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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Bob Faulkner on May 14, 2016, 05:04:48 PM
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Been using the dbx-260 for many years. It's done very well and has some good features. Been considering moving to the Venue 360; looks like it has a more intuitive user interface (on the unit itself) as compared to the 260.
Is the Venue 360 an "upgrade" to the 260 (they appear to be fairly identical)?
Is the front control panel easier to use on the Venue 360 compared to the 260?
I'm looking for more intuitive control over the crossover (and management) of the system. We use a few different FOH speakers (depending on the event), and we also may use the facility speakers, or the band's speakers at events - of which we tie our FOH system (crossover, EQ, compression), etc...) into these "guest" systems. I'm looking for a more efficient way of setting up the crossover, etc.. with only using the user interface on the control panel. The dbx-260 is fair -- is the 360 better?
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Is the Venue 360 an "upgrade" to the 260 (they appear to be fairly identical)?
I've mentioned it before, but consider the VENU360 to be the "next generation" driverack. Nice interface and quicker system setup, IMHO.
Dave
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I've mentioned it before, but consider the VENU360 to be the "next generation" driverack. Nice interface and quicker system setup, IMHO.
Dave
Do you know if there is a way to port your 260 settings to the 360?
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Do you know if there is a way to port your 260 settings to the 360?
What problem do you want to solve with several hundred dollars?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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Been using the dbx-260 for many years. It's done very well and has some good features. Been considering moving to the Venue 360; looks like it has a more intuitive user interface (on the unit itself) as compared to the 260.
Is the Venue 360 an "upgrade" to the 260 (they appear to be fairly identical)?
Is the front control panel easier to use on the Venue 360 compared to the 260?
I'm looking for more intuitive control over the crossover (and management) of the system. We use a few different FOH speakers (depending on the event), and we also may use the facility speakers, or the band's speakers at events - of which we tie our FOH system (crossover, EQ, compression), etc...) into these "guest" systems. I'm looking for a more efficient way of setting up the crossover, etc.. with only using the user interface on the control panel. The dbx-260 is fair -- is the 360 better?
The 360 has 3 inputs which will allow you to do aux fed subs
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What problem do you want to solve with several hundred dollars?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I don’t understand your reply to my post. I work with a company that one of the DSPs it has is a Driverack 260 that gets used for events in some venues. It has settings in it to use in those venues. They recently added a Driverack 360 and since it might replace the 260 at times. It would be nice to load it up with the 260 settings that we have come up with for all of those venues. It would at least be a configuration starting point if the 2 devices sound that different. I don’t think this is an unreasonable question to ask if a company’s new device can import the setting from its older device that is basically an upgraded device.
I am very familiar with the 260 and I powered up the 360 and looked at the on screen menus and I didn’t find it to be as easy as the 260. But that is probably because I am pretty familiar with the 260. But actually I am more familiar with the DR4800 that I use a lot more. I will have to play with it a bit to see what I really think about it.
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Kevin, you might try a phone call to dbx in Utah and ask.
I'm pretty sure you can't use the same preset file, I'm 100% certain a "device" file (in HiQnet-speak) will not work. The big question is transfer function - can you use the same numeric parameter values and get the same TF result.
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I just downloaded the DR 360 windows program. I don’t think it is up to the same standards as the Driveware software for the 260. I sure hope this thing sounds more like the 4800 then the 260 though.
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I just downloaded the DR 360 windows program. I don’t think it is up to the same standards as the Driveware software for the 260. I sure hope this thing sounds more like the 4800 then the 260 though.
Hi Kevin;
I am very interested in your findings on this front. I have half a dozen 260's and a couple of 4800's. I have looked pretty hard at the 360 but haven't driven one yet.
Being a Utah boy when I saw the made in China on the 360 box I was turned away but if it's good product I will likely end up with some.
Please share you observations.
Thank you sir,
Barry.
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I've mentioned it before, but consider the VENU360 to be the "next generation" driverack. Nice interface and quicker system setup, IMHO.
Dave
Sounds good. Maybe what I'm looking for.
The 360 has 3 inputs which will allow you to do aux fed subs
Saw the 3rd input. I rarely do aux fed subs, but this may make it easier to do.
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I just downloaded the DR 360 windows program. I don’t think it is up to the same standards as the Driveware software for the 260. I sure hope this thing sounds more like the 4800 then the 260 though.
It doesn't.
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It doesn't.
Is it better than the 260 at least? Do you like the 360 or not and how does it sound compared to the 260 or 4800?
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Do you know if there is a way to port your 260 settings to the 360?
Took a quick look at the owners manual and I don't see any mention of that. My guess is that the two units accomplish things in different ways and that customized settings files wouldn't transfer.
Dave
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Took a quick look at the owners manual and I don't see any mention of that. My guess is that the two units accomplish things in different ways and that customized settings files wouldn't transfer.
Dave
(That I could tell) not only that, but transferring programs via email or USB drives is not possible. I like the 360. At least as good sonically as the 260, but more powerful.
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Kev
Is it better than the 260 at least? Do you like the 360 or not and how does it sound compared to the 260 or 4800?
