Using a DBX 118 with Sonos

[Donnellk]

Hello all. Fifty or so years ago I had a DBX 118 in my stereo set up. I loved that little guy. Now in my retirement years I’m dusting off all my old vinyl. I have a turntable running through a NAD photo amp into a Sonos Five.

I’d like to find an old DBX and put it into that setup for old time’s sake.

So my question is — would that be possible? How would I hook it up? Would it even work at all? Am I being silly or would it be fun to use?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[swechsler]

I have a turntable running through a NAD photo amp into a Sonos Five.

I assume you mean an NAD phono preamp (otherwise this is some new spectrum of audio that I wasn't previously aware of). At any rate, yes, you can insert a DBX 118 (or any other signal processor) between the phono preamp and the Sonos' input. Connect the phono preamp's output into the DBX's input, and the DBX's output (either one should work) into the Sonos' input. However, you'll only be able to use it to process the sound from your turntable; no streaming signals.

 

[Donnellk]

Thanks very much for your quick, helpful and funny (yes I meant phono) answer.

 

[Aerobat]

I had one of these in my younger days, it was fun to wow people by cranking both knobs to the right when music was already blasting. To be honest, it gets in the way of sound quality and is unnecessary. I sold mine some time ago.

 

[swechsler]

Dynamic range expansion was marketed on the idea that the audio signal was necessarily compressed when recording to LP or broadcasting to radio due to the limitations of the medium. In theory, CDs or other uncompressed digital sources should not have those limitations. I say in theory because the loudness wars have made a mockery of this.

 

[Donnellk]

I assume you mean an NAD phono preamp (otherwise this is some new spectrum of audio that I wasn't previously aware of). At any rate, yes, you can insert a DBX 118 (or any other signal processor) between the phono preamp and the Sonos' input. Connect the phono preamp's output into the DBX's input, and the DBX's output (either one should work) into the Sonos' input. However, you'll only be able to use it to process the sound from your turntable; no streaming signals.

Thinking some more about how I might accomplish this- if the DBX is unplugged, then I assume the signal would pass through as if wasn't there, is that correct? Or would I need an A/B switch to have it in or out of the signal path? Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Donnellk]

I had one of these in my younger days, it was fun to wow people by cranking both knobs to the right when music was already blasting. To be honest, it gets in the way of sound quality and is unnecessary. I sold mine some time ago.

I appreciate your point of view. If I get one it's more for nostalgia and for show. I asked this earlier- if the DBX is unplugged, then I assume the signal would pass through as if wasn't there, is that correct? Or would I need an A/B switch to have it in or out of the signal path? Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[swechsler]

if the DBX is unplugged, then I assume the signal would pass through as if wasn't there, is that correct? Or would I need an A/B switch to have it in or out of the signal path? Thanks in advance for your advice.

No, if it's unplugged, it will not pass a signal, so yes, you'd need a switch to enable/disable it. You'd have to combine an A/B switch with some RCA Y cables. Or a switchbox with a tape monitor (no idea if that still exists).

I was at first surprised that dbx didn't include a defeat switch, but then I had a look at the (same size) dbx 110, and noticed that it uses the same chassis (1 pushbutton + 2 pots; same back panel as well) so it unfortunately makes sense.

 

[Aerobat]

I appreciate your point of view. If I get one it's more for nostalgia and for show. I asked this earlier- if the DBX is unplugged, then I assume the signal would pass through as if wasn't there, is that correct? Or would I need an A/B switch to have it in or out of the signal path? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Nothing wrong with nostalgia. I have a whole late 60s-early 70s Hot Wheels collection in my home office. Also several old consoles and an 8-track player

 

[twiiii]

I have a DBX 119 which is basically the same thing. I used it as a compressor for making tapes for when I traveled for work and the trucks I used weren't that quiet so I compressed the tapes. As an expander it was a flop and is why I have a DBX 3BX, It does a real lice job if used with moderation. Gaining 6 to 10 db of dynamic range with FM broadcasts which are highly compressed and limited makes listening to performances much more life like. Some LP,s gain some too.

If you really want to hear what a 3BX is doing try it with a dynamic CD and then you can hear how to much of a good thing is really a very bad thing. A good CD will drive any expander crazy really compromising the sonic playback signal. People tell me today that pop CD's and streaming sources of music have less dynamic range than ever today. But I am not into that scene. So try it and see if your 118 or a 119 would make you happy using it as an expander.

 

[bergun]

I’m thinking the thing since I’m listing to vinyl more these days.

I own a Yamaha R-N2000 receiver and I’m going to purchase either the Technics SL-1200 GR2 or the SL1500 within the next 2-3 months. The Yamaha receiver has the YPAO feature, which is OK, but I’m thinking of pulling out of retirement my DBX 3 range expander and my Kenwood EQ since many of my LPs are from the late 1970s three the mid 1980s and lack some of the dynamic “punch“ I’m use to with CDs.

I’m happy that some of the corporations, like Yamaha, are still making quality home Hi-Fi gear, but my only grip with new amps and receivers is that they lack either the tape monitoring or processor loop features, for us old goats who still are hanging onto our older sound processors.

I’m not an audio purist or anything near that since being retired Army and retired law enforcement… And old, my hearing isn’t the best, so I want to tweak the sound to fit my own listening preferences.

 

[Donnellk]

Hello again to my DBX advisors! I bought a nice unit on eBay but I'm a bit flummoxed on the best way to connect it. It has just the one input, "from preamp tape output". So do I plug the turntable into it, and then output to my preamp? Or do I plug the phono preamp output into the DBX's input, and thence to the Sonos?

And then there's two separate outputs, one "to preamp tape output" and another "to tape aux input". Which do I use to output into the Sonos?

There's too many variables for me and I don't want to get it wrong. Any solutions greatly appreciated.

 

[swechsler]

Connect the phono preamp to the inputs. Connect the "to preamp tape input" to the input on the Sonos.

 

[Donnellk]

That did it! Works perfectly. Thanks much.