Up for sale is my Dramastic Audio Obsidian 500 Series Stereo Bus Compressor, in mint condition and working perfectly. This unit has lived in my professional, climate-controlled, smoke-free recording/mixing studio and has never been toured, or taken outside of the studio. It’s been babied and looks exactly the same as it did when I received it from Dramastic Audio, when it was purchased new, directly from Dramastic Audio.

If you’re looking at this, you likely already know the reputation of this stereo compressor. The Dramastic Audio Obsidian 500 is widely considered one of the finest stereo bus compressors ever. It’s also one of the best kept secrets of the world’s most prestigious mixing and mastering engineers.

I have done extensive A/B tests between the Obsidian and the Thermionic Culture Phoenix, SSL G+ Bus Compressor, Smart Research C2, API 2500, Manley Vari-Mu, Shadow Hills Dual Vandergraph, and the Obsidian not only holds its own next to all of those, but it sounds better. It produces a much more three dimensional stereo image and gives mixes a weight and size that you won’t get from the majority of bus compressors, and most definitely not any SSL- Style compressor.

The custom transformers at the output stage of the Obsidian give mixes a huge analog console sound. The sound is more akin to API and Neotek desks than SSL consoles that shrink the tone. Your “In The Box” mixes become huge when you run them through the Obsidian, which is why it’s also an incredible mastering tool for adding size, weight, dimension and power to “in the box” mixes at the mastering stage. This compressor does the glue thing beautifully but it also pumps up the energy and size of the audio material passing through it in a way that is so gratifying to the ears. There’s truly nothing else in the plethora of studio gear out there that produces a sound like this.

The Obsidian stereo compressor is what I’ve called the HUGE button in my studio and does something instantly magical to mixes that no other stereo hardware compressor or plugin can do. The difference is remarkable. All you have to do is hit the bypass switch and you’ll hear the magic it imparts immediately disappear and then never want to turn it off or mix without it on your mix bus.

If your mixes sound small, the bottom isn’t tight and the top end isn’t smooth and euphonic with your current mix bus compressor, this is the one you want. Dramastic Audio didn’t just recreate a classic VCA bus compressor, they refined, expanded, and elevated it to become something far superior. This is a joy to use for any mixing or mastering application regardless of musical style or genre.

The Sound – Classic Glue, Modern Precision

Inspired by the legendary SSL G Bus Compressor topology, the Obsidian 500 delivers:

• Tight, punchy low end
• Increased forward energy
• Controlled, polished transients
• That unmistakable “glue” that makes mixes feel finished
  

Whether on your mix bus, drum bus, instrument bus, parallel chain, or even mastering insert, the Obsidian adds total cohesion while breathing life into mixes and creating a wonderful stereo image. It enhances punch and density while maintaining clarity and depth.

Engineers consistently praise it for sounding big, open, and authoritative, while retaining transparency when dialed in more subtly.

Premium Design & Features

The Obsidian 500 is far more than a simple SSL clone. Key features include:

• TXIO Enhanced™ Transformer Balanced Inputs & Outputs – adds subtle weight and analog character
• True Stereo VCA Feed-Forward Compression Design
• High-quality THAT Corporation VCAs
• Precision Stepped Controls for fast, repeatable recall
• Selectable Sidechain High-Pass Filter keeps low-end punch intact
• Mix Control for parallel compression directly on the unit
• Multiple Ratio Settings (including gentle 1.5:1 through more aggressive options)
• Attack Times from fast to 30ms for shaping transient response
• Release Settings including Auto and “Lo-Fi” mode for more aggressive, characterful movement
• Expansion/Link Port for advanced setups
  

The stepped controls make it particularly attractive for hybrid mixing and mastering engineers who need recallable settings without guesswork.

Condition – Mint

• No scratches
• No rack rash
• No cosmetic wear
• All switches and pots function perfectly
• Stored carefully in a professional rack
  

It performs exactly as it should: tight, punchy, dimensional, and musical.

If you’d like any additional or specific information, or have technical questions, please feel free to reach out. I’m a professional audio engineer with three decades of industry experience and gold and platinum records and am happy to answer anything.

Shipping & Packaging

The box you see in the photos will be placed and floating in bubble wrap inside of a larger box to protect it, during shipping. I take shipping very seriously. Over the years, I’ve shipped many fragile and high-value studio items - tube gear and microphones, vintage and boutique analog hardware and digital studio equipment, Neve console modules, and not one item has ever been damaged in transit. I package gear better than most manufacturers originally do.

Your Obsidian will be:

• Carefully wrapped
• Properly cushioned
• Securely boxed
• Protected against impact and internal movement

Buy with confidence.

For Buyers:
I have time-stamped and date-stamped video footage of this Dramastic Audio Obsidian 500 Stereo Bus Compressor in perfect working order, including detailed shots of the serial number. This documentation verifies its condition and functionality prior to shipping. Please be confident in your purchase, as the item’s condition has been thoroughly recorded.

Thank you for looking. This is an exceptional piece of hardware that deserves a great studio.

Feel free to message me with any questions. I’m happy to help.