Filter
Top Products
BY DAVID RITTENHOUSE
A
few years ago, I reviewed the
DriveRack 480, so in turn I will
review the new flagship for dbx,
the 4800. The 480 was a great
unit breaking new ground for dbx; but has
dbx changed and fixed some of its limita-
tions? The bigger question here is, as
most manufacturers tend to update their
products from year to year, has dbx actu-
ally improved on their product or just put
it in a prettier box? Can the 4800 turn
heads and budgets like its predecessor?
Let’s find out what the hype is all about.
FEATURES
The 4800 ($4,999) starts off with a
new, powerful 96 kHz DSP (which is
switchable down to 48 kHz) engine. Dbx
has kept the standard configuration of
four inputs to eight outputs found on the
480 and from other competitors. These
are improved upon by adding fully digital
ins and outs via AES/EBU XLR connec-
tivity. You can also order the 4800 with
the optional CobraNet if desired. One of
the hippest new features is the QVGA
display that shows, in color, all the rout-
ing and processing in the signal chain.
This, along with the new accessibility
brought on by the integration of the
HiQnet/System Architect, allows full
labeling of all in and outs. No more chart
sheets of program numbers and which
output does what; it is all right on the
screen in front of you. New to the 4800 is
an output gain control knob on the face of
the unit below each output meter. This
knob also doubles as the mute for its out-
put with a lighted ring denoting red for
mute and green for on.
Within the 96 kHz DSP you have full
band-pass filters, plus crossover and rout-
ing configurations with Bessel,
Butterworth, and Linkwitz-Riley filters.
Every input also has a 31-band graphic
and a nine-band parametric EQ. You also
have two selectable insert points per input
and output for dynamics processing such
as the classic dbx compression and limit-
ing, noise gates, de-essers, AutoWarmth
(dbx says – ‘AutoWarmth is a dynamic
enhancement designed to compensate for
the ears’ loss in low frequency response
as the signal level decreases’), subhar-
monic synthesis and advanced feedback
suppression. Dynamic range has been
rated at 113 dB A-weighted, with a fre-
quency response of <10 Hz –50 kHz (+0/-
3 dB at 96 kHz). Available input delay is
selectable up to 682 ms, and output delay
is selectable up to a total of 1,365 ms
(shared between the outputs).
Controlling the DriveRack 4800 is
quite a bit different than the old 480. Dbx
no longer offers the remote like they did
with the 480R, but it can now be con-
trolled via Ethernet (HiQnet) to your own
tablet PC. You can even go wireless by
using a wireless router. The use of
HiQnet/System Architect also allows
access to other units like Crown I-Tech
series amps. All of this is now integrated
and controlled at your fingertips (tablet
pen) for your entire system.
IN USE
The 4800 has been with me for months
now. It was only supposed to be on loan
for a couple of shows but I could not let it
leave. I have taken it out on everything
from gospel acts to Baltimore Symphony
Orchestra performances. It functions in a
much more logical way than the old 480,
with control and accessibility features
that are unrivaled. The ability to control
the entire system wirelessly is great for
when you have a multi-zoned set-up. You
can walk into the zone mute, un-mute and
EQ for that zone instantaneously. I say
instantaneously but when working from
the wireless Ethernet there can be some
lag so for show time application it is good
to revert back to a hardwired set-up.
One of the most improved features is
the speaker processing and pre-EQ func-
tions. Rivaling the old 480, on which you
could run out of filters or have filters that
were not variable, all of your processing
needs are taken care of by the new 4800.
What this means is you can accurately
match the manufacturer’s specs for each
speaker, including driver alignment
delays. So your system can now sound
like it was meant to out of the box.
The addition of the HiQnet/System
Architect control protocol is fabulous. You
can now, in real time, fully integrate your
entire system. No more multiple programs
running on your laptop (e.g. one for the
Contracting
dbx DriveRack 4800
Fast Facts
■
Applications:
Live sound, sound reinforcement,
installation
■
Key Features:
Four in/eight out; 96 kHz; onboard
DSP; Ethernet HiQnet/System
Architect control
■
Price:
$4,999
■
Contact:
dbx at 801-568-7660,
www.drive-rack.com, www.dbxpro.com.
continued on page 12
➤
10 Pro Audio Review – July 2006
Now, it is great to talk about the control and
functional ease of the 4800; but how does it
sound? Well, in a word, great!