Guide to Inexpensive Compressors

Being a compress in the mix and little to not before guy, i have approx 32 channels of compressors for a 32 channel console/hybrid setup. I own 10 channels of the Aphex 651's, which i consider to be very hi end due to their unmatched parameter control and utter transparency, especially if you get the Jwilliams mods, these will be used as my workhorse tracking and console type mix compressors, they will allow my colored pieces to stand out and create contrast(not unlike using an SSL as a mixdown console maybe).
 I believe great mixes are about creating attention through contrast, If you use an 1176, or any color piece on every channel, contrast vanishes in my experience.

so my vote is Aphex 651, the almost free, most expensive sounding highend compressor you never heard 8)(with JW mods of course).

I don't see the 3630 listed in there, that list is bogus 

ART ProVLA (original issue FWIW)....I kept it around for years for one special purpose--when clients would send me digital modeling guitar tracks, I would send them through the VLA first thing--it was some combination of a little tube-y saturation and it's VERY slow attack that kind of brought out the pick dynamics in a way that modellers were always "not right" and hard to sit into a mix. Gave it a sense of dimension that made me not want to gag.

I also liked to use it as a "nuke comp" for drums--snare in particular--again, I think in retrospect for the saturation and the slow attack leaving the "crack" and suppressing the ring....

I sold mine a few years back when I moved to mixing in software 100%. There are so many options for compression and saturation ITB, I simply was no longer using it much. 2U returned. But, I think people who hate on it are missing that it's a tool--it's slow attack isn't good for controlling musical dynamics--but, it's GREAT at transient shaping--leaving the leading edge of the attack AND saturating it some....if you're trying to get a "smooth vocal or punchy bass"--you have better options and honestly I never hated the 3630 and Composer level DBX clones for that.

FWIW--I also had the little "box" ART Levelar years ago--it actually DID do the smooth vocal/bass thing better than it's big brother, again--so long as we're talking low rent compression.

Nothing will be more flexible than a VCA on a budget, though. Many years ago, at home, I had a B Composer (again original issue prior to China) on my two buss full time. Pull a few DB on the way to DAT.

I love the Symetrix 501 on bass, but I picked one out of three revisions as my favorite, they're all different. I like the greenish grey one with the square push button. It's got a Valley People VCA inside. I put some fancy op amps in it, it's really nice.

I also like the Pro VLA II and I'd like to own one again someday. Great for drum splattering, or smooth vocal or bass riding sometimes.

Most recently I got turned on to the DBX 166A, a real steal, built well, good phat VCA sound, somewhat dark and vibey. And I've just started with the Behringers, Autocom Pro, and Composer which will arrive this week. I must say, I do like what I'm hearing so far from these (well "this" the MDX 1400, it is indeed DBX-ey sounding). They are built like SH1T but they are so cheap! Treat gently.

For some reason I didn't get along with the dbx 160X, although there was something special to it, that I wouldn't mind trying it again someday. It seems to rob low end. On the other hand, it sounds tight and snappy.

RNC did nothing for me, too transparent. RNLA was a little funky but I really liked it on cymbals and acoustics guitars. FMR inspired my ears in some way though, I might look at the 500 series RNLA, and the PBC-6A. I absolutely hate the form factor and unprofessional connections (unbalanced, wall warts) of the FMR units. A totally depressing mood blasting dealbreaker.

Aphex 651 I found a bit too transparent also, I was looking for more vibe or something. Plugins are transparent, you know? Not quite the right one for me so I sold it, but better than the RNC by far. There was a subtle vibe.

When I'm done exploring these waters I'll be moving on to higher end DIY builds...I've already started collecting kits and PCBs, none are finished yet. It's nice to have solid extra channels around for cheap! I use them when I mix on my console, it just makes sense with the patchbay and routing. Nothing wrong with cheap compression.