Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Really Nice Compressor by FMR Audio is an excellent way to enjoy well-compressed (three bands working individually) music. I agree 100% with the other two reviewers-- judicious use of this little wonder in Super Nice Mode (the three-band setting)enables much low-level musical detail to come through. You will not hear compression artifacts. You will hear a smooth and warm compression, very friendly on the ears. Excellent for listening and for pre-recording. I've used it on live CDs to compress the dynamic range (some CDs just have too much dynamic range to be listenable in certain environments) and this compressor does the job in a wonderfully musical way. I'm buying a second one today, as I want this sound all the time.

Strengths:
Compressor in Super Nice Mode brings up the levels without artifacts in a musically pleasing way. An excellent value -- no other hardware or audio software I have located

Weaknesses:
None. (I only wish FMR could get someone to develop a software compressor for computer use which sounded like this little box!) Very quiet electronics, and adjustable. Even "Maxed Out" for use on MPEG files for personal listening where compression is desirable to hear over road or ambient noise, its effect is pleasaing with no artifacts.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from direct from manufact

Summary:
I bought this unit on the recomendation of a review I read in Recording Magazine. At the time, all I had was an Alesis microlimiter,dbx 163x, a Joe Meek and the digital compressor in my Roland VS1680.Up until that time I had thought the dbx sounded the best to me on vocals, but in side by side comparison, it was clearly evident that the RNC is a vastly superior product.It's professionally thorough feature set aside,it is miles ahead of the dbx in sound quality, less tone altering, and a heck of a lot easier to dial in a good setting than with the Joe Meek. (I don't really like the sound of digital compression...no sense in comparing it to the Roland) Although I do like the Joe Meek for recording bass guitar, if I could only have one compressor, it would most certainly be the RNC.

Strengths:
Very clean sounding with very minimal alteration of tone.This is not a character compressor,as say a Joe Meek is, but rather one in which to use to tame levels without artifacts. Super Nice mode makes it like having two compressors for the price of one. Very versatile and an awesome value for the money.With it's great sound quality, I have no desire to spend more.If you want a truly professional unit, for not a lot of money, look no further, the RNC will make you happy.

Weaknesses:
None.

Price Paid:  $195.00 from Factory direct

Summary:
100% ditto of Joe Marinan's review.

The RNC is legendary in pro-audio, but one of the best kept secrets in High-End audio.

Judicious use in the 'Super-Nice' mode will reveal significantly more low level detail without turning up the volume or creating nasty compressor artifacts.

Great with Maggies and any other speakers that tend to have high volume limitations.

Very sweet and clean. Has a defeat switch for direct comparisons.

Strengths:
Does what it says, . . .and more. Almost NO compressor artifacts. Incredible bargain.

Weaknesses:
None

Summary:
If you are less than satisfied with CD sound, please see Audio Mag., Sept., 1998, pg 28, a very wordy article entitled "Compression is Your Friend", touting the RNC (Really Nice Compressor, <$200.) IT WORKS ! In line with your CD player, you need press only one button (SNC) to correct most, if not all, of the many things that sound wrong from a CD. {There are also 5 controls to play with if you are so inclined, BUT they are not necessary to enjoy truly fine sound (for a change).