Kevin,
The 360 does in fact have better features and is a more capable DSP than the 260. One of those features is the ability to support the newer line of JBLs cabinets. However, you can't move presets from a 260 to a 360, or can you move presets from either of those over to a 4800, or 4820. Your best bet with either is to visit the JBL site and download the latest speaker tunings for the product you have.
The 4800 and it's sibling the 4820 are still considered dbx top of the line processors, even though the 4800 is no longer manufactured. To be more specific, according to my mole at dbx the 4800 production was stopped solely because the color display became redundant with the influx of remote control via laptops and other devices. There is no difference in features or capability. And as far as I have been told there are no current replacements for the 4820 on the immediate horizon.
The question of sound quality is subjective of course, but I can certainly say that there was a big difference in sound between the 260's I owned, the 480's I've owned, and the 4800. No comparison, hands down. I've worked with the 360 and for it's cost I would place it very high on the low cost DSP list. They're a very well made DSP with plenty of horsepower, and plenty of files available for not only JBL and Crown products, but for other manufacturers as well.
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Kevin,
The 360 does in fact have better features and is a more capable DSP than the 260. One of those features is the ability to support the newer line of JBLs cabinets. However, you can't move presets from a 260 to a 360, or can you move presets from either of those over to a 4800, or 4820. Your best bet with either is to visit the JBL site and download the latest speaker tunings for the product you have.
The 4800 and it's sibling the 4820 are still considered dbx top of the line processors, even though the 4800 is no longer manufactured. To be more specific, according to my mole at dbx the 4800 production was stopped solely because the color display became redundant with the influx of remote control via laptops and other devices. There is no difference in features or capability. And as far as I have been told there are no current replacements for the 4820 on the immediate horizon.
The question of sound quality is subjective of course, but I can certainly say that there was a big difference in sound between the 260's I owned, the 480's I've owned, and the 4800. No comparison, hands down. I've worked with the 360 and for it's cost I would place it very high on the low cost DSP list. They're a very well made DSP with plenty of horsepower, and plenty of files available for not only JBL and Crown products, but for other manufacturers as well.
Great info. Thanks Bob.
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Kevin,
The 360 does in fact have better features and is a more capable DSP than the 260. One of those features is the ability to support the newer line of JBLs cabinets. However, you can't move presets from a 260 to a 360, or can you move presets from either of those over to a 4800, or 4820. Your best bet with either is to visit the JBL site and download the latest speaker tunings for the product you have.
The 4800 and it's sibling the 4820 are still considered dbx top of the line processors, even though the 4800 is no longer manufactured. To be more specific, according to my mole at dbx the 4800 production was stopped solely because the color display became redundant with the influx of remote control via laptops and other devices. There is no difference in features or capability. And as far as I have been told there are no current replacements for the 4820 on the immediate horizon.
The question of sound quality is subjective of course, but I can certainly say that there was a big difference in sound between the 260's I owned, the 480's I've owned, and the 4800. No comparison, hands down. I've worked with the 360 and for it's cost I would place it very high on the low cost DSP list. They're a very well made DSP with plenty of horsepower, and plenty of files available for not only JBL and Crown products, but for other manufacturers as well.
Thank you very much for that information. I usually get to choose which DSP I work with so I will probably stay with the 4800 for the jobs I do as I have been for a while now. I will probably be asked at some point to get the settings into the 360 so I guess it will just take some time to replicate them. I will do it manually and then probably use SMAART to make them match as close as I can.
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The 360 also has AES/EBU inputs for 5? channels.
This lets me stay digital from my SC Performer, through the Mini stagebox to the 360.
I also frees up all eight of the SB analog outs for monitors.
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Venue 360 > Dbx 260
It was like night and day on my system...
Control wise the routing is a little different so you will have to get used to the difference between the two.
Only other con is that the 360 almost has to reboot anytime you do a configuration change. Means that you are without audio for a few seconds until then.
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Thanks everyone for their input.
Venue 360 > Dbx 260
It was like night and day on my system...
Control wise the routing is a little different so you will have to get used to the difference between the two.
Only other con is that the 360 almost has to reboot anytime you do a configuration change. Means that you are without audio for a few seconds until then.
Interesting... so, if I make a xover change (i.e. sweep up or down on a low-pass), during a live show, and save the change, the audio will mute till the change is saved?
Any experience on the muting while switching to another saved setting during a live show?
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No simple crossover changes and the like are fine. But say if you move the GEQ from pre input to post output then there is a small reboot needed. Normal slope changes, eq changes, delay etc are not affected..
I do believe storing a setting has the name behavior (small mute of outputs) which is fundamentally different from how the 260 works..
This maybe changed in future updates however currently using the latest firmware this is what happens..
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No simple crossover changes and the like are fine. But say if you move the GEQ from pre input to post output then there is a small reboot needed. Normal slope changes, eq changes, delay etc are not affected..
I do believe storing a setting has the name behavior (small mute of outputs) which is fundamentally different from how the 260 works..
This maybe changed in future updates however currently using the latest firmware this is what happens..
Thanks for the follow up.
The muting concerns me, though, a protocol change in how we use the driverack unit could possibly make it work.
What's the firmware version you are currently using?
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v2.0.2.0