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dbx 286S Single Channel Mic Preamp Channel Strip Processor

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dbx 286s Single Channel Mic Preamp Channel Strip Processor

Recording vocals or instruments through a noisy mixer is like painting with a muddy brush — you lose the detail that makes your sound unique. The dbx 286s transforms that entirely.

This single-channel unit combines a high-quality mic preamp with four essential processors in a compact design, ensuring a clean, direct signal path for pristine recordings. Whether you're capturing the perfect vocal or taming a tricky guitar amp, the 286s gives you all the tools you need — no need for complicated setups or extra gear.

Clean Gain & Professional Connectivity

The heart of any great recording is a transparent preamp, and the 286s delivers up to 60dB of sonically pristine gain that reveals every nuance of your microphone. It's like turning up the volume on clarity itself — no noise, no blur, just pure signal.

Studio-Grade Mic Preamp: Wide-ranging gain control (0dB to +60dB) with an impressively low EIN of -125dBu captures the subtle details and authentic character of even the most demanding condenser and ribbon mics.

Switchable +48V Phantom Power: Powers your condenser microphones with industry-standard phantom voltage applied through precision 6.81kΩ resistors, ensuring compatibility with virtually any pro mic.

80Hz High-Pass Filter: Eliminates low-frequency rumble, wind noise, and that annoying HVAC hum before it ever hits your recording — because prevention beats fixing it in the mix every time.

Dynamic Control & Vocal Clarity

Raw recordings rarely sound perfect straight out of the gate. The 286s equips you with four powerful processors that work independently or together to polish your sound without sacrificing its natural character. It's like having a full rack of outboard gear at your fingertips, minus the cable spaghetti.

Patented OverEasy® Compressor: Achieve smooth, transparent gain reduction or create a bold, upfront vocal sound that stands out in any mix. The program-adaptive attack and release automatically adjust to suit your audio.

Frequency-Tunable De-Esser: Precisely control harsh sibilance and cymbal wash with an adjustable high-pass filter (800Hz to 10kHz). Target problem frequencies without sacrificing overall brightness.

Dual-Band Enhancer: Add clarity and air with up to 15dB of intelligent high-frequency EQ, while enhancing low-end warmth and punch. The LF Detail boosts 80Hz and reduces muddiness at 250Hz, perfect for vocals and bass.

Speed Up Your Workflow

Great gear gets out of your way and lets you focus on the performance, not the settings. The 286s features precision controls that click into repeatable positions, plus a full complement of LEDs that show you exactly what's happening at every stage of your signal chain.

Program-Adaptive Expander/Gate: Minimize headphone bleed during vocal recordings or tightly gate noisy guitar amps with adjustable threshold and ratio controls (from 1.5:1 to 10:1). Adaptive attack and release settings ensure natural, responsive results tailored to your audio source.

Insert Jack for External Processing: A 1/4" TRS insert point between the mic preamp and processing sections lets you connect your favorite EQ, delay, or other outboard gear — or split the signal to send it to multiple destinations at once.

Comprehensive Metering & Status Indicators: Front-panel LEDs provide clear visual feedback for gain reduction, gate activity, and processing status, giving you precise control without guessing your settings.

Your Complete Vocal Chain in One Box

Stop searching through endless racks of processors for one vocal track. The dbx 286s puts everything you need — preamplification, compression, de-essing, enhancement, and gating — into a single, compact 1U chassis with precision controls for easy recall. Its balanced XLR mic input and 1/4" TRS line input can handle any source, from studio condensers and DI'd instruments to pre-recorded tracks. It's the go-to channel strip for professionals who demand quality.

dbx 286s Features:

Studio-quality mic preamp with 0dB to +60dB gain range and -125dBu EIN

Patented OverEasy® compressor with program-dependent attack and release

Frequency-tunable de-esser (800Hz to 10kHz) reduces sibilance and HF distortion

Dual-band enhancer with independent HF and LF Detail controls

Program-adaptive expander/gate with adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1 ratio

Switchable +48V phantom power for condenser microphones

80Hz high-pass filter removes low-frequency rumble and hum

1/4" TRS insert jack for external processing between preamp and processors

Precision detented controls for accurate, repeatable settings

Full complement of LED metering for gain reduction, gate, and processing status

Balanced XLR mic input and 1/4" TRS line input for flexible connectivity

Balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS main output (>+21dBu maximum level)

Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz (+0.5/-0.5dB)

