Symetrix 528e

[Dale]

I have read a few reviews on this strip. Does anyone have experience with this model? What are your thoughts, "the good, the bad, and the ugly"?
D

[soundgun]

I think it's OK, but not the quietest thing I've used. It doesn't have a high pass filter, which I think is crucial for most home studios. The noise gate is OK, but not as good as the dbx 286, which for the money I think is a much better buy.

[Jacoby]

No personal experience (with either), but from what I've read, unless you're going for something specific with the Symetrix, the dbx is easier to work with and does a great job for less cash.

But, do you need all those features? Helluvalotta setings to f*** up. As a broadcast tool, great. For VO... not a big fan of lots of knobs. If you need to add anything, why not do it in post, where everything can be undone, a trillion different presets for different types of jobs can be created and you'll always have the raw, unprocessed audio to begin with. I have an old dbx 266 I use for radio, and I absolutely hate it. For VO I have a Danfield MX10 with two knobs: Gain and output. That's all. Gives me a great, unprocesseed sound I can mess up however I feel like... if I want to. I usually don't.

[Dale]

George and Jacoby,

Thank you for your replies. Your opinions are very much appreciated, definitely two that I seek your posted advice.

George, I was corresponding with a lady that you recently assisted in dialing in her Symetrix and RE20 for audiobook recording. Through her, I began researching the 528e strip. The other day I got a chance to get one... well actually two.

I just picked up two of the Symetrix 528e(s) and one dbx 266XL from a guy who bought them in an auction, history unknown. In fact, he did not know if they worked. I also bought them blind and brought them home. (You are now wondering- has he been out in the sun too long? My cost to gamble was insane... And he knew what he was selling me! I caught him cleaning his garage and he was tired of storing them.)

I get them to the workbench, one of the 528e fired up, and I had doubts about the other one. It was missing the cover and was opened top. Someone had opened the hood and lost the cover and screws. I powered it up and it doesn't want to play with me. After a little investigating, I find the mic/line switch contacts are not mating. A little contact cleaner on all of the switches and I have two operational 528e(s). Now, I need to find a cover.

Other than some noticeable rack rash, the 266XL worked perfectly. Jacoby, tell me more about your 266 experience, if you don't mind me inquiring.

Thanks again for your wisdom.
Adios from the Po' farm,
Dale

[Jacoby]

Jacoby, tell me more about your 266 experience, if you don't mind me inquiring.

The 266 I have is really old. It's not the newer "XL" version like yours. Mine is called "Project 1" and looks like this:
266project1.jpg

I think it dates mid 90's or so.
The compressor is anything but subtle; never been able to control it the way I want it, and I've had it for about eight years or so. The expander/gate... meh. Only useful in an almost quiet room anyway, so what's the point.
The only reason I still use it is to avoid having to process my voiceovers for the radioshow in post; it saves time. When I had my old phone patch the output went though channel two, but I use Skype these days.

I don't know if (and in that case, how) they perfected the "XL" but this model (266 in general) has always been one of dbx's most embarrasing moments, I think :) Like the cheap stuff from Alesis and Behringer, I guess.
Funny... it is priced for newbies, but newbies won't ever be able to work it properly.

You've propably already noticed, but it's not a "strip" like the Symetrix, as it lacks a preamp. Good thing though, if it had one, it would arguably have been terrible, too :-D

[Dale]

You've propably already noticed, but it's not a "strip" like the Symetrix, as it lacks a preamp. Good thing though, if it had one, it would arguably have been terrible, too :-D

Well this one is going to find a new home. There is some indie-rocker out there that needs this worse than me. In fact, it has been posted on Craigslist for just a little over 10 hours and someone wants to take it home. :-)

[Jacoby]

Great! I'm sure it's great with most things other than VO ;-)

[Dave_Wallace]

I'm afraid I can't contribute much beyond what has already been said...but for however little it may be worth, I use the 286a, and it's a GREAT preamp! Are there better ones out there? Yeah, sure there are, but considering how good a job the 286a does, I think it's very under-priced...not that I'm complaining. :)

[Dale]

Thanks for the input BP.
I have had the 286 on my radar for a while, after hearing recordings like yours and others who use the DBX. I plan to pick one up as my next purchase. I posted earlier for feedback on the new 286"s" model. You guys have sold me on the 286a-model.

This Symetrix 528e is pretty slick with the six processes and rear patch points that allows re-ordering of the processes. But as Jacob said it has a "Helluvalotta settings" to mess up.
Dale

If I can find another 528 for parts, I need a top cover. Then, I would have a couple to sell or trade for a 286.