COMP-554 MKII
500-Series 2254-Style Compressor
US Price: $429
The Comp-554 mkII is a single-channel vintage style compressor for the 500-series format.
Its class-A circuit is inspired is inspired by the classic 2254 compressor that debuted in 1969. It quickly became legendary due to its unique sonic character; rich, warm, smooth, and downright musical.
We fit a ton of features into the Comp-554 mkII’s small 500-series frame. You get three flexible sidechain options; Internal, Insert and External, and three sidechain filter frequencies to prevent low-end information from triggering the compression. There’s a built-in stereo link option for running two Comp-554 mkIIs as a matched pair, ideal for drum overheads.
You also get tone-shaping options not commonly found in a compressor, including two-selectable Air EQ bands and two output termination options for different tone colors.
The 2254 has been a key factor in the sound of countless recordings for over fifty years for good reason—it’s a strikingly versatile tool that works across many instruments and any genre. Comp-554 is built the old-fashioned way to capture the same vintage vibe. Its signal path uses only discrete components; resistors, capacitors and transistors—no cheap ICs allowed! The input and output are transformer-balanced for low noise; the unit also uses a third interstage transformer.
Features
- 500-series 2254-style compressor
- Vintage-style component selection and construction. No integrated circuits in the signal path
- Transformer balanced input and output stages for low noise
- Prepared for a Carnhill transformer upgrade
- Flexible control range for Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Recovery
- Stepped controls for easy recall and stereo-matching
- Three selectable sidechain filter frequencies
- Three flexible sidechain options; Internal, Insert and External
- External sidechain I/O electronically balanced @ 4dBu
- Separate switches for hardwire bypass and compression out
- Two insert connectors for inserting the EQ-573 in the main audio and/or sidechain signal path
- Meter selectable for output (two reference levels, +4 and +12 dBu) and gain reduction
- Possibility to link two units for stereo operation
- Three position Air EQ switch, Flat, +3 or +6 dB @ 30 kHz
- Two position output termination switch for different tones
- Soft start circuit ramps up the supply voltage slowly (about 10 sec.) to avoid a power-on current surge
- Suitable for any sound source in any genre