by Jerry Vigil
With all the multi-effects processors and multi-dynamics processors on the market, it's difficult sometimes to find one good piece of gear that will handle one small but important task for you. If that task calls for a simple but clean and effective stereo compressor/limiter, the Symetrix SX208 is worth looking into.
The SX208 is part of the Symetrix 200 series of half-rack boxes which includes the SX201 Parametric EQ/Preamp, the SX202 Dual Microphone Preamp, the SX203 Telephone Interface, and the SX204 Headphone Amplifier to mention a few. Using the optional RM-2 rack shelf, any two units of the series will fit snugly into a standard 19-inch rack.
The front panel of the SX208 looks simple, and that's the best word to use to describe the unit's operation. There is no threshold control; that's fixed at -10dB. There are no attack and release time controls; those times are program controlled. What you're left with on the front panel are three knobs and two buttons plus a few LED's.
The first button on the left is a bypass switch. Next to it are three LED's that indicate whether the signal is above or below the fixed, internal threshold. So, instead of adjusting a threshold level, you simply adjust the INPUT GAIN knob and raise or lower the input signal level until the peaks of the input illuminate the "Above Threshold" LED.
To the right of the INPUT GAIN control is the RATIO control. The range is 1:1 to 20:1. To the right of this knob is the RESPONSE button. Though attack and release times are internally program controlled, this "Fast/Slow" switch works in conjunction with the program controlled circuitry to adapt the unit to various signal types. To the right of this switch is the OUTPUT GAIN control which is used to make up the gain lost by adding compression if you need more signal for the next part of the chain. The output gain is variable from -20dB to +20dB. Finally, gain reduction can be measured with the five-LED meter on the far right, and one "Clip" LED alerts you to an overload at the input or the output of the unit.
On the back panel you get ¼-inch TSR jacks -- two for the left and right channel inputs and two for the left and right channel outputs. The TSR (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) configuration allows for balanced ins and outs, or you may wire your ¼-inch plugs in a TS manner for use in an unbalanced setup.
Is the unit quiet? Yes. The noise floor is at -92dBv. THD at 1k is .03%. The dynamic range is 110dB. Does it do the job? Yes, if all you're looking for is clean, stereo compression and limiting. Is it affordable? You can't find many stereo compressor/limiters for $299. In fact, if the budget is tight, the entire 200 series line from Symetrix may please your pocket.