The Carl Martin Honey Comp is a compressor pedal built around parallel compression: instead of only squashing your signal, it lets you blend that compressed signal back with your clean tone using a dedicated Dry knob. Carl Martin describes it as a studio-quality compressor with parallel processing capability, handled through three knobs: Comp, Level, and Dry1.
The pedal is an update to the company's long-running Compressor/Limiter circuit. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio called it "an update on the Danish company's popular (and now almost vintage) Compressor Limiter," the "big black hand-made-in-Denmark compressor that brought studio comps to the pedal board"2. Like that original, it is hand-made in Denmark2.
Parallel compression in a Comp/Limiter circuit
Parallel compression is a studio technique: a heavily compressed copy of the signal is mixed with the untouched original, so you get the sustain and evenness of heavy compression without losing all of your attack and dynamics. On the Honey Comp, Carl Martin says the dedicated Dry volume control allows blending the heavily compressed signal with the clean signal, restoring punch while the Comp knob sets the compression1.
The circuit itself comes straight from the Carl Martin Comp/Limiter. Carl Martin's own product page puts it plainly: the Honey Comp "is the same as the Comp Limiter in every way," with the same gray anodized finish, the same footprint, and the same simplicity, with the addition of the Dry volume control1. Guitar.com's Rachel Roberts reported that the pedal was designed to "maintain the same quality and headroom as the Comp Limiter"3.
The Comp/Limiter, in turn, is a compact two-knob version of Carl Martin's original pro-series Compressor/Limiter. Premier Guitar reported in 2018 that it was based on that original "yet without the more complex features," and Carl Martin says it was developed on request from working musicians to be very user-friendly5. Delicious Audio showed it at NAMM 2019 as "a slimmed down version of their famous compressor"6.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Comp | Sets the amount of compression |
| Level | Sets the output level of the compressed signal |
| Dry | Dedicated dry volume for blending the clean signal back in, enabling parallel processing1 |
Carl Martin describes the three-knob layout as simple operation enabling quick, efficient balancing of compressed and dry signal1.
Power and headroom
The Honey Comp runs on a standard 9V DC 200mA external power supply, but the pedal does not run at 9V internally. A proprietary Carl Martin DC/DC converter circuitry runs it internally at plus and minus 12V, which the maker says maintains headroom and sonic quality, and De Gregorio confirms the same arrangement12.
The 200mA current draw means the Honey Comp needs its own adequate supply output. A low-current daisy-chain output may not be enough.
Carl Martin's larger-format Compressor/Limiter dropped battery operation for units after January 2016, "ensuring consistent professional performance without battery hassles"7, and the Honey Comp follows that approach with external DC power only.
Sound and reception
Carl Martin describes the Honey Comp as having studio-grade sonic clarity, headroom, and quietness identical to the Comp/Limiter and the original large-format Compressor/Limiter1. The company positions it as bringing advanced studio compression techniques to a pedalboard format1.
At announcement in April 2022, the pedal carried a US MAP of $199.00 USD according to Premier Guitar's press release4, and MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley reported it available at $199, or 179 euros in Europe8.
The Carl Martin compressor family
The Honey Comp sits in a line of Carl Martin compressors that all trace back to the original Compressor/Limiter215:
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Questions
What is the difference between the Honey Comp and the Carl Martin Comp/Limiter?
According to Carl Martin, the Honey Comp is the same as the Comp/Limiter in every way, with the same gray anodized finish, the same compact footprint, and the same two-knob simplicity, plus one addition: a dedicated Dry volume control. That Dry knob enables parallel processing, letting you blend the heavily compressed signal with your clean signal. The Comp/Limiter itself is a compact two-knob version of Carl Martin's original pro-series Compressor/Limiter.
What does the Dry control on the Honey Comp do?
The Dry control is a dedicated volume knob for your uncompressed signal. It allows parallel compression: you set the amount of compression with the Comp knob, then blend that heavily compressed signal back with your clean signal using the Dry knob. Carl Martin describes this as restoring punch and dynamics while keeping the sustain and evenness that compression provides.
Where is the Carl Martin Honey Comp made?
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio describes the Honey Comp as hand-made in Denmark, the same as the original large-format Carl Martin Compressor/Limiter that preceded it. Carl Martin is a Danish company.
Does the Honey Comp run on a battery?
The Honey Comp runs on a standard 9V DC 200mA external power supply. Its proprietary DC/DC converter circuitry runs the pedal internally at plus and minus 12V to maintain headroom and sonic quality. Carl Martin's larger Compressor/Limiter units after January 2016 dropped battery operation for consistent professional performance without battery hassles.
How much does the Carl Martin Honey Comp cost in the US?
The US MAP price is $199.00 USD, as stated in Premier Guitar's April 2022 press release. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley reported the same $199 price when the pedal was announced on April 26, 2022, alongside a European price of 179 euros.
Sources (8)
- Honey Comp, Carl Martin, 2026
- Carl Martin Honey Comp, Delicious Audio, 2022-04-29
- Carl Martin announces Honey Comp pedal for balanced compressed and dry signals, Guitar.com, 2022-04-26
- Carl Martin Announces the Honey Comp, Premier Guitar, 2022-04-25
- Carl Martin Unveils the Comp/Limiter, Premier Guitar, 2018-11-19
- Carl Martin Comp/Limiter, Delicious Audio, 2019-01-29
- Compressor Limiter, Carl Martin, 2026
- Sweeten your tone like a pro with Carl Martin's Honey Comp Danish High-End Compressor pedal, MusicRadar, 2022-04-26
