Aphex Expressor 651, compressor 2000s - Gray face

Like its sibling products Aural Exciters, Aphex continue to diversify.

The 651 Expressor is a single‑channel compressor which may be used on voice or instruments, and get a compressor that will challenge you to know when something is being compressed!

The compressor section is switchable for hard‑ or soft‑knee operation, and the Easyrider section provides fast or slow auto operation

In Manual mode, the usual Threshold, Attack and Release controls are available, and the user has controls of both input and output gain plus Threshold level at all times. Status LEDs are fitted to all switches, and external side‑chain access is via rear‑panel jacks. A switchable low‑cut filter is available in the side‑chain signal path to prevent excessive amounts of gain reduction being triggered by low‑frequency sounds. The signal inputs and outputs are electronically balanced, and are available on both jacks and XLRs, with a further TSR jack on the rear panel allowing two 661 Expressors to be linked for stereo operation.

In summary this is a very useful and flexible compressor, with just the right amount of character, though I feel it would have benefited from an expander section to keep the pauses clean. It is also quite an expensive unit when you consider that it's a single‑channel device, and for less than twice as much, you could buy a dual‑channel valve compressor (the Drawmer 1960, for example). Where the 651 Expressor scores is in its flexibility, the operationally simple Easyrider mode and the HFX enhancement. It is a competent and very pleasant‑sounding compressor, with the quality of performance we've come to expect from an Aphex products.