Installation Considerations - dbx 1046 Operation Manual

®
club sound engineering, or are a mobile DJ, or like to push the limits of your home's audio entertainment
center). Set the 1046 for limiting (Hard Knee mode On, with a RATIO of 10:1 or greater) and adjust the
THRESHOLD to provide 15 dB or more of compression (just a few dB below the input clip). For low-level
signals, the 1046 won't change gain, but if large signals come along, the gain will be reduced to prevent
clipping and save sensitive system components from excessive heat buildup or other types of damage.
Note: PeakStopPlus™ Limiting can also be used to prevent speaker damage.
Preventing Digital Recording Overload
Some digital recorders and samplers produce audible distortion when they exceed their maximum
operating level. The 1046 can be used to ensure that audio input does not overload a digital recorder's
A/D (analog-to-digital) converters. The 1046 can perform this function quietly enough for all digital media.
To use the 1046 so that no changes in gain occur unless an emergency arises (wildly excessive levels),
set Hard Knee mode On, the RATIO to ∞:1, and the THRESHOLD highest level before digital overload.
Note: PeakStopPlus™ limiting can also be used to prevent raucous-sounding digital overload

Installation Considerations

Hookups and Cabling: The 1046 is designed for nominal -10 dBV or +4 dBu levels. The 1046 can be
used with either balanced or unbalanced sources and the outputs can be used with either balanced or
unbalanced loads, provided the proper cabling is used.
Normal Balanced Connections for Inputs and Outputs
Connection
Ground:
High:
Low:
Normal Unbalanced Connections for Inputs and Outputs
Connection
Ground:
High:
Low (ground):
Tie pin 3 to the ground for unity gain in/out of the 1046 when using unbalanced input connections to
balanced output connections or balanced input connections to unbalanced output connections. To do
otherwise won't hurt the unit but will result in unmatched input to output levels, and the level control
will not be properly calibrated.
8
Installation considerations
XLR TRS 1/4" Jack
Pin 1 Sleeve
Pin 2 Tip
Pin 3 Ring
XLR TRS 1/4" Jack TS 1/4" Jack
Pin 1 Sleeve
Pin 2 Tip
Pin 3 Ring
Sleeve
Tip
Sleeve
.