7
PeakStopPlus™ Level
control, continuous limiting can occur. While PeakStopPlus™ is typically used as a pro-
tective function, creative effects can be achieved by intentionally driving the signal into heavy PeakStopPlus™
limiting. Great care has gone into the design of the PeakStopPlus™ limiter to keep it acoustically transparent.
Appropriate use of it can protect your gear while keeping the signal free of artifacts.
For best results the Limiter functions of your compressor should be used in conjunction with the
Compressor functions.
When we at dbx decided to make a premium compressor that would perform to the industry’s high-
est standards, it became readily obvious that every component and design strategy had to be chosen
with high-performance foremost in mind. After the evolutionary process of engineering design and
implementation was complete, the result was stunning. Here is a partial list of the features found on
the 160S. You won’t hear about most of them anywhere else, but they are critical to the amazing
specs, comprehensive functionality, and visionary design of the 160S Stereo Compressor.
• New dbx V8™ VCA module exhibits a dynamic range of 127dB
with extremely low distortion!
• V8™ VCA is encased in a specially-designed zinc-aluminum hous-
ing for shielding and thermal characteristics. This allows for peak
performance of the VCA in any environment.
• Precision 0.1% and 1% metal film resistors.
• Gold-palladium-nickel board-to-board connectors.
• Jensen® transformers.
• Gold-plated Neutrik® XLR connectors.
• Rare earth magnet relays with gold contacts in a hermetically
sealed nitrogen environment.
• Military-grade glass epoxy circuit boards.
• Double-shielded Toroid transformer ensures no self-generated
power supply noise enters the audio path.
• High-drive output transformers are capable of driving 1000 feet of
Belden 8451 cable to +30dBm.
• Striking blue custom-machined, 1/4” thick front panel.
• Hand-crafted, solid aluminum knobs.
• LEDs mounted in machined, stainless steel housings.
• Custom dbx VU meters with peak indicators.
• Heavy-gauge chassis.
• Switchable OverEasy®/hard knee characteristics enable the 160S to
sound like the traditional 165A as well as the old and still popular
160.
• Program dependent Auto mode, or fully variable attack and
release.
• PeakStop/PeakStopPlus™ switchable limiting topologies, the per-
fect complement to the 160S feature set.
• Sidechain capabilities, switchable from the front panel.
160S
Introduction
