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dbx 286s - Microphone Preamp/Channel Strip

Name: dbx 286s - Microphone Preamp/Channel Strip
Brand: dbx
SKU: DB286S
Price: 259.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (46 reviews)

BH #DB286S • MFR #DBX286SV

46 reviews

Authorized Dealer

dbx 286s - Microphone Preamp/Channel Strip

Key Features

Single Channel
4 Processors
Compressor
De-Esser

The 286s from dbx is a full featured channel strip that includes a studio quality microphone/instrument preamplifier, and four processors that can be used independently or in any combination. The hassle of patching together multiple processors for use on one track can be frustrating. The unit delivers the entire microphone processing chain needed in a single box, with the shortest, cleanest signal path.

Features include wide-ranging input gain control, switchable +48V phantom power, and an 80Hz high-pass filter to remove low frequency hum, rumble or wind. The dbx OverEasy compressor can transparently smooth out uneven acoustic tracks, or deliver the classic "in your face" vocal performance. Vocal sibilance can be tamed or even eliminated and high frequency distortion removed from instruments such as cymbals with the frequency tunable De-Esser.

The Enhancer provides both HF Detail and LF Detail controls that can add sparkle and crispness to vocals, while making adjustments to the low frequencies for adding fullness and depth to vocals and bass instruments. Muddy low midrange frequencies can be cleaned and the separate threshold and ratio controls on the Expander/Gate allow for subtly reducing headphone leakage, or radically gate noisy guitar amplifiers.

The channel strip provides a full complement of metering and status LEDs. The XLR microphone input accepts balanced or unbalanced inputs, allowing for easily connecting professional or home studio microphones. The 1/4" TRS line input can accept balanced/unbalanced signals to process live electronic instruments or pre-recorded tracks at mix-down, while an insert jack provides access to the signal flow between the preamp and the processing sections for connection to external processors.

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dbx DBX286SV Overview

Studio quality microphone preamp/channel strip processor

Classic dbx compression puts great sound within easy reach

Frequency tunable de-esser reduces sibilance and high frequency distortion

Enhancer increases the detail and definition of the high and low frequencies

Program adaptive expander/gate

Insert jack allows you to add an external processor

Full complement of meters and status LEDs

+48V phantom power

Precision detented controls

UPC: 691991401237

dbx DBX286SV Specs

Number of Channels	Single
Inputs	1 x XLR Microphone (p2 hot) 1 x 1/4" TRS phone Line 1 x 1/4" TRS phone Insert
Outputs	1 x 1/4" TRS phone Insert
Frequency Response	20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5/-0.5dB
Noise	<-80dBu unweighted (20Hz-20kHz); both gain controls set for 0dB, all processing controls OFF
Preamp
Gain Range	0dB to +60dB
Maximum Output	0.25Vrms, Gain = 30dB
Input Impedance	~4.2kΩ
EIN	-125dBu, 22Hz to 22kHz, 150Ω source impedance
CMRR	>40dB, typically 55dB
Phantom Power	+48VDC, applied to XLR pins 2 and 3 through 6.81kΩ resistors
Line Input
Impedance	10kΩ unbalanced, 20kΩ balanced
Maximum Level	>+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced
Gain Range	-15dB to +45 dB
CMRR	>40dB, typically 55dB
Insert
Impedance	Ring: >5kΩ Tip: 100Ω
Maximum Level	>+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load)
Noise	<-89dBu, unweighted (20Hz to 20kHz); Line Gain control set to 0dB
Distortion	<0.01% THD, 20Hz to 20kHz, +10dBu
Line Output
Impedance	100Ω unbalanced, 200Ω balanced
Maximum Level	>+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load)
Gain Range	-30dB to +10dB
Noise	<-80dBu unweighted (20Hz-20kHz); both Gain Controls set for 0dB, all processing controls OFF
Frequency Response	20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5/-0.5dB
Distortion	<0.08%THD, 20Hz to 20kHz, +10dBu, all processing controls OFF
Compressor
Threshold Range	-40dBu to +20dBu
Ratio	>4:1 for input levels beyond 20dB above threshold
Attack Time	Program dependent: >1S for small level increases, down to 10mS for large increases
Release Time	Program dependent: adjustable between approximately 1dB/sec and 75dB/sec
Slope	OverEasy
Sidechain	No
Distortion	Typically <0.05%THD, 20Hz to 20kHz, 15dB gain reduction, +10dBu Output, Density @ 0
SMPTE	Intermodulation Distortion: <0.05%; 60Hz/7kHz 4:1, 15dB gain reduction, +10dBu Output Level, Density @ 0
Equalizer
Filter Type	Not applicable
Frequency Bands	Not applicable
Bandwidth	Not applicable
Range (Boost/Cut)	Not applicable
Light Indication	N/A
Threshold Range	Not applicable
Ratio	Not applicable
Attack Time	Not applicable
De-Esser
Characteristics	Wideband Gain Reduction
Frequency Range	800Hz to 10kHz High Pass, 12dB/octave
Release Time	Program dependent approximately 1mS/dB
Enhancer
HF Detail	Program-controlled shelving equalizer, approximately 15dB maximum HF boost
LF Detail	Bell-shaped boost @ 80Hz, bell-shaped cut @250Hz, ratio is approximately 2:1
Gate
Gate Threshold	OFF to +15dBu
Expansion Ratio	Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1
Maximum Depth	>50dB
Attack Time	Program dependent, approximately 2mS (at maximum attenuation)
Release Time	Program dependent, approxiamtely 10mS/dB
Dynamic Range	Typically 105dB
Physical
Power Requirements	120VAC 60Hz, 100VAC 50/60Hz 15W consumption
Operating Temperature	32°F to 113°F (0°C to 45°C)
Dimensions	19 x 5.75 x 1.75" (485 x 146 x 45mm)
Weight	4.5 lb (2.04kg)
Specialties	Full compliment of meters and status LEDs

