dbx1980sDe-esserDe-Esser$Budget($50–250)
dbx 902 De-Esser
Engineers wanting a simple, dedicated hardware de-esser for vocal tracking or mixing.
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Strengths
- Dedicated single-purpose design makes it very fast and simple to tame harsh vocal sibilance
- Compact modular rack format (part of dbx's 900-series system) saves space alongside other 900-series modules
- VCA-based gain reduction is clean and doesn't noticeably color the rest of the vocal tone
Trade-offs
- Single-purpose design means it does one job only, unlike multi-band or plugin-based de-essers
- Requires the dbx 900-series rack frame to power/house it, an extra piece of infrastructure
Full Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | dbx |
| Model | 902 De-Esser |
| Era | 1980s |
| Typical Price Tier | Budget ($50–250) |
| Device Type | De-esser |
| Circuit Type | VCA, frequency-selective |
| Channels | 1 |
| EQ Bands / Ratio Range | Single-band de-ess frequency range, adjustable threshold |
| Rack Size | 1U |
| Sidechain Input | No |
A relative used-market guide, not a live quote — real prices vary by condition, region, and timing. Check the Reverb/eBay links on any item for current listings.
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Match Score Explorer
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This deckdbx 902 De-Esser
Match60
Flexibility40
Ease of Maintenance60
Ease of Use78
Tonal Neutrality60
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Maintenance & Supplies
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