1RU (1.75" x 19") rack-mountable design with included mounting hardware

dbx 286S Single Channel Mic Preamp Channel Strip Processor Specifications

Item #:	DBX 286SV
Manufacturer Part Number:	DBX286SV
UPC:	691991401237
Product Specifications	DBX 286S Mic Preamp Processor Specifications Mic Input: Input: Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot Impedance: ~4.2k Ω Maximum Level: 0.25Vrms, Gain = 30 dB Gain Adjustment Range: 0 dB to +60 dB Phantom Power: +48V DC, applied to XLR pins 2 and 3 through 6.81k Ω resistors CMRR: >40 dB, typically 55 dB EIN: -125 dBu, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, 150 Ω source impedance Line Input: Input: Floating balanced, TIP Hot Impedance: 10k Ω unbalanced, 20k Ω balanced Maximum Level: >+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced Gain Adjustment Range: -15 dB to +45 dB CMRR: >40 dB, typically 55 dB Insert: Connector: 1/4" TRS phone, Normalled; tip is Send, ring is Return Ring: Impedance: >5k Ω Maximum Level: >+21dBu Tip: Impedance: 100 Ω Maximum Level: >+21 dBu, >+20 dBm (600 Ω load) Noise: <-89 dBu, unweighted (20 Hz - 20 kHz); Line Gain: Control set to 0 dB Distortion: <0.01% THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu Line Output: 1/4" TRS phone: Balanced/Unbalanced Impedance: 100 Ω unbalanced, 200 Ω balanced Maximum Level: >+21 dBu, >+20 dBm (600 Ω load) Gain Adjustment Range: -30 dB to +10 dB Noise: <-80 dBu unweighted (20 Hz-20 kHz); Both Gain Controls set for 0 dB, all processing controls OFF Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-0. dB Distortion: <0.08%THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu, all Processing Controls OFF Compressor: Threshold Range: -40 dBu to +20 dBu Threshold Characteristics: OverEasy Compression Ratio: >4:1 For input levels beyond 20 dB above threshold Maximum Compression: 30 dB Attack Time: Program-Dependent; >1s for small level increases, down to 10ms for larage increases Release Time: Program-Dependen; adjustable between approximately 1 dB/sec and 7 dB/sec Distortion: Typically <0.05%THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu Output, DENSITY at 0 SMPTE Intermodulation Distortion: <0.05%; 60 Hz/7 kHz 4:1, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu Output Level, DENSITY at 0 De-Esser: Characteristic: Wideband Gain Reduction Frequency Range: 800 Hz to 10 kHz High Pass, 12 dB/octave Release Time: Program-Dependent approximately 1ms/dB Enhancer: HF Detail Characteristic: Program-controlled shelving equalizer, approximately 15 dB maximum HF boost LF Detail Characteristics: Bell-shaped boost at 80 Hz, bell-shaped cut at 250 Hz, ratio is approximately 2:1 Expander/Gate: Threshold Range: OFF to +15 dBu Expansion Ratio: Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1 Maximum Depth: >50 dB Attack Time: Program-Dependent, approximately 2mS (at maximum attenuation) Release Time: Program-Dependent, approxiamtely 10mS/dB Dynamic Range: Typically 105 dB Power: Power Requirements: 15W Operating Voltage: DO: 120VAC 60 Hz, 100VAC 50/60 Hz; EU: 230VAC 50/60 Hz Dimensions: 1.75" x 5.75" x 19" / 4.5 x 14.6 x 48.5 cm Weight: 4.5 lbs / 2.04 kgs

Item #:

DBX 286SV

Manufacturer Part Number:

DBX286SV

UPC:

