The CNZ Audio SCP-20 is a Cnz Audio compressor pedal, currently around $49.99. Close alternatives include the AZOR AP-305 Compressor and the Donner Lax Comp. It pairs well with the Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt and the Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head.

CNZ Audio SCP-20

Cnz Audio · pedal

The CNZ Audio SCP-20 is an optical compressor pedal using a light source and optical resistor to control signal dynamics, a circuit topology associated with warm, naturally responding compression. Provides standard compressor controls for sustain, attack, and output level adjustment. True bypass for transparent signal when off. An affordable optical compressor option for guitarists and bass players who want smooth, responsive dynamics control without the hard limiting character of some VCA-based designs.

What stands out

  • “Accessible price point makes optical compression available to players on tight budgets”

    — from the reviews

  • “an affordable optical compressor option for guitarists and bass players who want smooth”

    — from the listing

  • “Provides standard compressor controls for sustain, attack, and output level adjustment”

    — from the listing

  • “True bypass for transparent signal when off”

    — from the listing

  • “the cnz audio scp-20 is an optical compressor pedal using a light source and optical resistor to control signal dynamics”

    — from the listing

  • optical compression
  • smooth
  • compressor
  • bypass
  • optical
  • musical
  • compression
  • dynamic
$49.99View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 24, 2026

Genres the CNZ Audio SCP-20 is commonly used in

  • Country
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Country Pop
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Funk
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Alternative
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Blues
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the CNZ Audio SCP-20

Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt

Diezel

17% match
$4499.99via Reverb

Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt leans toward high gain, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes later in the signal chain

Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head

Orange

16% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)

What Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head brings here leans toward full — that's worth building a pairing around

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module

Synergy

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Synergy SL2 Module after CNZ Audio SCP-20

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt

Mesa Boogie

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after CNZ Audio SCP-20 in the chain

Ceriatone 2202H

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Ceriatone 2202H after CNZ Audio SCP-20

Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H

Marshall

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H goes after CNZ Audio SCP-20 in the chain

Egnater Tweaker 88 Head

Egnater

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Egnater Tweaker 88 Head goes after CNZ Audio SCP-20 in the chain

Friedman BE-Mini Head

Friedman

tonal match
$195.67via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Friedman BE-Mini Head after CNZ Audio SCP-20

Pedals that stack with the CNZ Audio SCP-20

Wren and Cuff Box of War OG

Wren And Cuff

16% match
$298.33via Reverb

Wren and Cuff Box of War OG's own full character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes later in the signal chain

Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive

Fulltone

16% match

Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive leans toward op-amp, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes later in the signal chain

Walrus Audio Slö Multi-Texture Reverb

Walrus Audio

6% match
$209.63via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Run Walrus Audio Slö Multi-Texture Reverb after CNZ Audio SCP-20 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd CNZ Audio SCP-20 — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Boss RV-6 Reverb

Boss

5% match
$141.70via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep CNZ Audio SCP-20's smooth voice out front: Boss RV-6 Reverb goes after CNZ Audio SCP-20 in the signal chain so its shimmer voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2

Dr Scientist

tonal match
$204.36via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 after CNZ Audio SCP-20

Warm Audio Jet Phaser

Warm Audio

tonal match
$109.01via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Warm Audio Jet Phaser after CNZ Audio SCP-20: modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set

Death By Audio Destruction

Death By Audio

tonal match
$137.70via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Death By Audio Destruction goes after CNZ Audio SCP-20 in the chain

Donner Big Mouth Distortion

Donner

tonal match
$29.95via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Donner Big Mouth Distortion after CNZ Audio SCP-20

Cheaper alternatives

TC Electronic forcefield

TC Electronic

96% similarity
$31.90via Reverb

similar tone character

Rocktron Big Crush Compressor

Rocktron

96% similarity
$29via Reverb

similar tone character

Boutique & premium upgrades

J. Rockett Jrad Squeegee Compressor

J Rockett

59% similarity
$119via Reverb

Shared character: compressor, attack, compression

Electro-Harmonix White Finger

Electro-Harmonix

58% similarity
$119.45via Reverb

Shared character: compressor, sustain, attack

Greer Black Tiger

Greer

56% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: sustain, compressor, transparent

DryBell Module 4

Drybell

56% similarity
$315via Reverb

Shared character: compressor, attack, true bypass

Pigtronix Philosopher's Rock

Pigtronix

56% similarity
$85.50via Reverb

Shared character: compressor, signal chain, smooth

Carl Martin Classic Opto-Compressor

Carl Martin

56% similarity
$99via Reverb

Shared character: compressor, signal chain, attack

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

AZOR AP-305 Compressor

Azor

64% similarity

Shared character: compressor, sustain, attack

Donner Lax Comp

Donner

57% similarity

Shared character: compressor, attack, warm

Mooer Dyna Compressor

Mooer

56% similarity

Shared character: compressor, sustain, attack

Keeley Classic Keeley Compressor

Keeley

55% similarity

Shared character: compressor, sustain, attack

SolidGoldFX Compression Machine

Solidgoldfx

54% similarity

Shared character: compressor, attack, transparent

Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio

Crazy Tube Circuits

53% similarity

Shared character: compressor, signal chain, warm

See all alternatives to the CNZ Audio SCP-20 (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the CNZ Audio SCP-20?+

The closest matches in character are the AZOR AP-305 Compressor, the Donner Lax Comp, the Mooer Dyna Compressor. Budget picks: TC Electronic forcefield, Rocktron Big Crush Compressor. Boutique upgrades: J. Rockett Jrad Squeegee Compressor, Electro-Harmonix White Finger, Greer Black Tiger.

What pairs well with the CNZ Audio SCP-20?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt, Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head, Synergy SL2 Module — Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt leans toward high gain, and that's a real, usable character to pair with.

How much does the CNZ Audio SCP-20 cost?+

Around $49.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).

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