Ashdown ABM Evo III Compressor Problem

[itsliamo]

Hi,
first time posting so beare with me if I mess up on any forum etiquette.

I recently bought an Ashdown ABM Evo III rack head which overall I'm very happy with. I operate it with a 1x15 cab and use the footswitch, while also using the onboard DI into the pa we use for the band.
The big issue I'm having is there is a level drop when the compressor is engaged. No matter what I have the compression set to I have the same problem. This has rendered the compressor useless for me and I've had to buy a seperate compressor to fill the void.
I sent a mail to tech support at Ashdown where they told me that is how the amp is. I just don't buy that answer.
I've owned a numbver of amps previous and those with onboard compressors and I've never had this issue. My backup amp, and old Trace Elliot combo, has an onboard compressor which is amazing but this one is simply lacking. I'd still use the Trace if I could footswitch the options.
Any help or feedback would be greatly appreciated befrore I return the amp and buy an old Trace Head on eBay.
Thanks,
Liam.

[keithrobbo]

Hi Liam

I've just purchased an ABM 500 EVOIII head today and I've noticed the very same thing. The compressor feature was one of the things that was a purchasing decision in getting this amp, so I plan to take it up with Ashdown, because I can't fault the amp in any other way.

I'll let you know what Ashdown say.

Keith

[Morten_B]

Hi both,

I recently bought a Klystron 1000 amp (similar circuits as the ABM) and I experience the same with the compressor...

The manual is quite strange on this topic: One place it says, that the gain level is correct, when the level is the same when switching in/out the compressor, but the gain must be set very low to achieve this (hardly any indication on the VU meter). Another place it says, that the gain should be set to have the right indication on the VU meter, and I believe this is the way to set the gain. However, this means that there is a level drop when using the compressor...

It will be interesting to hear what Ashdown has to say on this topic..!?

Cheers,
Morten

[Bassmec]

Well tacking on endless bells and whistles to products for no extra cash and no good reason may result in less than totally satisfactory performance of the free add ons. Of course it reduces the volume its what compression actually does, what you think you need however is a make up gain circuit after the output of the compressor?.
I am lucky enough to have an old lead slead ABM EVO nothing.
it has no free compressor built in so I can feel free to use a compressor that is really worth something.
Switch it off and for only £1300 you can get an Anamod 660
compressor still no make up gain though.