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musical instrument details
DBX 676 Mic/Instrument Pre, Tube/Solid State Hybrid with EQ and more
Estimated price for orientation: 750 $
Category: Preamps and Channel Strips
Class:
Description Condition: Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition Brand: dbx Number of Channels: 1 Model: 676 Features: Hybrid Preamp
You can easily find specs online, but here is the 'conclusion' from a review on Harmony Central:'While no single mic preamp or channel strip is going to be the dreamy ideal for every conceivable sound source you might encounter, the Dbx 676 is certainly a strong performer and an excellent choice for an all-purpose tube preamp / recording channel strip due to its sound quality and versatility. As with many channel strips it will probably see more use recording vocals than anything else, and it does clean or grungy vocals very well with its girthy-sounding tube mic preamp and excellent compressor. But vocals aren't all it can do by any means. The EQ is generally well-suited to the kind of tone shaping you sometimes need to do while tracking, although it's not really ideal as a problem-solving EQ for surgical correction at specific frequencies using narrow bandwidths. Still, the inclusion of a sweepable midrange band with two switchable bandwidth settings does give it some flexibility, and having a smooth, good-sounding EQ at the ready beats having no EQ at all, which is the case with lots of other mic preamps. The onboard compressor is a real winner: easy to use, and it sounds superb. Auto mode and OverEasy make it simple for non-engineers to get a good sound, yet there's still the kind of precision control available that pros want too. You'd normally expect to pay at least the going price of the 676 for a compressor this good. High plate voltage tube mic preamps are often expensive, and good channel strips tend to be too, but the 676 bucks both trends. The fact that Dbx is delivering so much with the 676 really makes it a terrific value. To sum up, not only do you get a true, high plate voltage tube preamp, but also sweet-sounding EQ and a very fast and capable VCA compressor - all in one well-built and attractive unit. Regardless of what other high-end gear you may have, you'll be proud to have the 676 in your rack, and will find plenty of occasions to use it. Yes, I was very impressed by the sound of the 676 - not only on vocals, but also as a bass DI and for general-purpose use on a variety of sound sources. If you're looking for a bit of real tube warmth and character on your tracks, you have it - along with one of Dbx's best VCA compressors and very useable EQ. It's a solid channel strip with a subtly flattering sound, and a great buy. And not just "at this price" - while the price is very home studio-friendly, I suspect we'll see these being used by plenty of pros in the months and years to come. Classy and capable, it's a big winner from Dbx.'
Description
| Condition: | Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition | Brand: | dbx |
| Number of Channels: | 1 | Model: | 676 |
| Features: | Hybrid Preamp |
You can easily find specs online, but here is the 'conclusion' from a review on Harmony Central:
'While no single mic preamp or channel strip is going to be the dreamy ideal for every conceivable sound source you might encounter, the Dbx 676 is certainly a strong performer and an excellent choice for an all-purpose tube preamp / recording channel strip due to its sound quality and versatility. As with many channel strips it will probably see more use recording vocals than anything else, and it does clean or grungy vocals very well with its girthy-sounding tube mic preamp and excellent compressor. But vocals aren't all it can do by any means. The EQ is generally well-suited to the kind of tone shaping you sometimes need to do while tracking, although it's not really ideal as a problem-solving EQ for surgical correction at specific frequencies using narrow bandwidths. Still, the inclusion of a sweepable midrange band with two switchable bandwidth settings does give it some flexibility, and having a smooth, good-sounding EQ at the ready beats having no EQ at all, which is the case with lots of other mic preamps. The onboard compressor is a real winner: easy to use, and it sounds superb. Auto mode and OverEasy make it simple for non-engineers to get a good sound, yet there's still the kind of precision control available that pros want too. You'd normally expect to pay at least the going price of the 676 for a compressor this good. High plate voltage tube mic preamps are often expensive, and good channel strips tend to be too, but the 676 bucks both trends. The fact that Dbx is delivering so much with the 676 really makes it a terrific value. To sum up, not only do you get a true, high plate voltage tube preamp, but also sweet-sounding EQ and a very fast and capable VCA compressor - all in one well-built and attractive unit. Regardless of what other high-end gear you may have, you'll be proud to have the 676 in your rack, and will find plenty of occasions to use it. Yes, I was very impressed by the sound of the 676 - not only on vocals, but also as a bass DI and for general-purpose use on a variety of sound sources. If you're looking for a bit of real tube warmth and character on your tracks, you have it - along with one of Dbx's best VCA compressors and very useable EQ. It's a solid channel strip with a subtly flattering sound, and a great buy. And not just "at this price" - while the price is very home studio-friendly, I suspect we'll see these being used by plenty of pros in the months and years to come. Classy and capable, it's a big winner from Dbx.'