COMPRESSORS · DYNAMICS
286s
Microphone Pre-amp Processor
The dbx® 286s is a full featured Channel Strip Processor that delivers a studio quality microphone/instrument preamplifier and four processors that can be used independently or in any combination. Why mic up vocals and instruments through a noisy, blurry mixer? The sonically pristine dbx 286s Mic Preamp has all the features you need, including wide-ranging input gain control, switchable +48V phantom power, and an 80Hz high-pass filter to remove low frequency hum, rumble or wind. Use the patented dbx OverEasy® compressor to transparently smooth out uneven acoustic tracks or deliver that classic "in your face" vocal performance that only a dbx compressor can. Eliminate vocal sibilance and high frequency distortion from instruments such as cymbals with the frequency tunable De-Esser. Fine-tune the Enhancer HF Detail control to add sparkle and crispness to your tracks and make adjustments to the LF Detail control to add fullness and depth to vocals and bass instruments while cleaning up the muddy low midrange frequencies. And, the separate threshold and ratio controls on the Expander/Gate allow you to subtly reduce headphone leakage or radically gate noisy guitar amps.
- Frequency range
- 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- FREQUENCY RANGE
- Dynamic range
- –
- DYNAMIC RANGE
- Weight
- –
- WEIGHT
Supplied and supported in Pakistan by KYAF, the official HARMAN Professional distributor.
AT A GLANCE
Specifications
- 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Frequency range
- ~4.2kΩ
- Impedance
- (line) Floating balanced, TIP Hot
- Inputs
- 0dB to +60dB
- Mic Preamp gain
- >40dB, typically 55dB
- CMRR
- 0.2Vrms, Gain = 30dB
- Mic Preamp max input level
- (line) -15dB to +45 dB
- Input Gain Range
- 1/4" TRS: Normalled
- Insert Connector
| Mic Preamp Connector | XLR Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot |
|---|---|
| Mic Preamp Input Impedance | ~4.2kΩ |
| Mic Preamp gain | 0dB to +60dB |
| Mic Preamp Phantom Power | +48VDC, applied to XLR pins 2 and 3 through 6.81kΩ resistors |
| CMRR | >40dB, typically 55dB |
| Mic Preamp max input level | 0.2Vrms, Gain = 30dB |
| Mic Preamp Equivalent Input Noise (EIN) | -125dBu, 22Hz-22kHz, 150Ω source impedance |
| Input Connectors | (line) Floating balanced, TIP Hot |
| Input Impedance | (line) 10kΩ unbalanced, 20kΩ balanced |
| Max Input | (line) >+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced |
| Input Gain Range | (line) -15dB to +45 dB |
| Insert Connector | 1/4" TRS: Normalled; tip is Send, ring is Return |
| Insert Impedance | >5kΩ (ring-return); 100Ω (tip-send) |
| Insert Max Level | >+21dBu; >+20dBm (600Ω load-tip) |
| Insert Noise | <-84dBu, unweighted (20Hz-20kHz); LINE GAIN Control set to 0dB |
| Insert Distortion | <0.01% THD, 20Hz-20kHz, +10dBu |
| Output Connectors | 1/4" Balanced/Unbalanced TRS Connectors |
| Output Impedance | 100Ω unbalanced, 200Ω balanced |
| Max Output | >+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load) |
| Gain Adjustment Range | -30dB to +10dB |
| Noise | <-80dBu unweighted (20Hz-20kHz); Both Gain Controls set for 0dB, all processing controls OFF |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5, -0.5dB |
| THD | <0.08%THD, 20Hz-20kHz, +10dBu, all Processing Controls OFF |
| Compressor Threshold Range | -40dBu to +20dBu |
| Compressor Threshold Characteristic | OverEasy® |
| Compressor Ratio | >4:1 For input levels beyond 20dB above threshold |
| Max Compression | 30dB |
| Compressor Attack Time | Program-Dependent; >1s for small level increases, down to 10ms for larage increases |
| Compressor Release Time | Program-Dependent; adjustable between approximately 1dB/sec and 75dB/sec |
| Compressor Distortion | Typically <0.05%THD, 20Hz-20kHz, 15dB G/R, +10dBu Output, DENSITY @ 0 |
| IMD | SMPTE: <0.05%; 60Hz/7kHz 4:1, 15dB G/R, +10dBu Output Level, DENSITY @ 0 |
| De-esser Characteristic | Wideband Gain Reduction |
| De-esser Frequency Range | 800Hz to 10kHz High Pass, 12dB/octave |
| De-esser Release Time | 12dB/octave Program-Dependent; approximately 1mS/dB |
| Enhancer HF Detail Characteristic | Program-controlled shelving equalizer, approximately 15dB maximum HF boost |
| Enhancer LF Detail Characteristic | Bell-shaped boost @ 80Hz, bell-shaped cut @250Hz, ratio is approximately 2:1 |
| Expander/Gate Threshold Range | OFF to +15dBu |
| Expander/Gate Ratio | Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1 |
| Expander/Gate Max Depth | >50dB |
| Expander/Gate Attack Time | Program-Dependent, approximately 2mS (at maximum attenuation) |
| 286s | 266xs | |
|---|---|---|
| Input Connectors | (line) Floating balanced, TIP Hot | 1/4" TRS and female XLR (pin 2 hot) |
| Input Impedance | (line) 10kΩ unbalanced, 20kΩ balanced | 40kΩ balanced/unbalanced |
| Max Input | (line) >+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced | >+22dBu Balanced or Unbalanced |
| Output Connectors | 1/4" Balanced/Unbalanced TRS Connectors | 1/4" TRS, male XLR (pin 2 hot) |
| Output Impedance | 100Ω unbalanced, 200Ω balanced | +4dBu: 100Ω balanced, 50Ω unbalanced; -10dBu: 1kΩ balanced, 500Ω unbalanced |
| Max Output | >+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load) | >+21dBu balanced/unbalanced into 2kΩ or greater; >+18dBm balanced/unbalanced (into 600Ω) |
| Compressor Threshold Range | -40dBu to +20dBu | -40dBu to +20dBu |
| Compressor Threshold Characteristic | OverEasy® | Selectable OverEasy® or hard knee |
| Compressor Ratio | >4:1 For input levels beyond 20dB above threshold | 1:1 to Infinity:1 |
| Compressor Attack Time | Program-Dependent; >1s for small level increases, down to 10ms for larage increases | Scalable Program-Dependent AutoDynamic™ |
| Compressor Release Time | Program-Dependent; adjustable between approximately 1dB/sec and 75dB/sec | Scalable Program-Dependent AutoDynamic™ |
| Expander/Gate Threshold Range | OFF to +15dBu | -60dBu to +15dBu |
| Expander/Gate Ratio | Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1 | 1:1 to 4:1 |
| Expander/Gate Attack Time | Program-Dependent, approximately 2mS (at maximum attenuation) | <100µs |
FOR DESIGNERS AND INSTALLERS
Downloads
- ZIP286s CAD drawing frontZIP · 166 KB · updated: Apr 2026
- ZIP286s CAD drawing rearZIP · 208 KB · updated: Apr 2026
- PDF286s Cut Sheet-EnglishPDF · 1.42 MB · updated: Apr 2026
- PDF286s Owner's Manual-EnglishPDF · 2.01 MB · updated: Apr 2026
- PDF286s Owner's Manual-FrenchPDF · 706 KB · updated: Apr 2026
- PDF286s Owner's Manual-SpanishPDF · 962 KB · updated: Apr 2026
dbx's own files, opened here on the KYAF site.

