Fun with a restored DBX 2BX dynamic range enhancer

[Guest Simonon]

I purchased a 2BX dynamic range enhancer the other day for my vintage collection out of curiosity. Its in perfect condition and after cleaning the switches I tried it out.

Big surprise on vinyl and simply amazing. I ultrasonically clean my vinyl and would say the 2BX in combination with clean vinyl is the best thing I have tried. To my ears vinyl sounds as good or better than digital flac.

A lost tech that many have never heard of or forgotten. If you ever get the opportunity to hear one used with vinyl I think many will become converts.

[elcamry]

Waiting [emoji5]

[Guest Simonon]

Stay tuned for a gtg as I am confirming dates.
I have never heard my vinyl rig sound so good.
The 2BX in combination with my DIY ribbons and tuning with a calibrated UMIK mic with REW software have rekindled my interest in vinyl.

[stereo coffee]

Yes companding is well known to benefit audio

recording and playback, DBX made many models

found here:   http://vintagedbx.free.fr/index.html

 

DBX founded by David Blackmer  were always

ahead of Dolby, both companies using emphasis

and de-emphasis  suggested by Murray Crosby

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosby_system

 

Ironically both DBX and Dolby were later used

as noise reduction systems in FM broadcasting,

the irony being where emphasis and demphasis

originated as technique to improve signal to noise ratio.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2018 by stereo coffee

[sir sanders zingmore]

Interesting. 

Where does one buy such a thing ?

Edited September 2, 2018 by Sir Sanders Zingmore

[Guest guru]

I have some dbx encoded vinyl somewhere . Must dig it out and see what it sounds like.

[eltech]

44 minutes ago, Sir Sanders Zingmore said:

Interesting. 

Where does one buy such a thing ?

eBay used

[aechmea]

I had a Phase Linear 1000 Autocorrelator Noise Reduction (https://kenrockwell.com/audio/phase-linear/autocorrelator.htm back in the 70s that I used to get rid of tape hiss and TT rumble.  The unit also had dynamic range expansion capabilities.

 

Pity that I don't have it now to add some dynamic range back into the mercilessly compressed CD masters of today.  Or a digital Audirvana plug-in version would do.

[davewantsmoore]

6 minutes ago, aechmea said:

Or a digital Audirvana plug-in version would do.

You could run a plug-in for a dynamic range expander.   Dunno if audirvana can do it directly (I thought it could, but seems not)  .... but there are other ways (a VST host).

[darth vader]

I had a Pioneer version they called a "Dynamic expander" as compared to Dbx "Dynamic range enhancer". Did the same thing. It was nice.

 

@aechmea you could possibly add one to the analogue side if your using an amp.