691991401237

Product Specifications

DBX 286S Mic Preamp Processor Specifications

Mic Input:
- Input: Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot
- Impedance: ~4.2k Ω
- Maximum Level: 0.25Vrms, Gain = 30 dB
- Gain Adjustment Range: 0 dB to +60 dB
- Phantom Power: +48V DC, applied to XLR pins 2 and 3 through 6.81k Ω resistors
- CMRR: >40 dB, typically 55 dB
- EIN: -125 dBu, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, 150 Ω source impedance
Line Input:
- Input: Floating balanced, TIP Hot
- Impedance: 10k Ω unbalanced, 20k Ω balanced
- Maximum Level: >+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced
- Gain Adjustment Range: -15 dB to +45 dB
- CMRR: >40 dB, typically 55 dB
Insert:
- Connector: 1/4" TRS phone, Normalled; tip is Send, ring is Return
- Ring: Impedance: >5k Ω
- Maximum Level: >+21dBu
- Tip: Impedance: 100 Ω
- Maximum Level: >+21 dBu, >+20 dBm (600 Ω load)
- Noise: <-89 dBu, unweighted (20 Hz - 20 kHz);
- Line Gain: Control set to 0 dB
- Distortion: <0.01% THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu
Line Output:
- 1/4" TRS phone: Balanced/Unbalanced
- Impedance: 100 Ω unbalanced, 200 Ω balanced
- Maximum Level: >+21 dBu, >+20 dBm (600 Ω load)
- Gain Adjustment Range: -30 dB to +10 dB
- Noise: <-80 dBu unweighted (20 Hz-20 kHz); Both Gain Controls set for 0 dB, all processing controls OFF
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-0. dB
- Distortion: <0.08%THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu, all Processing Controls OFF
Compressor:
- Threshold Range: -40 dBu to +20 dBu
- Threshold Characteristics: OverEasy
- Compression Ratio: >4:1 For input levels beyond 20 dB above threshold
- Maximum Compression: 30 dB
- Attack Time: Program-Dependent; >1s for small level increases, down to 10ms for larage increases
- Release Time: Program-Dependen; adjustable between approximately 1 dB/sec and 7 dB/sec
- Distortion: Typically <0.05%THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu Output, DENSITY at 0
- SMPTE Intermodulation Distortion: <0.05%; 60 Hz/7 kHz 4:1, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu Output Level, DENSITY at 0
De-Esser:
- Characteristic: Wideband Gain Reduction
- Frequency Range: 800 Hz to 10 kHz High Pass, 12 dB/octave
- Release Time: Program-Dependent approximately 1ms/dB
Enhancer:
- HF Detail Characteristic: Program-controlled shelving equalizer, approximately 15 dB maximum HF boost
- LF Detail Characteristics: Bell-shaped boost at 80 Hz, bell-shaped cut at 250 Hz, ratio is approximately 2:1
Expander/Gate:
- Threshold Range: OFF to +15 dBu
- Expansion Ratio: Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1
- Maximum Depth: >50 dB
- Attack Time: Program-Dependent, approximately 2mS (at maximum attenuation)
- Release Time: Program-Dependent, approxiamtely 10mS/dB
- Dynamic Range: Typically 105 dB
Power:
- Power Requirements: 15W
- Operating Voltage: DO: 120VAC 60 Hz, 100VAC 50/60 Hz; EU: 230VAC 50/60 Hz
Dimensions: 1.75" x 5.75" x 19" / 4.5 x 14.6 x 48.5 cm
Weight: 4.5 lbs / 2.04 kgs

dbx 286S Single Channel Mic Preamp Channel Strip Processor Specifications
Product Specifications	DBX 286S Mic Preamp Processor Specifications Mic Input: Input: Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot Impedance: ~4.2k Ω Maximum Level: 0.25Vrms, Gain = 30 dB Gain Adjustment Range: 0 dB to +60 dB Phantom Power: +48V DC, applied to XLR pins 2 and 3 through 6.81k Ω resistors CMRR: >40 dB, typically 55 dB EIN: -125 dBu, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, 150 Ω source impedance Line Input: Input: Floating balanced, TIP Hot Impedance: 10k Ω unbalanced, 20k Ω balanced Maximum Level: >+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced Gain Adjustment Range: -15 dB to +45 dB CMRR: >40 dB, typically 55 dB Insert: Connector: 1/4" TRS phone, Normalled; tip is Send, ring is Return Ring: Impedance: >5k Ω Maximum Level: >+21dBu Tip: Impedance: 100 Ω Maximum Level: >+21 dBu, >+20 dBm (600 Ω load) Noise: <-89 dBu, unweighted (20 Hz - 20 kHz); Line Gain: Control set to 0 dB Distortion: <0.01% THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu Line Output: 1/4" TRS phone: Balanced/Unbalanced Impedance: 100 Ω unbalanced, 200 Ω balanced Maximum Level: >+21 dBu, >+20 dBm (600 Ω load) Gain Adjustment Range: -30 dB to +10 dB Noise: <-80 dBu unweighted (20 Hz-20 kHz); Both Gain Controls set for 0 dB, all processing controls OFF Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-0. dB Distortion: <0.08%THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu, all Processing Controls OFF Compressor: Threshold Range: -40 dBu to +20 dBu Threshold Characteristics: OverEasy Compression Ratio: >4:1 For input levels beyond 20 dB above threshold Maximum Compression: 30 dB Attack Time: Program-Dependent; >1s for small level increases, down to 10ms for larage increases Release Time: Program-Dependen; adjustable between approximately 1 dB/sec and 7 dB/sec Distortion: Typically <0.05%THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu Output, DENSITY at 0 SMPTE Intermodulation Distortion: <0.05%; 60 Hz/7 kHz 4:1, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu Output Level, DENSITY at 0 De-Esser: Characteristic: Wideband Gain Reduction Frequency Range: 800 Hz to 10 kHz High Pass, 12 dB/octave Release Time: Program-Dependent approximately 1ms/dB Enhancer: HF Detail Characteristic: Program-controlled shelving equalizer, approximately 15 dB maximum HF boost LF Detail Characteristics: Bell-shaped boost at 80 Hz, bell-shaped cut at 250 Hz, ratio is approximately 2:1 Expander/Gate: Threshold Range: OFF to +15 dBu Expansion Ratio: Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1 Maximum Depth: >50 dB Attack Time: Program-Dependent, approximately 2mS (at maximum attenuation) Release Time: Program-Dependent, approxiamtely 10mS/dB Dynamic Range: Typically 105 dB Power: Power Requirements: 15W Operating Voltage: DO: 120VAC 60 Hz, 100VAC 50/60 Hz; EU: 230VAC 50/60 Hz Dimensions: 1.75" x 5.75" x 19" / 4.5 x 14.6 x 48.5 cm Weight: 4.5 lbs / 2.04 kgs

