dbx

dbx 286A Mic Pre-Amp

$49.95 - $72.07

The dbx 286A is an all-in-one studio-quality microphone preamp and channel strip processor designed to provide professional audio processing for a variety of applications including recording, broadcasting, and live sound. It combines a high-quality mic preamp with four essential processors (compressor, de-esser, enhancer, and expander/gate) in a single, compact rackmount unit.

View Product Features

Studio-quality mic preamp with wide-ranging gain control and +48V phantom power.
Classic dbx OverEasy compression for smooth, transparent, or aggressive dynamics control.
Frequency-tunable de-esser effectively reduces vocal sibilance and harsh high frequencies.
Enhancer circuit to add clarity, sparkle, fullness, and depth to low and high frequencies.
Program-adaptive expander/gate cleans up unwanted background noise or headphone leakage.
Insert jack between preamp and processing sections for integrating external effects processors.
Comprehensive metering and status LEDs provide visual guidance for optimal audio levels.

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About the dbx 286A Mic Pre-Amp

The dbx 286A is a dedicated single-channel microphone preamplifier and processor that has become a staple in professional and project recording studios, broadcast booths, and podcasting setups. It is renowned for integrating a high-quality analog preamp with a suite of iconic dbx processing tools designed to dramatically enhance a microphone's signal before it reaches a recorder, mixer, or computer interface. This all-in-one channel strip approach allows users to achieve a polished, "studio-ready" vocal sound directly at the source, reducing the need for extensive post-production editing and plugin processing. Its intuitive layout and musical controls make professional vocal processing accessible to engineers of all experience levels.

The signal path begins with a low-noise, high-headroom microphone preamplifier featuring +48V phantom power, providing clean gain for any condenser microphone. Following the preamp, the signal passes through a proprietary Over-Easy® compressor, which gently smooths out dynamic peaks with a musical character that is difficult to replicate digitally. Next, the renowned dbx enhancer section, comprising a de-esser to control harsh sibilance and a harmonic generator to add pleasing warmth and presence, adds clarity and intelligibility to vocals. A fully parametric equalizer with sweepable mid-range offers precise tonal shaping to fit the source into the mix.

Housed in a rugged, single-space rack-mount chassis, the 286A is built for reliability in both permanent installations and mobile rigs. Its analog signal processing chain imparts a desirable, musical coloration that many seek for vocals, voice-over, and spoken word applications. By consolidating essential processing stages into one physical unit, it provides a tactile, immediate, and consistent workflow that digital emulations often strive to mimic. For streamers, podcasters, and musicians looking to elevate their microphone's performance with classic, hardware-based processing, the dbx 286A remains a highly effective and trusted solution.

Key Features

Studio-quality mic preamp with wide-ranging gain control and +48V phantom power.
Classic dbx OverEasy compression for smooth, transparent, or aggressive dynamics control.
Frequency-tunable de-esser effectively reduces vocal sibilance and harsh high frequencies.
Enhancer circuit to add clarity, sparkle, fullness, and depth to low and high frequencies.
Program-adaptive expander/gate cleans up unwanted background noise or headphone leakage.
Insert jack between preamp and processing sections for integrating external effects processors.
Comprehensive metering and status LEDs provide visual guidance for optimal audio levels.