Packaging Info

Package Weight	6.45 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)	21.8 x 11.3 x 2.5"

dbx DBX286SV Reviews

Sounding professional

By Mike

Rated 5 out of 5

Date: 2023-07-07

I create instructional videos. My voice has a problem with sibilance, so I was very interested in having a good de-esser. I also don't have time to do a lot of post-processing to remove the sibilance. I was surprised at how much I liked the other effects (compressor, enhancer, and expander gate). The pre-amp is also really clean. I use a Rode Procaster, which benefits from the clean preamp. And the low-frequency enhancement work well with this mic. I watched a couple of Youtube videos to set it up, then played with it for a couple of sessions to get it dialed in. The other huge benefit is my Zoom calls. Many compliment me on how good my voice sounds, and the expander gate and low-cut filter remove the background noise. If I have a little more background noise due to a weed wacker outside, I adjust the expander gate ratio; really slick to just turn a nob rather than fiddle with the software while on a call. I recommend it to anyone who wants more control over their voice-over work!

DBX256 Premium Quality

By Steven

Rated 5 out of 5

Date: 2023-03-14

I was very satisfied when I heard the quality of the DBX256s preamps compared to my Mindprint Envoice 2 that I had for years.. Once the EQ went on the Envoice I had to make a decision on getting a reputable company that has years of service.. Dial in your preset amp,EQ,Comp and desser and your set.

Great service and product

By Matthew

Rated 4 out of 5

Date: 2022-11-28

Went in person to B & H and spoke with Lloyd who showed me the DBX channel strip. Ended up having it shipped to RI. So far so good. Used it with bass exclusively for a week then tried it with an SM7B for vocals. Tip-top. Don't be fooled by the price, thus unit goes toe to toe with my UNIVERSAL Audio LA710. Recommend both B&H and DBX.

Simple all-in-one solution for VO recording

By James

Rated 5 out of 5

Date: 2022-10-06

I'm using this to record VO for my YouTube channel. I previously used EQ, compression, de-essing, and noise gate plugins in Premiere pro on all of my audio tracks. Given the lack of track-level presets in Premiere, I bought this to see if I could get all of my processing done at recording time, and it's working out really well. My recording chain is: Shure SM7b - CloudLifter CL-1 - dbx 286s - Scarlett 2i2. A few notes on the sections of the 286s: Preamp: The preamp is nothing super special, but it works well as long as you keep the gain relatively low. The CloudLifter helps a lot because it allows me to keep the gain down around +30. I use the 80Hz high-pass in conjunction with the low-end enhancer because it helps emphasize the deep woody character of my voice. Compressor: The compressor is...eh...okay. I wish I could set a threshold and ratio. The way the compressor works in the 286s requires to you to add gain (drive) to push the signal up to the knee instead of just setting the knee where you want it. If you add very much drive, the noise starts to pile up in a hurry. Again, the CloudLifter gets the signal level up without adding too much noise. De-Esser: The de-esser in the 286s is very smooth. I ended up with both knobs at 12-oclock, and it tames things down on my voice nicely while remaining pretty transparent. It doesn't add the noticeable artifacts that the de-esser in Premiere Pro often generates. Enhancer: I find that the low-end enhancer is very flattering for my voice. It adds back a little of the 80Hz power that was lost in the low-cut filter, and gives a nice woody character without becoming boomy or muddy. The high-end enhancer isn't really applicable for my voice, but if I turn it up at all, it emphasizes the hiss and other noise artifacts in the signal. Expander/Gate: I'm running the expander around 2:1 at -35 to -40dB. This does a good job of de-emphasizing room tone and breath sounds. If I turn the gain up to make a harder cut, the pumping becomes pretty obvious. Subtler is better. Output: The way I have the gains staged, I have the output set at 0, and the input on the Scarlett near the bottom of the range. This gives me peaks around -9dB in the recording, which is clean, without risking clipping. Overall, there is some noise introduced by the outboard gear, relative to digital effects in software, but as long as I keep everything subtle, it's fine. The time savings from getting it all in the initial recording is well worth it to me. The noise and artifacts from the processor are pretty subtle and only audible in good headphones, in isolation. Once the VO is bedded into a track with other sounds, they disappear effectively. I would consider turning the drive in the compressor down, and getting less usable compression, as a tradeoff to reduce noise, but this would also make it really hard to find and expander setting that helps very much. Bottom line: if I keep things subtle, this thing performs admirably and saves me a lot of time in post.

