Walrus Audio Highpoint Optical Compressor Black

Product Description

The Walrus Audio Highpoint Optical Compressor is an analogue optical compressor designed for precise dynamic control, smooth sustain and detailed tone shaping. Built as part of Walrus Audio’s Monarch series, Highpoint combines responsive optical compression with comprehensive controls and a 10-LED metering system inspired by studio hardware.

Its optical compression provides a smooth attack and release character, allowing notes to bloom naturally while retaining articulate transient response. From subtle always-on dynamic control to longer, more expressive sustain, Highpoint is designed to maintain depth, clarity and harmonic detail across a wide range of compression settings.

Dedicated Attack, Release and Ratio controls provide detailed control over compression behaviour, while true parallel compression via the Blend control allows the original transient response to be mixed with the compressed signal. A dedicated Make-Up control provides additional gain staging after compression.

Highpoint operates internally at ±15V DC for increased headroom and dynamic range. A selectable 160Hz sidechain high-pass filter prevents lower frequencies from disproportionately triggering the compressor, helping retain low-end punch and definition for bass and extended-range guitar.

For visual monitoring, the 10-LED array can display Input, Output or Gain Reduction, providing immediate feedback on signal and compression behaviour.

Key Features

• Analog optical compression
• Smooth attack and release response
• Designed for subtle dynamic control through to extended sustain
• True parallel compression preserves natural transients
• Dedicated Attack, Release and Ratio adjustment
• Make-Up control for precise gain staging
• Internal ±15V operation for increased headroom and dynamic range
• 10-LED metering array
• Input, Output and Gain Reduction monitoring
• Selectable sidechain high-pass filter
• Helps maintain low-end punch on bass and extended-range guitar
• True bypass
• Part of the Walrus Audio Monarch series

Specifications

• Brand: Walrus Audio
• Model: Highpoint
• Series: Monarch
• Effect Type: Optical Compressor
• Circuit: Analogue
• Compression Type: Optical
• Parallel Compression: Yes
• Metering: 10-LED Array
• Metering Modes: Input, Output, Gain Reduction
• Sidechain High-Pass Filter: 160Hz and Below
• Internal Operating Voltage: ±15V DC
• Bypass: True Bypass
• Input Impedance: 1MΩ
• Output Impedance: 300Ω
• Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz
• Power Requirement: 9V DC
• Current Requirement: 500mA
• Polarity: Centre Negative
• Power Connector: 2.1mm
• Dimensions: 121.6 × 92 × 56.7mm including knobs
• Recommended Power Supply: Isolated
• Daisy Chain Power Supplies: Not Recommended