Orange King Comp

I enjoy the King Comp because it just gets compression right without getting in the way. Orange took their Class A VCA circuit approach from their studio compressors and built it into a pedal that enhances rather than squashes. The 18V power supply gives you all the headroom you need for hot pickups or complex pedalboard setups, and that low noise floor means you can leave this thing on all the time.

What sets this apart from typical compressor pedals is how musical it sounds. Where many comps can make your guitar feel disconnected from your playing, the King Comp stays responsive to your touch. It works brilliantly on bass too, tightening up the low end without robbing power.

Controls

The four-knob layout is simple but effective. Reading the panel left to right: Volume, Release, Attack, and Comp. Volume sets your output level. Release controls how quickly the compression lets go of the signal, from a fast snap to a slower, mellower bloom. Attack shapes how quickly the compression clamps down. I love how the attack knob can take you from transparent sustain all the way to that pronounced “pogo” effect when you really crank it. Comp dials in the amount of compression applied.

In the demo above I’ve set up sweeps for the Comp, Release, and Attack knobs, so you can hear exactly what each control does to the same riff.

How It Sounds

The three named presets map the pedal’s range well. Sweet Compression keeps the attack at minimum with the comp at 8 and a low release, which gives you a tight, responsive feel with clear note definition. Squishy Texture maxes both comp and release with attack at zero, which is where that bouncy, percussive character fully emerges. Warm Boost sets attack and release at noon with the comp maxed and the volume pushed up, functioning as a fat, compressed level lift.

The dual-color LED (blue when on, pink when compressing) gives you perfect visual feedback for dialing in your settings live. Orange describes the character as smooth and musical rather than coloring your tone, and that holds up.

King Comp vs Dyna Comp

The MXR Dyna Comp is the classic compressor comparison point, and the two pedals sit at opposite ends of the philosophy spectrum. The Dyna Comp is all about character: squish, that chunky feel, a coloration you can hear from across the room. The King Comp chases the opposite goal. Its all-analogue VCA circuit aims to be the comp you barely notice is there until you bypass it, keeping the signal tight and natural rather than stamping its personality onto your tone. The Dyna Comp gives you two knobs (Output and Sensitivity); the King Comp adds independent Attack and Release controls, so you can shape the envelope in both directions without them being locked together. If you want a compressor as an effect, reach for the Dyna Comp. If you want a compressor as infrastructure, the King Comp is the more surgical tool.

Who It’s For

The King Comp excels as an always-on tone sweetener for players who want sustain, snap, and a tighter low end without a noticeable effect character. Country and funk players will appreciate the attack control for that percussive pogo feel. Bass players get a dedicated use case too since Orange voices it to work with bass. The honest caveat: if you’re after a compressor with audible squish and personality, this isn’t that. There’s no ratio control, no blend knob, no meter, so players who want surgical, studio-style control over every parameter should look at something like the MXR Bass Compressor instead.

Specs

• Circuit: Class A VCA compression, all-analogue signal path
• Controls: Volume, Release, Attack, Comp
• Bypass: buffered bypass
• Power: 18 V DC (current draw not published)
• LED: dual-color, blue when active, pink when compressing
• Works with guitar and bass

Signal Chain

• Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster (both pickups)
• King Comp
• Mixwave Benson Chimera Plugin*
• A bit of room-like reverb from the Valhalla Vintage Verb plugin

Where to Buy

Upgrade your noise Cure your GAS! Your tone deserves this

Buy through these links and support Loopy Demos at no extra cost to you.

Get detailed specs on Orange's website

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