Extensive compressor reviews and FAQ
In an attempt to make it a little easier to decide between all the compressors I recommend, I'm going to start grading them with the "Consumer Reports" style of indicating values:
= the best
= better than average
= average
= not so good
= really bad
Please understand that any grade I give like this is just a crude and subjective simplification. Also note that "average" is not bad, it's just average--typical, par for the course, similar to many others. So expect to see a lot of "average" ratings, even for very popular/good pedals. The analysis is broken down into 18 categories:
Versatility means how many different tones or compression qualities it can achieve.
Input range means how well it handles different instrument signal levels, from low/quiet to high/loud. This also covers whether the comp has a threshold or input gain control.
Ease of use can mean it has fewer knobs, or it can mean the controls are intuitive and effective without requiring a college degree in knob-tweaking.
Fatness/warmth means whether it adds those qualities to your tone--either by bumping the mids, or by adding a little soft distortion, or by emphasizing your harmonics.
Tone transparency means how little it colors your tone.
Peak limiting means how effectively it caps off big signal spikes, to protect your speakers and prevent unwanted clipping in your amp.
High freqs means either how high the frequency range goes, or how good it sounds in the upper end. Be aware that sometimes guitarists disagree with my opinion of the highs, as they often seek a lot higher and brighter tones than I do.
Low freqs is how low it goes, or how good/full/hefty it sounds in the low frequencies.
Noise is a combination of: how much noise it produces on its own; how vulnerable or resistant it is to ambient electromagnetic noise; and how much it amplifies any noise already present in your signal chain.
Squashy effect means how much squishy, funky, rubbery, dip-and-swell effect it can give you.
Clean sustain means how well it provides prominent, noticeable sustain without too much noise.
Construction means the ruggedness and quality of how it was made, and this includes both the external parts and the internal guts.
Bypass quality means how transparent the bypassed signal sounds, and how solid or well-designed is the bypass mechanism. A 3PDT "true bypass" switch, with no other anti-pop circuitry, will just get an "average" rating.
Extra functions includes either non-compression features such as overdrive or EQ, or unusual compression controls. The grade reflects how useful, well thought out, or good-sounding these features are. Most comps will just have a "-" in this space, since most do not have any extra or uncommon features.
Meters/indicators means whether there are any LED lights or "needle" VU meters that indicate how much compression is occurring, and how good or useful that metering is. If it only indicates whether your signal is over the threshold, it will get an "average" grade. Comps that have no indicators (like most pedals) will just have a "-" in the grade box.
Power convenience means how easily you can power the device with standard/common inexpensive power supplies. For pedals this means whether it takes a Boss-type barrel plug and center-negative 9VDC. If it can run on a daisy-chain supply and not have any noise/hum interference from other pedals, it will get a better-than-average rating. The only pedals that will get a grade of "the best" are the rare few that can run on multiple different types of power source. For rack units, "the best" is an internal power supply with a detachable IEC-standard power cord.
Size/weight is mostly obvious, but the amount of controls and functions in it will be taken into account. For example the BBE Opto and the FEA OptiFET are the same size, but the FEA fits in a lot more controls and functions, so it will get a better grade. The Markbass is huge, but it doesn't get "the worst" grade because it has a lot of controls, and contains a tube.
Value for the price means the "bang per buck", how much functionality or quality you get for what you pay. More than any other grading quality, this one is relative to other comps in the same price range or offering the same features. For example the DOD Milkbox and the Markbass Compressore will both get "the best" value grades; the DOD is certainly not as good of a compressor as the Markbass, but considering the DOD costs about $35 used, it's a terrific value. On the flip side, there are some really great-sounding or popular pedals that will get average or poor value grades because their prices are quite high for what you get.
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