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DBX, Inc. was founded in 1971 by David E. Blackmer, an American audio electronics engineer, with co-founder Zaki Abdun-Nabi. The company's name derives from 'decibel expansion' and Blackmer's initials. Originally based in Massachusetts, DBX revolutionized professional audio with the invention of the dbx noise reduction system and the groundbreaking dbx 160 compressor (1976), which was the first commercially successful audio compressor to use a voltage-controlled amplifier. The company was acquired by BSR in 1979, later by AKG in the 1980s, and eventually became part of Harman International, now owned by Samsung Electronics. Currently headquartered at 8500 Balboa Blvd., Northridge, CA, DBX operates as a premier brand under HARMAN Professional Solutions. The company specializes in professional audio equipment including the DriveRack® series loudspeaker management systems, equalizers, compressors, direct boxes, and zone controllers. DBX products are used globally in venues from houses of worship to major world tours.