286s
Microphone Pre-amp Processor
DESIGN
Everything at the back of the box.

FEATURES
What the 286s brings.

The dbx® 286s is a full featured Channel Strip Processor that delivers a studio quality microphone/instrument preamplifier and four processors that can be used independently or in any combination. Why mic up vocals and instruments through a noisy, blurry mixer? The sonically pristine dbx 286s Mic Preamp has all the features you need, including wide-ranging input gain control, switchable +48V phantom power, and an 80Hz high-pass filter to remove low frequency hum, rumble or wind. Use the patented dbx OverEasy® compressor to transparently smooth out uneven acoustic tracks or deliver that classic "in your face" vocal performance that only a dbx compressor can. Eliminate vocal sibilance and high frequency distortion from instruments such as cymbals with the frequency tunable De-Esser. Fine-tune the Enhancer HF Detail control to add sparkle and crispness to your tracks and make adjustments to the LF Detail control to add fullness and depth to vocals and bass instruments while cleaning up the muddy low midrange frequencies. And, the separate threshold and ratio controls on the Expander/Gate allow you to subtly reduce headphone leakage or radically gate noisy guitar amps.
The dbx 286s offers a full compliment of metering and status LEDs to visually guide you to achieving the right sound. The floating balanced XLR Mic Input accepts balanced or unbalanced inputs to easily connect to professional and home studio microphones. The additional 1/4" TRS Line Input can accept balanced/unbalanced signals to process live electronic instruments or pre-recorded tracks at mixdown. Use the Insert jack to interface between the Mic Preamp and the signal processing sections to "loop out" to external processors (such as EQ or delay unit) or to mix the Mic Preamp's signal out to an external destination.
WHERE IT WORKS
Applications
PLANNING A 286S SYSTEM?
Tell us the room. We'll size the system.
Send the space, the audience and the budget. A KYAF engineer will work out what you need and quote it delivered in Pakistan.
DBX PROFESSIONAL
286s





