Alto Alphacomp stereo processor?

I picked up an Alesis Nanocompressor unit at an auction site for about $40. This is a stereo compressor/limiter and is not multiband but it works well for my purpose which is listening to movie audio via FM using headphones. On phones, the audio dynamic range is too much for my ears and the Nanocompressor levels the volume and gives a better balance between dialogue and music (and those stupid crashing noises in horror flicks).

I don't know how the price/features compare to the unit you found but you might want to check it out.

Neil

I saw some reference to that unit when I was searching but didn't follow it very far.

We have a couple sets of Aphex processors that I might pull out and try, but those just plain run too hot, it is a three unit stack and I don't remember everything that they do but one does compression, another does stereo enhancing, and the third is the multi band look ahead limiter. We had them on our stream for a while and they made a big difference in the low bit rate windows media compression we were using at the time. All that went into storage when I got the Orban Optimod 1100 PC card.

I haven't found any decent DIY devices yet either, I would much rather build something than have it just fall in my lap, though I may contact a guy I know at Orban and see if they have any old analog multiband compressors kicking around that they want to get rid of. Never know what might happen until you ask.

For good or for bad I just ordered the Alphacomp from Front End Audio for $60 shipped (save10 coupon gave me almost free shipping). Hopefully it will be good enough.

Truly DREADFUL!!! None of the settings really seem to do much in the way of compression. The input clips way too early, and last and most importantly is the high frequency whine that is present when the processed is switched in, in bypass it is clean. I hope I can get a refund.

Any and all user reports are very much welcome and appreciated!

And one more note:

The outputs on this thing seem to be rather non-standard. If you connect with a standard tip-sleeve connector it seems to overheat the output amps and cause a high frequency whine. This is somewhat common with active balanced devices because you short one side to ground and they get unhappy. Now oddly enough when I connect this to a balanced amp, it is clearly an unbalanced device, but I've had it running for the last 2 hours and it is fine. Only other though is that the CCrane FM TX is sloppy and allowing a bunch of RF to get back into the audio input connections.