Dead after one year of use

By Jermain

Rated 2 out of 5

Date: 2022-09-18

I purchased this in feb 2021. After one week of use, i noticed the gain lowering by itself. it would lower to the point of silence. I would have sent it back to B&H but I didnt actually open the box for a few weeks after purchase. So I contact Harman and was instructed to take it to an authorized repair service in my local area. since it was under warranty I did not have to pay. THe repair center noticed that there were several places on the board that were not soldiered properly. so they touched it up and tested for a few days. All was fine and i used it for the rest of the year. shortly thereafter, the exact problem with the gain returned. So I took it back to the repair center (still under warranty) and they have informed me that the problem is unfixable. They also say that Harman is out of stock on this item. The repair center has several of these units in line waiting to be fixed/replaced. According to the shop, one person in front of me has been waiting 7 months. Not sure if its the same issue. All in all this unit was great when it worked. It just didn't work for long. Did the people in my area just get the bad ones? I see they are in stock on B&H but I am skeptical on a repurchase. And I cant give this a high rating.

Great for the price

By Bismarck

Rated 4 out of 5

Date: 2022-02-17

I am not a professional audio engineer, but I really like this device. I hesitated to buy it because I read in other reviews that there was a small hum emitted by the device. I experimented noise when I plugged the dbx to my audio interface (the livetrack L-8) but then I watched a tutorial in YouTube that explained that for best results the line out cable should be an stereo balanced trs cable, I was using a mono one, so my mistake. Also I read on the internet that the -26dB switch on the audio interface should be turned on. I changed the trs cable and turned on that switch and the noise completely disappeared. Hope this review helps.

Fantastic, with 1 flaw.

By Warren

Rated 4 out of 5

Date: 2023-06-26

Realistically there isn't another product like this as an AIO option, that I know of, until you get to the Drawmer MX60-Pro at the $900 price point. Obviously the MX60 one is going to have some features that the 286 doesn't have. However, the main reason I mention it here is that the MX60 pro has, in my opinion, the processors in the correct order. That order should be 80hz highpass, gate, de-esser, compressor, EQ and then output.

Dedicated tunable mic amp

By AudioBob

Rated 4 out of 5

Date: 2023-04-04

I had to choose between this and a Cloudlifter mic-pre, I decided that this with all the functionality it delivers was a better trade-off for the size & price versus an in-line Cloudlifter. So far I use it for streaming and some speaking events. It does a very good job of cleanly amplifying the microphone and help tune out some of the ambient (noise floor) sounds I have to deal with. Between this and the Shure MV7X, no is able to hear my home studio noises (loud fans, etc). It's capable of pushing at least 60DB of amplification, that is perfect for microphones that demand more power like the SM7B or the MV7. More than enough to power my MV7, I don't have a direct comparison but I'm almost certain it provides more enhancement than a Cloudlifter can provide. The main amp adjustment is up to 60db with a secondary fine adjustment that adds as much as 10db more plus the enhancements from onboard processing. I am able to turn off the gain on my DAC when using this versus relying entirely on a MOTU box's circuit that I had to push the gain almost all the way up just to be audible. I do think it's over priced for a single channel mic-pre but it does do its job very well. I do wish it had a power on/off switch. I had to buy some TRS adapters, if you don't own any XLR to TRS then you will want to buy them when using this.

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Answered by: David

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Is the DVX286SV multi-voltage?

Asked by: Tovia

No it isn't. If you look at the specs, as well as at the rear image of this item you will notice it only supports up to 120 volt AC.

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Date published: 2019-03-11

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I have focusrite USB 6.My purpose is to enhance more power to my mic EV RE20..What other accessories needed..do i need another cable from dox 286s to Focusrite interface?

Asked by: Fernando

Xlr to xlr cable (mic to the input of dbx) quarter inch cable to xlr cable (quarter inch cable in the output of dbx and xlr to your focusrite mic input) Hope this helped

Answered by: Richard

Date published: 2020-06-20

I have a MixPre-6 II, but it doesn't have all the ...

I have a MixPre-6 II, but it doesn't have all the processing options this one has. How would you use a MixPre and a DBX286s? Is not using the preamp of the MixPre a big loss?

Asked by: Miguel

You can connect your mic to the input on the dbx 286s and use its mic preamp and processing options, then send the output from the 286s to an input on the MixPre-6 II. The output from the 286s is line level so be sure to set the input on the MixPre-6 II for line level. You can use a cable like the Hosa Technology Balanced 1/4" TRS Male to 3-Pin XLR Male Audio Cable - 5' (B&H #HOHSX005) to go from the 1/4" TRS output on the 286s to an XLR input on the MixPre-6 II. Using the 286s mic preamp instead of the MixPre-6 II mic preamp is not going to be a big loss since you will be able to use all of the processing options offered on the 286s.

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Does this have a small buzzing sound from the unit? Is that normal?

Asked by: Ashwin

Definitely not,

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Yes this DBX will enchance your bass guitar no problem

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286s - Microphone Preamp/Channel Strip Questions - page 2