"An excellent stomp box compressor that’s equally at home across a stereo mix": Polyend Press review

What is it?

Polyend is a company that takes hardware very seriously. Its stable of innovative products delivers a focused selection of music-making devices including Synth, a pad-based multi-engine polysynth with polyphonic aftertouch, and Play+, a 16-track sample and synthesis groovebox. It also created Tracker, which is now available in two versions, Tracker+ and Tracker Mini.

Up for review we have something more typical in design, but still blessed with Polyend’s unique perspective. Press is a studio-grade stereo VCA compressor housed in a compact stomp box case. It’s designed for use either as a stereo effect or a mono guitar pedal, and to that end has a rear-mounted mode switch for Line Stereo / Instrument Mono. In mono mode input impedance is set to 1Mohm and is perfect for a typical passive guitar input. In stereo mode the impedance is for regular line level (20kohm).

To save space, Press uses two ¼” TRS jacks, one for input and one for output, and this means the connection is unbalanced. Meanwhile, on the back you’ll also find a pair of TRS mini jacks which are for external sidechain input and external sidechain Thru. Finally, there’s also the 9 Volt DC power input (a PSU is not included).

Press has a typical selection of compression controls (Threshold, Ratio, Make-up, Attack and Release) as well as an output Mix blend for parallel compression. You also get high- and low-pass filters to shape the internal or external sidechain signal. Just before the output Mix there’s also a Tilt EQ. This is centred around 450Hz and applies a maximum of 10dB boost or cut, to help gently shape your overall sound towards the high frequencies or low frequencies. Rounding things off is a 10-part gain reduction LED.

Pricing

• $399 / £349 / €399
• 9 V / 350 mA power supply recommended but not included: $49

Polyend first announced Press at Superbooth 24, but it would be a few months before the Stereo Compressor Pedal made it to market. We finally got to see it in the wild in October 2024 and while there some deals to be had from local stores, we haven't seen a huge drop since launch.

Performance & verdict

Press is a solidly made unit with a metal case, heavy-duty on/off stomp switches, smooth travel parameter controls and stylish yellow knobs. The layout is easy to understand and the controls are well-labelled. That said, the scale parameters, which are a darker colour, are virtually illegible, which might be a bit frustrating while you’re learning the controls. Connection is easy enough, although it’s worth remembering that if you want to use the pedal in stereo you’ll need TRS to left/right breakout cables, which although reasonably easy to procure, won’t necessarily be in everyone’s leads box.

Press uses a VCA circuit design and aims to be as transparent as possible. The parameters allow for much flexibility with ratios right up to limiting. If you’re not a compressor whizz, Polyend has included a bunch of pedal-sized preset cards, so you can simply match the knob positions to achieve regular outcomes. Guitar pedal examples include Sustain The Low End, meanwhile stereo settings include Mix Glue.

Attack and release settings cover everything from aggressive transient shaping to more subtle glue-like outcomes. At the fastest settings you can really squash transients, which can be great for picked electric guitar. Or with the attack eased back, snappy compression is easily achievable, which is great for beats. Either way the Mix control helps you blend more extreme processing to taste. When it comes to more subtle applications such as the stereo mix bus, the onboard sidechain filters are particularly helpful. They also add value getting the right compression on a guitar or bass input, particularly when filtering off the low frequencies.

Press’s external sidechain input may seem like a slightly odd inclusion, but its thru capability actually creates many options. In a live setting for example, and with the appropriate cabling, you can potentially link in any signal you like, using the stomp button to switch it in as required.

All told, Press is an intriguing design, and at $399 has a clear target market. But at its core is a highly flexible and easy to use compressor capable of both stomp box and mixing tasks.

Hands-on demos

Polyend

Alternatives

MXR M102 Dyna Comp : $99.99 at jimdunlop.com

You can’t go far wrong with this classic, easy-to-use stomp box compressor.

Electro Harmonix Platform: $194.10 at ehx.com

This stereo compressor pedal has loads of features including the Swell fade-in option.

Warm Audio Pedal76 FET: $269 at warmaudio.com

If you want a fast FET style compressor pedal this is a great choice.

Specifications