The Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor is a Universal Audio compressor pedal, currently around $349. Close alternatives include the HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro and the TC Electronic HyperGravity Mini Compressor. It pairs well with the Carvin Legacy 1 VL100 100W Amp Head and the Supro 1697RH Galaxy 2-Channel 50W Head.
Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor
Universal Audio · pedal
The Universal Audio UAFX Max Preamp & Dual Compressor is a preamp and dual compressor pedal from Universal Audio (Santa Cruz, California), delivering DSP-modeled preamp and two independent compressor circuits including a Urei 1176 FET compressor and a LA-2A optical compressor emulation for studio-quality signal conditioning in a pedalboard pedal. The Max Preamp & Dual Compressor uses Universal Audio DSP-powered analog-modeling to deliver studio-quality preamp and dual compressor pedal in a compact pedalboard format.
What stands out
“Its standout strength is the dual compressor platform with 1176 FET and LA-2A optical emulations plus preamp in one UA DSP pedal at Universal Audio DSP quality”
— from the community notes
“The Universal Audio UAFX Max Preamp & Dual Compressor is a preamp and dual compressor pedal from Universal Audio (Santa Cruz, California), delivering DSP-modeled preamp and two independent compressor circuits including a Urei 1176 FET compr…”
— from the listing
“The Max Preamp & Dual Compressor uses Universal Audio DSP-powered analog-modeling to deliver studio-quality preamp and dual compressor pedal in a compact pedalboard format”
— from the listing
“Dual compressor complexity requiring careful threshold and ratio calibration for each compressor stage”
— from the reviews
“Studio-grade preamp and dual compressor pedal in a compact pedalboard format from a professional audio manufacturer”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“delivering dsp-modeled preamp and two independent compressor circuits including a urei 1176 fet compressor and a la-2a optical compressor emulation for studio-quality signal conditioning in a pedalboard pedal”
— from the listing
- compressor
- studio
- compression
- stage
- country
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor is commonly used in
- Country
- Country Pop
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor
Carvin Legacy 1 VL100 100W Amp Head
Carvin
29% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Supro 1697RH Galaxy 2-Channel 50W Head
Supro
24% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Supro 1695TJ Black Magick
Supro
23% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor's compressed voice suits Supro 1695TJ Black Magick's own dynamic character
Comes later in the signal chain
1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe
Fender
11% match1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe leans toward transparent, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Bassman Combo Amp
amplifier
11% matchWhat Fender Bassman Combo Amp brings here leans toward crunchy — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Pedals that stack with the Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
27% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Dophix Lussuria overdrive
Dophix
26% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Both lean toward dynamic and compressed respectively — close enough in character that they complement instead of clashing
Comes later in the signal chain
Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115
Dunlop
26% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor's compressed voice suits Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115's own dynamic character
Comes later in the signal chain
Godlyke Ibanez TS808 Tamura-Mod
Godlyke
25% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Godlyke Ibanez TS808 Tamura-Mod's dynamic character and Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor's compressed voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Comes later in the signal chain
Spaceman Polaris
Spaceman
24% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Vox Joe Satriani Signature Ice 9 Overdrive
Vox
23% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Revv Amplification G2-V2
Revv
23% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
See all 11 pedals that pair with the Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor →
Cheaper alternatives
Caline CP-509 Stack Attack Preamp/Overdrive/Compressor
Caline
67% similarityShared character: compressor, stage
Kokko FCP2 Mini Compressor
Kokko
64% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Olinthus Pillbug Compressor
Olinthus
60% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
TC Electronic Classic Sustain
TC Electronic
60% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Friedman Sir-Compre
Friedman
60% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Origin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe
Origin Effects
59% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro
Homebrew
71% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
TC Electronic HyperGravity Mini Compressor
TC Electronic
68% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Line 6 Constrictor
Line 6
64% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Maxon RTC600 Compressor
Maxon
62% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Carl Martin Andy Timmons Signature
Carl Martin
61% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Hot Box Pedals CP-81
Hot Box Pedals
59% similarityShared character: compressor, compression
See all alternatives to the Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor?+
The closest matches in character are the HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro, the TC Electronic HyperGravity Mini Compressor, the Line 6 Constrictor. Budget picks: Caline CP-509 Stack Attack Preamp/Overdrive/Compressor, Kokko FCP2 Mini Compressor, Olinthus Pillbug Compressor.
What pairs well with the Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Carvin Legacy 1 VL100 100W Amp Head, Supro 1697RH Galaxy 2-Channel 50W Head, Supro 1695TJ Black Magick — What Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the Universal Audio Uafx Max Preamp & Dual Compressor cost?+
Around $349 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).