why don't you guys post some mixes that have these different comps....
turn em on, turn em off, and let us hear the differences.
 

UAD SSL and Slate VBC.

Duende 
Alphacomp
Vertigo vsc2
VBC

MJUC man here. And IK Buss. And SSL in EW Play.

+1 Klanghelm MJUC

Used to be The Glue, but now it's the NI Solid Bus Compressor..

dlesaux
Used to be The Glue, but now it's the NI Solid Bus Compressor..

Interesting. Must retry that juan.

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. Tons of stuff out there, obviously.
 
I'm starting to lean towards the IK British Studio Series.  $170, but the bus compressor alone is $125, and with the bundle you get two SSL channel strips in addition to the compressor.  So it's essentially IK's version of the Waves SSL bundle, but at a fraction of the price.
 
I get that Waves makes quality (and officially licensed) stuff, but MAN. So much more expensive than most competitors.  UAD charges hefty prices too, but at least with their plugs you're also buying DSP hardware!

streckfus
 
I get that Waves makes quality (and officially licensed) stuff, but MAN. So much more expensive than most competitors.  UAD charges hefty prices too, but at least with their plugs you're also buying DSP hardware!

You've gotta wait for a sale, which happens VERY frequently.
Go to audiodeluxe.com, create an account and you'll get emails on the sales.

Waves or UAD? I know Waves stuff goes on sale frequently (like right now the $750 SSL bundle is $300), but again, the IK version of the SSL bundle is half of the Waves 50% off sale price so I'm just saying that their stuff is super-spendy.  Of course, some of their plugs are much more affordable.