DBX History, Could use advice

[Mako20ft]

Hi all,

Saw this and I'm tempted. He's showing the guts so would anyone comment on the quality or have an opinion of DBX in general?

http://cgi.ebay.com/dbx-BX-3-POWER-AMPLIFI...1QQcmdZViewItem

Dutch

This post has been edited by Mako20ft on May 16, 2008 08:34 am

[rroobbcc]

This is a mid- to late-80's power amplifier. The interesting thing about it is that it is a four channel design, but the few people I knew that had them usually used them in the bridged stereo configuration (i.e. 4 channels bridged in pairs to make a 2 channel amp). There was a Mk.II version of this amplifier that came out in very end of 80's/early 90's, which upped the power in bridge stereo to 400w/ch @8ohms. There buttons were also a bit different on the Mk.II, otherwise the two were identical.

I have never heard this original BX-3, however a friend of mine in the early 90's had a BX-3 Mk.II driving a pair of JBL 250ti Limited Editions (the piano black laquer version) I must admit that most of my attention was focused on the pure presence of the JBLs, so I really don't remember how the system sounded. However, just the fact that the DBX was deemed worthy enough to co-exist with the 250ti LEs say a lot.

I personnally wouldn't hesitate to pick one of these amps up if the price was right. IMO "right" means up to $325 for the original BX-3, and up to $400 for the Mk.II. As I said I don't really have a lot of experience with this amp, but I feel good enough about its reputation with the few I know who have owned one, that I am willing to take that chance.

BTW, this amplifier NEVER sold anywhere close the $2500 claimed by the seller. IIRC it cost in the same range as an Adcom GFA-585, or Onkyo Grand Integra M-508, maybe a little less.

Rob

[emaidel]

As I worked for dbx in the late 80's, and have posted so on this site many times, I suspect some are wondering why I haven't had anything to say about this amp. The truth is that the amp was sold after I left the company, but its lineage is interesting.

The dbx BX-1 was a "configurable" amp, meaning it could be used in 4, 3 or 2 channel modes of operation, and was a monster weighing in at close to 98 (!!) pounds. It was built in the Newton, MA plant in America, and had a preposterous retail of $3,700. While intended to be the very best amp dbx engineers could possibly design, it was fraught with problems (notably a horribly loud "crack" each time it was turned on that fried many a retailer's computer system), and poor reliability. It, and several of its lesser companions under the "Audio Dynamics" brand were part of the reasons for dbx's downfall, and sale to CTI.

The BX-3 was made in Japan, likely by Kyocera (a frequent supplier of dbx product), and distributed after CTI (Carillon Technology Inc.) purchased the company. Like its big brother, it was a sales and marketing catastrophe, but, I believe, at least a more reliable unit.

CTI didn't hang on to the dbx name for long. It purposely sank the dbx Soundfield speaker business (selling a phony so-called "Soundfield" V to DAK industries), and completely abandoned the dbx consumer business. Eventually, it sold the dbx professional line (the most profitable in the company's history) to Harman International.

[Mako20ft]

Just under $380 shipped to my door...I dropped out when it crossed the $300 line. Too much for an experiment but I'll continue to look as the power seems undervalued.