Pro VLA II : A good bedget compressor

It's one big fault is that it doesn't hold the stereo image correctly in linked mode because the Vactrols are poorly matched. This results on my unit in a few degrees of skew from right to left and back to right again across the throw of the threshold. An irritation rather than a deal breaker but does require subtle adjustment of the Balance control when used in stereo linked mode.

That said, it has a beautiful volatile tube presence that when used as a hardware plug breathes life into the most cardboard digital synth soun or samples and has a real character. My main use is to front load and level hardware synths upwind of digital conversion.

I love mine so much I rolled the tubes for NOS Mullards and it's even lovelier. Requires a bit of work to get the best of out it but its best is astonishingly good for the cheap price.

I'm keeping mine.