The LA500A quickly became my favorite compressor for vox and everything else. I now track vox with it shaving just a few db at 3:1, then after comping/automation send the vox back through it again for the really magic size, control and in your face flavor. Love it on acoustic, and bass, and würst position on drums in slow attack setting. Just so good all around. Wish I’d just gotten two.Chad Reynvaan (Fri Mar 29 2024, 09:52 am )

I first bought one of these for vocals and voice-over, before finding how well it worked on synths, so I bought a second one, and Joe was super generous with his time in lining it up with my first one. This really is a fun little comp that adds awesome character and richness and is a go-to for a lot of source material.Matt Taylor (Thu Jul 20 2023, 15:02 pm )

I purchased one LA500A opto pre-assembled. It came packaged better than any piece of gear I have purchased in the last 20 years. The unit was soldered beautifully. I’ve only had it for one 2 days and so far it is FAR BETTER than expected. Joe does something special over there and I am definitely going to try one of his FET comps. It reminds me of a hybrid LA-2A and 3A and 4A mixed together. Grabs nicely and the sidechain rolloff is perfect to grab those vocal transients and leave the low end full. You can squash the hell out of the signal and it still sounds “natural”. A colleague of mine is shopping for one now lol. JLM you are the best!Robert LB Dorsey (Sat Jan 21 2023, 06:38 am )

It was my first JLM build (shipping to Europe involves custom taxes that's why I hesitated) and I have to applaud Joe for this compressor. Sound is pristine, can be inaudible but also very upfront. Tried it on vocals, bass and bass drum - even this was great. Buttons and controls are high quality. I've done only a few other DIY kits from Sound Skulptor (mp573, TS500, CP4500). Mostly good gear, too. But the JLM build felt a bit more sophisticated, I can't even explain. Parts of the build are pre-assembled which sped up the whole process. It is notable that the LA500A has gone through stages of revisions and the product has arrived at a well thought out state. The documentation is "less intense", a bit less detailed than with the Sound Skulptor kits, but somehow I felt more comfortable with the that. The JLM picture documentation and only few text are just right. But I guess that's individual. I would order just another kit right today if shipping and tax wasn't such an obstacle. Much love for this company!!!Julian S. (Fri Sep 23 2022, 03:52 am )

This beauty is quite a lovely beast in an amazingly small package... the JLM LA500A performs admirably amoungst our other tube compressors, and we own tube gear from Pendulum, Manley, Fearn, A-Designs, Avalon etc, so this is not a small claim. Great on vocals, superb on bass, and I even like it on acoustic guitar, and I don't like to compress acoustics, generally. Joe Barresi is correct; this is a great little compressor! Don't let its size or price fool you. Kudos to JLM! CheersTom Boyer (Thu Dec 14 2017, 02:07 am )