Golden Age Audio Project Comp-3A

1-Channel vintage-style compressor

Transformer balanced input and output
Classic T4-style electro-optical attenuator for gain control with program-dependent attack and release time
Gain and peak reduction controls
VU meter for displaying gain reduction and output volume
Hard-wire bypass
XLR line input and 6.3 mm jack
XLR line output and 6.3 mm jack
Link input for stereo operation with a second Comp-3A
External power supply
Design: 9.5" / 2U

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

3-Year Thomann Warranty

Available since March 2016

Item number 383812

Sales Unit 1 piece(s)

Compressor Yes

Gate No

Peak Limiter Yes

2-Channel Unit No

Attack/Release Adjustable No

B-Stock from 5.899 kr available

6.444 kr

Free shipping incl. VAT

Sales Rank

in Compressors, Gates and De-essers

Bundles & offers

Golden Age Audio Project Comp-3A B-Stock
May have slight traces of use

5.899 kr

This is what customers who viewed this product bought

Golden Age Audio Project Comp-2A

7.599 kr

34 Customer ratings

5 28 Customers 4 5 Customers 3 0 Customers 2 0 Customers 1 1 Customer

4.7 / 5

handling

features

sound

quality

Review guidelines

25 Reviews

Very disappointed with product and service

Anonymous 11.01.2017

I bought 2 Golden Age Comp-3A compressors from Thomann in September. Neither worked on arrival. I sent both back for repairs (took about 4 weeks round trip from the UK to Germany). One now works. Thomann have asked me to video the other one not working (i.e. they don't belive me) and have offered returning to them again as the only alternative - meaning I have to box it up and wait another 4 weeks, assuming it works 3rd time around.
Lessons: 1) This product is either unreliable or not sturdy enough for mail order. 2) Don't buy fragile kit from Thomann if you are based in the UK because if there is a problem, it takes a month to fix, given postal times.

handling

features

sound

quality

Report

Do you believe this rating to be inaccurate or unacceptable for some reason? Please give us the reason for your assessment in the following text box and – if possible – your e-mail address for further questions.

Nothing like a plugin

Soundshigh 05.05.2019

I use this one to record vocals and voice overs mostly. Also electric guitars. I have used it during mixing to maximize drums or other material, which it's really good for.

I think it has a sort of a vintage sound, which counteracts nicely the digital, sometimes too pristine nature of modern recordings. For example, 99% of the time I record with an ELAM251 clone, which I really like, but has an extended HF range. I have set the sidechain detector of the COMP 3A to maximum HF, which means that it will react more to high frequency content. In this way, it pushes literally warms up the signal a bit, by compressing the upper range, and helps with strident or sibilant parts of the speech or any delivery.

The other thing is, it really helps with recording dynamic parts. You can compress a vocal with 20dB, and it is not exactly transparent, but too my ears, the compression and the coloration is almost always preferable.

I intend to get one more of these, or maybe a Comp 2A.

handling

features

sound

quality

Report

Absolutely stunning

TheAstrice 02.10.2019

I've always heard about LA3As doing "that thing" on guitars and basses but I never quite caught what. Now, with the COMP-3A, I truly get what it is. This compressor make every track you pass through it more detailed, powerful and "stable" in a certain sort of way.

While the compressor itself is very straightforward there are a lot of functionalities like the variable HPF and the the two super useful mods.

For me it is 100% a keeper and I can't see working on any of my next project without using it on at least a couple of tracks.

handling

features

sound

quality

Report

One comp, one Universe to compress!

Anonymous 04.01.2017

Handling: Extremely lightweight! Pots are made of high quality metal.

Features: Apart the well-known parameters of a vintage compressor, i point out a very useful one: you can attenuate the input of 20db and keep the output level flat or viceversa (drastically reducing the noise)!

Sound: Transparent, with any source material (both simple as a vocal or complex as a IDM bus track), even if with a heavy compression; efficient (thanks to the adaptive attack and release, you ever have to worry about artifacts, HE always KNOWS how long or short they have to be).

Quality: If you use it with a good guy like a Neumann and a good pre (say the GA pre mkIII) and with Vovox cables, you're going to make a top 10 quality track.
Thus, if you use it with a sort of compromise before it, this is completely useless, go for a plugin.

handling

features

sound

quality

Report

Read all reviews

Golden Age Audio Project Comp-3A

1-Channel vintage-style compressor

This is what customers who viewed this product bought

34 Customer ratings

You have to be logged in to rate products.

25 Reviews

YouTube on this topic

Smart Navigator

Served with love!

Golden Age Audio Project Comp-3A

1-Channel vintage-style compressor

This is what customers who viewed this product bought

Accessories & matching items

34 Customer ratings

You have to be logged in to rate products.

25 Reviews

YouTube on this topic

Compare options

Smart Navigator