dbx 286S Single Channel Mic Preamp Channel Strip Processor Specifications

Product Specifications

DBX 286S Mic Preamp Processor Specifications

Mic Input:
- Input: Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot
- Impedance: ~4.2k Ω
- Maximum Level: 0.25Vrms, Gain = 30 dB
- Gain Adjustment Range: 0 dB to +60 dB
- Phantom Power: +48V DC, applied to XLR pins 2 and 3 through 6.81k Ω resistors
- CMRR: >40 dB, typically 55 dB
- EIN: -125 dBu, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, 150 Ω source impedance
Line Input:
- Input: Floating balanced, TIP Hot
- Impedance: 10k Ω unbalanced, 20k Ω balanced
- Maximum Level: >+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced
- Gain Adjustment Range: -15 dB to +45 dB
- CMRR: >40 dB, typically 55 dB
Insert:
- Connector: 1/4" TRS phone, Normalled; tip is Send, ring is Return
- Ring: Impedance: >5k Ω
- Maximum Level: >+21dBu
- Tip: Impedance: 100 Ω
- Maximum Level: >+21 dBu, >+20 dBm (600 Ω load)
- Noise: <-89 dBu, unweighted (20 Hz - 20 kHz);
- Line Gain: Control set to 0 dB
- Distortion: <0.01% THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu
Line Output:
- 1/4" TRS phone: Balanced/Unbalanced
- Impedance: 100 Ω unbalanced, 200 Ω balanced
- Maximum Level: >+21 dBu, >+20 dBm (600 Ω load)
- Gain Adjustment Range: -30 dB to +10 dB
- Noise: <-80 dBu unweighted (20 Hz-20 kHz); Both Gain Controls set for 0 dB, all processing controls OFF
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-0. dB
- Distortion: <0.08%THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +10 dBu, all Processing Controls OFF
Compressor:
- Threshold Range: -40 dBu to +20 dBu
- Threshold Characteristics: OverEasy
- Compression Ratio: >4:1 For input levels beyond 20 dB above threshold
- Maximum Compression: 30 dB
- Attack Time: Program-Dependent; >1s for small level increases, down to 10ms for larage increases
- Release Time: Program-Dependen; adjustable between approximately 1 dB/sec and 7 dB/sec
- Distortion: Typically <0.05%THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu Output, DENSITY at 0
- SMPTE Intermodulation Distortion: <0.05%; 60 Hz/7 kHz 4:1, 15 dB G/R, +10 dBu Output Level, DENSITY at 0
De-Esser:
- Characteristic: Wideband Gain Reduction
- Frequency Range: 800 Hz to 10 kHz High Pass, 12 dB/octave
- Release Time: Program-Dependent approximately 1ms/dB
Enhancer:
- HF Detail Characteristic: Program-controlled shelving equalizer, approximately 15 dB maximum HF boost
- LF Detail Characteristics: Bell-shaped boost at 80 Hz, bell-shaped cut at 250 Hz, ratio is approximately 2:1
Expander/Gate:
- Threshold Range: OFF to +15 dBu
- Expansion Ratio: Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1
- Maximum Depth: >50 dB
- Attack Time: Program-Dependent, approximately 2mS (at maximum attenuation)
- Release Time: Program-Dependent, approxiamtely 10mS/dB
- Dynamic Range: Typically 105 dB
Power:
- Power Requirements: 15W
- Operating Voltage: DO: 120VAC 60 Hz, 100VAC 50/60 Hz; EU: 230VAC 50/60 Hz
Dimensions: 1.75" x 5.75" x 19" / 4.5 x 14.6 x 48.5 cm
Weight: 4.5 lbs / 2.04 kgs

Customer Reviews

dbx 286S Single Channel Mic Preamp Channel Strip Processor