piece the "room attenuator". Worth every penny...." Read more
Customers find the power of the guitar effect device incredibly useful for mic audio. They say the effects work great and bring their microphone to life. Some say it's one of the best mic processors ever, a workhorse preamp for any microphone, and an excellent channel strip style microphone pre amp. It's also a great combination for voice recording, with excellent gain in the mic pre section.
"...The dbx 286S Audio Processor packs a lot of features and performance for the approximately $200 that I paid for it...." Read more
"...The short story is that I am very pleased with the performance value of the 286S and have found it to be flexible enough to allow a tremendous..." Read more
"As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a solid and professional mic processor.I'm preparing to start doing YouTube videos...." Read more
"...through it (might find out it's terrific), but it's perfect for a dynamic mic like the Shure SM7B. Gain, gate, compression, decent de-esser, tone..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the preamp quality of the guitar effect device. They mention that it's a fantastic preamp and processor, it does a marvelous job, and it offers very clean preamplification. Customers also say that the unit is an excellent entry-level processing chain for broadcasting, radio, and other applications. The preamps are very capable and the processing is also great.
"...It is a very agile and effective preamp and voice processing unit." Read more
"...sound quality is pretty decent for most purposes. the processing is really good for PA, radio and even studio TV ( news, talk show ) use." Read more
"...I measured the gain stage and the dbx 286s offers very clean preamplification...." Read more
"...The pre-amp does a marvelous job with my Sennheiser 416..." Read more
Customers like the ease of setup of the guitar effect device. They mention that it makes the process easier, has a very easy learning curve, and the settings are easy to dial in. Some say that the product has saved them time.
".../limiter; noise gate to reduce breath, mouth and room noise; simple EQ (lo and hi-tone) and even a de-esser...." Read more
"...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...." Read more
"...This has cut at least half of my editing time away. Easy to setup, and put into use...." Read more
"...It has some amazing features. The gate is pretty amazing, easy to set. There's an ocean of gain to add to a microphone from this thing...." Read more
Customers like the built-in compression and EQ in the guitar effect device. They say it's a great intro to audio compression, with professional scope of control. Customers also mention that the device is a powerful mic pre amp and has a high pass filter.
"...but it's perfect for a dynamic mic like the Shure SM7B. Gain, gate, compression, decent de-esser, tone enhancement, all ready to roll and it sounds..." Read more
"...I was initially very impressed with the built-in compression and EQ...." Read more
"...basically everything that doesn't sound like you; however you lose some fidelity, which you can use the dbx with tweaked settings to restore it..." Read more
"...does it give my mic a good gain boost, but now I can control compression and the noise gate all without using software...." Read more
Reviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
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 patch out into the 'line in' on my USB audio interface and once I've set levels it's a very consistent device. There are days when you need a little warmth and fuzz without any software plugins, or you have a live internet session with a client and you need a little compression from your mic and this does it great!
Some people use this for podcasts or game streaming but I don't.
Negatives: This is a big boy. It's made for an audio rack and fills out the space entirely with lots of weight. I don't have space for a rack in my small studio space so it sits on a side table. If this weren't so darn bulky I'd consider a second one! I also wish this had a power switch so I have one on the plug itself. If you turn off the phantom power on a mic that uses it, it can start feeding back if you're not careful.
Those little annoyances aside, this unit gives great flexibility when I need it for a relatively great price.
One major factor for me was that the unit had to function in the presence of high power RF fields. No worries there as all the inputs and outputs are RF filtered very effectively. Although the DBX over-easy compressor works well, it has always been my preference to have the compressor/limiter as the last component in my audio chain. Unfortunately, other than the side-chain insert jack, there is no patch-panel capability to allow you to move the position of the onboard processing modules as you can with more expensive units like the RANE VP-12. Although the De-Esser works well and tames most of the sibilance now and then a searing high can slip through with the EQ module at the end of the chain. This was not a big problem and all I did was disable the onboard compressor/limiter and use an old DBX-166A compressor/limiter behind the 286S.
The audio is very smooth and the shelving EQ works very nicely allowing a lot of control over lows and highs. The short story is that I am very pleased with the performance value of the 286S and have found it to be flexible enough to allow a tremendous amount of adjustment to cover pretty much any basic processing need. If you keep in mind that it is not a Symmetrix 528E you won't be disappointed with what you get in this box. It is a very agile and effective preamp and voice processing unit.
Top reviews from other countries
Für realtime effekte wie noisegate oder Low bzw High frequenzy boost also perfekt geeignet.