Can a DBX 266 XL be used to protect FOH Speakers?

[TheCesar]

I was wondering if I could use this compressor as alimiter to protect the speaker. The last time I blew a speaker was about 12 years ago when I started doing the sound for our band, ever since im always extra cautious about cliping and distorsion, I've never used a compressor-limiter for our live PA .. Im looking for some extra protection for peace of mind.

Here is the Link to the info on the DBX 266xl:

http://www.dbxpro.com/en-US/products/266xl

[Grant Bunter]

That type of unit is better served for increasing gain control over FOH, as inserts over vocals or drums, and so on. If you can find out from DBX what the slope is when limiting, you may get some protection, but not a lot.

I will generalise, but normally when we discuss limiters here (for speaker protection), we are talking about "brick wall" types.
Brick wall limiters have steep slopes that prevent pretty much all content above or below that point setting (dependant on whether you're setting it as a high pass or a low pass).
It is considered mandatory here in the forum to use brick wall limiting on horn subs, and to a lesser extent, Bill's tops designs, but users of direct radiators should use them too, many don't.
With direct radiators, taking them to the edge often makes them distort, and that's an indicator to turn down.

If you want to limit for speaker protection, you need to use DSP units like:
DBX driverack series
Behringer DCX2496
BBE DS 24
as examples. Of course there are other units available from other manufacturers, like Bunker audio and so on.

Or use amps with onboard DSP, like the Crown XTI series, Behringers Inukes, the IPR series etc etc...

[escapemcp]

That type of unit is better served for increasing gain control over FOH, as inserts over vocals or drums, and so on. If you can find out from DBX what the slope is when limiting, you may get some protection, but not a lot.

I will generalise, but normally when we discuss limiters here (for speaker protection), we are talking about "brick wall" types.
Brick wall limiters have steep slopes that prevent pretty much all content above or below that point setting (dependant on whether you're setting it as a high pass or a low pass).
It is considered mandatory here in the forum to use brick wall limiting on horn subs, and to a lesser extent, Bill's tops designs, but users of direct radiators should use them too, many don't.
With direct radiators, taking them to the edge often makes them distort, and that's an indicator to turn down.

If you want to limit for speaker protection, you need to use DSP units like:
DBX driverack series
Behringer DCX2496
BBE DS 24
as examples. Of course there are other units available from other manufacturers, like Bunker audio and so on.

Or use amps with onboard DSP, like the Crown XTI series, Behringers Inukes, the IPR series etc etc...

And MiniDSP? They look like nice little units and seem to have everything on them that you need. Set and forget.

[Grant Bunter]

And MiniDSP? They look like nice little units and seem to have everything on them that you need. Set and forget.

I guess so.
Unless your running SAC (in which case you probably have all you need DSP wise anyway).
But just how many analogue users do you see carting around a puter to change MiniDSP on the fly if that may be required?
While that's becoming more commonplace, a rack unit DSP or onboard DSP in an amp is more at hand without carting even more gear.

[bmf]

If you want to use a limiter for protection that is not part of a LMS or onboard in your amps then the DBX 166XL (DBX 166XS for new version) would be much better suited than the 266. The 166 has a peakstop limiter that is independent of the compressor section for use as "brickwall" limiting. This is the last stage of the unit.