Extensive compressor reviews and FAQ

Aphex 651: This is the predecessor of their 661 model; the primary difference is that the 661 includes a tube gain stage and the older 651 has no tube. The audible difference is small, however. The tube in the 661 may add a bit of subtle richness to the signal, but the 661 is known more for transparency than coloration; the 651 is even a little more transparent yet- possibly the most transparent compressor I've heard. Playing through it I do not lose any of the subtle nuances of tone or texture that some other compressors may dampen or muddy up, especially with the HFX expander dialed in. One other difference is that the 651 does not run hot, so it is much more suited to use in a gig rack with minimal ventilation. For effective limiting, smooth natural compression, and transparency of sound there is pretty much nothing better available. There is a company called Audio Upgrades which will replace a number of components for even lower noise and better fidelity; I intend to send this one off to them for the mods and report back in this review how much of an audible improvement was achieved.
 

 
 
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