Xotic SP Compressor review

Mini stomp comp

  • £130
  • €167
  • $165
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Despite its size, the SP offers lots of control - including an input pad for high-powered humbuckers

MusicRadar Verdict

A sonic squeezer that will easily squeeze onto your pedalboard.

Pros

  • +

    Impressive amount of control for a mini pedal. Sounds excellent. Boost and compression options.

Cons

  • -

    Very little to moan about here, though the controls may seem a little crowded for the heavy-handed!

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The Xotic SP features the same OTA (operational transconductance amplifier) technology as the Ross Compressor, so it provides the sort of squash familiar to many guitarists.

"There are internal DIP switches, giving access to four attack/ release options"

A three-way switch sets the strength of the compression, and there are internal DIP switches, giving access to four attack/ release options that add snap to the start of your note, a hi-cut filter and an input pad for high-powered humbuckers.

The best thing, though, is what you can dial in with the two knobs: an output volume knob with up to +15dB of boost and, something seen on few pedal compressors but very useful, a blend knob to give you dry sound mixed with the compressed.

Together, these enable you to use the pedal as a straight compressor but also as a nice-sounding booster with as little or as much compression as you want thrown in.

With the combination of boost and compression offering loads of options, this is a versatile addition to any 'board.

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.