1046 (discontinued)

Quad Compressor / Limiter

1046
Larger Images

In today's recording and sound reinforcement environments, the need for multiple channels of high quality, easy to use compression is growing rapidly. The new dbx® 1046 is designed to provide the audio professional with just that: 4 channels of great sounding dbx compression for a variety of applications. Incorporating the industry standard dbx designs and the latest available manufacturing techniques, the dbx 1046 provides pristine sonic quality with that classic dbx sound.

The 1046 provides 4 channels of smooth classic dbx OverEasy® or Hard Knee compression that are perfectly suited for use on individual tracks of your multitrack recorder, and in virtually all applications the separate channels can be individually interfaced and used for entirely independent purposes. Additionally the newly developed PeakStopPlus™ is ideal for protecting your system from the oppressive peaks that can take out valuable drivers in your sound reinforcement rig or studio monitors.

All four channels have the following controls:

Threshold - allows you to set the level at which the compressor starts affecting the gain

OverEasy - allows you to select between soft compression for overall gain control or Hard Knee compression based on the characteristics of the original dbx 160.

Ratio - allows you to set the slope of gain reduction affecting the signal over the threshold level.

Input/Output Meter - allows you to set the meter to check the input and output levels for maximum signal-to-noise ratio and best level matching.

Output Gain - allows you to add make-up gain or to adjust the output level for that channel to match the next device's input gain.

Bypass - hard wire bypass allows you to hear how the compressor is affecting your signal.

PeakStopPlus - allows you to set the maximum signal level you want to pass through this channel. While it's virtually impossible to eliminate distortion, the PeakStopPlus circuit does it gracefully and effectively with minimal distortion.

Stereo Link - allows you to link channels 1&2 and 3&4 for two channels of true stereo compression.

All four channels feature balanced gold plated XLR and 1/4" inputs and outputs, and switchable +4dBu or -10dBV operating level to interface each individual channel with any other device.

So whether you need to control the level, placement in the mix, or overall characteristics of 4 independent signals or control the gain leveling on a couple of stereo pairs, the dbx 1046 is for you.

Recommended for: Portable, Tour, Studio.

Features

  • Four independent channels of operation, stereo linkable in two pairs
  • PeakStopPlus™ limiting control for setting maximum allowable level regardless of compressor settings
  • Independent Threshold and ratio controls
  • Switchable OverEasy® or Hard Knee compression
  • Classic dbx® compression
  • Differentially balanced gold-plated XLR and 1/4" inputs and outputs
  • True RMS level detection
  • Precision metering of input level, output level, and gain reduction
  • Dual True stereo or quad mono operation
  • Switchable +4dBu or -10dBV operation per channel

Downloads

  Version Language Size Uploaded
file type icon 1046 CAD drawing front
en updated: Mar 2024
  en  449 KB Mar 2024
file type icon 1046 Cut Sheet-English
en updated: Mar 2024
  en  330 KB Mar 2024
file type icon 1046 Owner's Manual-Multilingual
updated: Mar 2024
    1.36 MB Mar 2024

If any of the links above result in strange characters in your browser, please right-click the file to save it to your computer.

Specifications

Input Connectors XLR and 1/4" TRS (Pin 2 and tip hot)
Input Type Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Input Impedance Balanced > 40 kOhm, unbalanced >20 kOhm
Max Input > +22 dBu balanced or unbalanced
CMRR Typically >50 dB at 1 kHz
Output Connectors XLR and 1/4" TRS (Pin 2 and tip hot)
Output Type Servo-balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Output Impedance Balanced 30 Ohm, unbalanced 15 Ohm
Max Output > +22 dBm balanced, > +20 dBm unbalanced
Bandwidth 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0/-0.5 dB
Frequency Response 0.35 Hz to 90kHz, +0/-3 dB
Noise < -96 dBu, unweighted, 22 kHz measurement bandwidth
Dynamic Range > 118 dB, unweighted
THD+Noise >0.008% typical at +4 dBu (1 kHz unity gain), 0.08% typical at +20 dBu (1 kHz unity gain), < 0.1% any amount of compression up to 40 dB, 1 kHz
IMD < 0.1% SMPTE
Interchannel Crosstalk < -80 dB 20Hz to 20 kHz
Stereo Coupling True RMS Power Summing
Compressor Threshold Range -40 dBu to +20 dBu
Compressor Ratio 1:1 to infinity:1
Compressor Threshold Characteristic Selectable OverEasy® or hard knee
Compressor Attack/Release Characteristic AutoDynamic™
Compressor Attack Time Program-dependent
Compressor Release Time Program-dependent
Compressor Output Gain -20 to +20 dB
Limiter Threshold Range 0 dBu to +24 dBu (off)
Limiter Ratio infinity:1
Limiter Type PeakStopPlus® two-stage limiter
Limiter Stage 1 PeakStop® brickwall limiter
Limiter Stage 1 Attack Time Zero
Limiter Stage 1 Release Time Zero
Limiter Stage 2 Predictive intelligent program limiter
Limiter Stage 2 Attack Time Program-dependent
Limiter Stage 2 Release Time Program-dependent
OverEasy® Switch Activates the OverEasy compression function
I/O Meter Switch Switches between monitoring input and output levels on the Input/Output Level meter
Bypass Switch Activates the direct input-to-output hard-wire bypass
Operating Level Switch (rear panel) Switches the nominal operating level between -10 dBV and +4 dBu simultaneously for both input and output levels
ST Link Switch Links channels in stereo pairs. Channels One and Three become the master channels
Gain Reduction Meter 8 segment LED bar graph at 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 dB
I/O Meter 8-segment LED bar graph at -24, -18, -12, -6, 0, +6, +12, and +18 dBu
PeakStop™ Indicator 1 LED to indicate PeakStop™ limiting
Function Switches LED indicator for each front-panel switch
Output Transformer Options Jensen® JT-123-dbx or JT- 11-dbx, BCI RE- 123-dbx or RE-11-dbx
Operating Voltage Switchable:100-120 VAC 50-60 Hz or 200-240 VAC 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption 20 Watts
Fuse 100-120 VAC:250 mA Slow Blow, 200-240 VAC:125 mA Type T
Power Connector IEC receptacle
Dimensions 1.75"Hx19"Wx9"D (4.4cmx48.3cmx20.1cm)
Unit Weight 5.2 lbs. (2.4 kg)
Shipping Weight 7.6 lbs. (3.5 kg)

News

Support/FAQs

1046 FAQs

Where can I go to learn more about the compressors controls and see some example settings?

Make sure to read the owners manual for your product. Most do have example settings and an explanation of the different controls. For further information and example settings please see the Compression 101 White Paper.

1046 (discontinued)

Quad Compressor / Limiter