Robert Orban said of the DBX 242:

I designed it. It was originally intended to be the next generation
Orban parametric until Harman decided that Orban was only going to be in the
broadcast business.

Click to view attachment

There were a few features removed (originally bands 1 and 5 were to be
switchable between shelving and peaking; now they're shelving only). However
the signal path is quite clean (5532's in low-gain inverting mode) and the
peaking EQs are unusual in that they are capable of deep notching (better than
-40dB), yet are reciprocal in the region of +/-16dB. (I hold a patent on that
particular circuit.) Further, the shelving EQs (bands 1 and 5) are switchable
from 6dB/octave to a quasi 12dB/octave mode, where the first 10 or 12dB or EQ
is at 12dB/octave and the EQ reverts to 6dB/octave after that. Combined with
the ability to do very deep cuts, this means that the shelving bands can also
be used as sweepable 12dB/octave lowpass and highpass filters.


The opamps in the parametric filters themselves are TL084s. While these are
reasonably good amplifiers (and are not in the main signal path), the intrepid
modifier might want to replace them with something higher-rent. (If you do, be
careful; the top shelving band might oscillate when you cut substantially
because the entire parametric filter in now in the feedback path of the main
ampifier.)


Also, unless you're worried about DC offset from whatever is driving the 242's
input, bypass the input electrolytic. It's probably the least transparent
thing in the signal path and is ordinarily not needed.

I got my DBX 242 in yesterday.

It's broken. It appears that it had problems before shipping in the form of three broken pots that were not disclosed to me.

This is one of the pitfalls of buying used gear.

hopefully its just the pots. easy enough to replace, albeit annoying.

i love my 242. besides usual eqing use, i also use it as an analog filter of sorts with soft synths.. run them out to the 242, find the LP frequency point on the 242, dial in a tight bandwith and give it a rise there to make a resonant peak. works pretty well for this. you can sweep it too...

What model of power supply do you have? I think he sent me the wrong power supply as well.

man. you got jacked!

i'll look when i get home....

Funny thing. I emailed Robert Orban asking to suggest replacement parts for the four broken pots. He blew me off and directed me to DBX.


DBX has not responded at all so far.

I've got to ask for my money back as I've got too much on my plate to waste a lot of hours hunting down the correct replacement pots.

ooops i totally forgot about this.

i can open mine up and possibly help with the part replacement as well....

Mr. DBX 242 seller hasn't answered my email about getting a refund. Hmm. DBX has not responded either. Mr. Orban, the designer, sort of flipped me the bird. I might have to ship it off to you eel for a repair job.

if its just the pots i could probably pull that off.

Have you opened it up? Any PCB cracks apparent?

Bear

Damn Steve, I hate that for you man! Hope Eel can hook you up...

War

Well, today, my wife tells me I got an envelope refunding all my money saying keep the DBX 242 as the seller can't use a broken piece of gear either.

Well, I'd use the money to fix it I suppose. Get Jim Williams to mod it for you...haha

War

I'm pretty much a purist. I'm not a mod fan. But, the Jim Williams thing is not a bad idea. I could ship it to him and ask what he could do for the amount I got on the refund. And, I'd know it'd come back in working order for sure. Interesting.

I've put it in the rack so it'll be safe. Thinking about Jim Williams... I wonder if he'd look at it.

Aprox 1 year on ...
... I have a 242 as well, I'm very interested to hear about the modifications mentioned. Did you have any mods made to your 242, and how is it today?

Nope, I have not. I am thinking of having Black Lion Audio look at it though. We'll see. I've got another one so I now have a pair.