Extensive compressor reviews and FAQ

My top picks so far:
 
• If you need something cheap, the best ones in my opinion are the DOD Milk Box, Boss LMB-3, and Line 6 Constrictor, pretty much in that order. Also the first edition of the BBE Opto Stomp was really good (don't buy the mustache one). Others that are pretty good for the price include the Biyang CO-8, Moen Uni-Comp, Alesis Nanocomp and Microlimiter, Ibanez BP5, Guyatone ST2, dbx 163X, Behringer DC9, and ART Levelar. And if you want a DIY project, the BYOC Optical kit is a very good value.
 
• If you want something a little better than those, but still not expensive, the VFE White Horse, Seymour Duncan Double Back, Carl Martin Classic Opto, Barge RC-3, and modded Boss CS-3 all provide a lot of bang for your money.
 
• The top tier pedals that I'd recommend to most people combine ease of use with great tone and low noise: the Diamond BCP-1, MXR Bass Comp, FEA SMX, Empress, Maxon CP9Pro+, Rothwell Love Squeeze, Effectrode PC-2A, Mad Prof Forest Green, Dedalo Gorila, Taurus Tux, and Aguilar TLC. If your tastes are more exotic or particular, the Markbass Compressore, Durham Sex Drive, Frantone Sandwich, Carl Martin Comp-Limiter, OKKO Coca, Telenordia TK-23, FEA Comp-Limiter or OPTI-FET, Joemeek FloorQ, and Menatone J.A.C are also very much worth your attention.
 
• For rackmount, the Rane DC24, dbx 160X/XT and 166, Ashly CLX/DPX series, Symetrix 501, Aphex 661/651, JBL 7110, and FMR PBC-6A are all excellent. They each have unique qualities that make it hard to pick one "best" one.
 
• Tube compressors: my favorites are the Effectrode PC-2A, CAE V-Comp, Retrospec Squeezebox, and Markbass Compressore. Read this article for more info about tube comps.
 
• What do I use personally? Lately it's all FEA: the Opti-FET for warm, smooth tones, and the Dual-Band for crisp, cutting tones. Other personal favorites include the Empress, Markbass Compressore, Diamond BCP-1, Aphex 651, Retrospec Squeezebox, Frantone Sandwich, Durham Sex Drive, ADK CLA-1, and Effectrode PC-2A.
 
• Limiters: the Rane DC24, Valley People Dynamite, Aphex 661/651, MXR Bass Comp, Maxon CP9 Pro+, Pigtronix Philosopher, Alesis MicroLimiter, Guyatone BL2, Boss LMB-3, various Joemeek models, Markbass, Demeter Compulator, FEA Comp-Limiter, Menatone J.A.C, Ashly DPX/CLX/CL series, Aguilar TLC, and Symetrix 501 all do a pretty good job of cleanly limiting big signal peaks, although the only ones I'd call "really great" at limiting are the Aguilar, MXR Bass, Aphex 651/661, and Ashly DPX/CLX.

 
 
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