Do I need a Dynamic Range expander ?I

[ALTEC9846-8A]

I have an old Dbx118 dynamic range enhancer that I brought a long time ago. I used it with records because in those days the dynamic range of records were compressed to get the max number of grooves per LP. I now have a CD player and am wondering if the dynamic range of CDs are compressed?Do not get this mixed up with compressing the file size. I think these are two diferent things.If anyone knows if I still should use this unit please let me know. Thanks

[loach71]

I have an old Dbx118 dynamic range enhancer that I brought a long time ago. I used it with records because in those days the dynamic range of records were compressed to get the max number of grooves per LP. I now have a CD player and am wondering if the dynamic range of CDs are compressed?Do not get this mixed up with compressing the file size. I think these are two diferent things.If anyone knows if I still should use this unit please let me know. Thanks

Some CDs are horribly compressed -- seach for "CD Volume Wars" for more information. I'd keep the unit -- it has a compression threshold / level setting that you can adust to suit your taste...

[Rolf]

I have an old Dbx118 dynamic range enhancer that I brought a long time ago. I used it with records because in those days the dynamic range of records were compressed to get the max number of grooves per LP. I now have a CD player and am wondering if the dynamic range of CDs are compressed?Do not get this mixed up with compressing the file size. I think these are two diferent things.If anyone knows if I still should use this unit please let me know. Thanks

Hi. You don't need the Dbx. If you buy well recorded CD's all the dynamic is there ... that is if you have a good CD player/Pre/Power etc .. etc.

I had a Dbx unit once, (don't know if it is the same), and I can remember it was "breathing", and did worse to the music than good.

[duaneage]

I've owned a 3 band dbx compressor/expandor for over 20 years. Love it. You need at least a 3 band unit to get good results, and you can't overdo the effect or it pumps too much.

CD's usually don't need much help but onder recordings can benefit from a little expansion since they squeezed them a bit back in the day to overcome tape hiss. Like anything else YMMV and it depends on what you listen to.

[toddalin]

I also have a dBx 118 and used to use it mainly with vinyl, making tapes, and even just a little on CDs. But, the new Yammie (RX-Z9) has three levels of expansion/compression built in that perform these chores in the digital realm so like my 31-band eq units (also done in the digital realm now), this was relegated to "closet duty." Maybe your current processor also includes some form of expansion?