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dbx 580 500 Series Microphone Preamp

500 Series Mic/Instrument Preamp with 20dB Pad, Low Cut Filter, High/Low Detail EQ, Polarity Invert, +48V Phantom Power, and VU Meter
4 Write review Item ID: 580
$340.00

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580 Mic Preamp and 560a Compressor/Limiter 500 Series Bundle

$908.00 $884.00

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dbx 580 500 Series Microphone Preamp
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Transparent Mic and Instrument Preamp

The dbx 580 preamp module for 500 series racks has a transparent sound that lets you capture the sonic character of your microphone or instrument, not the preamp itself. Low and High Detail controls allow for subtle or extreme sound shaping, while a 20dB pad, polarity invert, phantom power, and a low-cut filter give you all the flexibility you need for any recording application. Recording engineers at Sweetwater have trusted dbx for decades because their gear performs reliably and consistently, with excellent sonic results. Add an amazingly versatile workhorse to your 500 series rack, with the dbx 580 preamp module.

Related Videos: 580 500 Series Microphone Preamp

dbx 580 Mic/Instrument Preamp 500 Series Module Features at a Glance:
  • Transparent mic and instrument preamp with 60dB of gain
  • A workhorse preamp with Low Cut, 20dB pad, polarity invert, and phantom power
  • Emphasize bass and treble frequencies with the Low Detail and High Detail controls
  • Perfect for capturing the character of your microphone or instrument, not the preamp
  • VU meter and peak indicator help you optimize your gain structure
Once you put the dbx 580 in your 500 series rack, it's likely to stay there

Additional Media

500 Series Buying Guide
Signal Processing Buying Guide

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Solid State
  • Number of Channels: 1
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • EQ: Yes
  • Analog Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
  • Module Slot Size: Single
  • Power Usage: +/- 16V DC, 80mA per power rail
  • Depth: 6"
  • Weight: 1.3 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: DBX580

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Customer Reviews

3.5 out of 5

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Solid pre

Using with sennheiser 8060 shotgun for tv voiceover. Exactly what i needed. Clean and the enhancer features are nice if used with some restraint. Classic dbx.
by St john from San Francisco on
Music background: Radio voiceover and music production

Big Surprise!!!

I have been building up my home studio and realized that I didn't have the money that I needed to get a really high quality 500 series 1073 or API 312 style mic pre. I have been a long time DBX user (compressors, graphic EQ's and Driverack for PA, do I decided to give the DBX 580 mic pre a try. I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. There is tons of headroom and it gives a very nice in your face signal without any noticeable color for distortion. The high and low detail are very musical and I find that the high detail gives a nice air without becoming too sibilant and the low fills out my voice without making it boomy or too bassy. I ended up not really using the detail controls because the preamp alone gives pretty much everything I need without it. It doesn't have the character of a Neve 1073 or an API 312, but It can stand on its own as a good clean mic pre that plays well with all types of mic's (haven't tried a ribbon through it yet), has tons of headroom and won't break the bank. A rack of these would be great for tracking a drum kit or pretty much anything else for that matter. I ended up buying a second for stereo. I still plan to get a high end, probably Neve clone, but I am really happy with the DBX. I think next I may try the 840 tube preamp.
by Susan Haynes from Patterson, CA on

ehhhhhhhh

The Detail Enable feature adds noise. So does the high pass filter. Therefore, it's simply a pre/DI with a gain knob and a VU meter. Gets the job done. ...I'm glad I bought it. Just wish the detail enable and high pass filter didn't add so much noise to the signal. They're useless in my opinion.
by Sweetwater Customer on

There are better options for less money

This thing is ok. The preamp is clean, but it does lean toward the sterile side. Turning up the high and low detail changes the phase and who knows what else and does not sound good at all. Best use those sparingly. I find my Fredenstein Artistic to be a much, MUCH better and bigger sounding preamp. For clean, the Camden 500 is night and day better, as are the extra features (MOJO is fantastic on the Camden). Ultimately, I would not recommend these preamps. I'm really not sure they'd be much better than most interfaces at this point.
by Brandon from Tennessee on
Music background: Wannabe
See also: 500 Series Pre, dbx, dbx 500 Series Preamps
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