The MXR Dyna Comp Bass Compressor (model M282) is a bass compressor pedal from MXR, the Jim Dunlop-owned brand. It takes the compression sound of the classic Dyna Comp, a design that dates back to the 1970s, and reworks it for bass: the circuitry is tailored to bass frequencies and the nuances of electric bass, and a Clean control lets you blend your unaffected signal back in so the low end survives heavy compression12.
MXR announced it on 27 February 2019 as "a low-end-focused mini-pedal version of the company's classic Dyna Comp," available at launch for $1493. It was available now at that date, and it remains in the current MXR line at a list price of $159.9934.
What it does: Dyna Comp compression with a clean blend
A compressor evens out the difference between your loudest and quietest notes, raising sustain and keeping your playing level consistent in a mix. The original Dyna Comp does this with just two knobs, and MXR describes the bass version as delivering "the iconic Dyna Comp Compressor sound in bass-friendly form"1.
The addition that matters most for bass players is the Clean control. MXR says it "lets you add in your unaffected bass signal so that you can maintain low end integrity"1. Heavy compression on a bass can thin out the fundamentals, because the compressor pulls down the strong low-frequency peaks; blending dry signal back in restores them. MusicRadar's launch coverage called the clean blend "crucially" part of the package3.
The rest of the voicing is bass-specific too. Bass Magazine's reviewers noted that "the circuitry is tailored to bass frequencies and the nuances of electric bass," and the tone control works the upper mids rather than the whole spectrum2.
The controls
The M282 has four knobs and a switch, against the original Dyna Comp's two63.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity | Sets the amount of compression; gives control over the sustain52 |
| Output | Sets the volume of the compressed signal52 |
| Clean | Blends in unaffected signal to maintain low end integrity1 |
| Tone | Tweaks the upper mids, ±7 dB at 1 kHz52 |
| Attack switch | Chooses between a slow attack and a fast attack2 |
The attack switch is the one control the original never had. A slow attack lets the front of each note through before compression engages, keeping some snap; a fast attack engages immediately for tighter, more even dynamics2. On the related Dyna Comp Deluxe, MXR describes the two settings as a "vintage-style slow attack time" and a "modern-style fast attack time"7.
Power and connections: 9V, mini housing
The pedal runs on 9 VDC from a Dunlop ECB003 adapter or an MXR Brick Series power supply, each sold separately, and draws 11 mA5. Bass Magazine's spec listing also cites a 9-volt battery as a power source2. Input and output are on ¼" jacks2.
Everything fits in MXR's mini housing, which Dunlop says makes "making room for it on your pedalboard... a cinch"1. That is the practical difference from the full-size MXR Bass Compressor and the MXR M87B Blackout Series Bass Compressor in the same line: the M282 trades their larger feature sets for a footprint closer to a standard stompbox's half.
History: the CA3080 metal can circuit
The Dyna Comp dates to the 1970s, and Dunlop's own history of the pedal notes that inside "it contained the coveted CA3080 metal can integrated circuit, which remains a key component to its sound and vibe"8. That chip has been out of production since the 1980s; when MXR built the limited Custom Shop '76 Vintage Dyna Comp reissue in 2008, it did so from a tracked-down stash of the original ICs9.
The M282 is built around that same classic CA3080 "metal can" integrated circuit, which MXR chose for "its quiet operation, superior transparency, and increased dynamic range"1. Guitar World's bass compressor guide makes the same point in plainer terms: "This compressor is built around a CA3080 circuit that is known for having a good dynamic range and being transparent"10. The chip appears across the current Dyna Comp family, including the Script Dyna Comp, the Dyna Comp Mini and the Dyna Comp Deluxe111213.
What reviewers said
Bass Magazine's review put the pedal to work in a real gig context2:
"I dug how it evened out the volume and sustain of what I was playing behind the artist, which included a lot of long-held..2."
Rod Taylor and Darryl Anders, Bass Magazine2
The review found it performed well on funk and rock material overall2.
Guitar World's 2026 review of MXR bass pedals praised its flexibility: "With four controls and an Attack switch, the Dyna Comp has plenty of flexibility with which to sculpt the dynamics of your bass tone," and concluded that "Bassists looking to tighten up their sound will love the Dyna Comp's housekeeping of your signal"6. The same outlet's best-bass-compressor guide named the M282 its pick for best compact compressor10.
One caveat comes from the Dyna Comp line's own measurements: the M282's manual lists a noise floor of -100 dBV (A-weighted, all controls at mid position)5, and on That Pedal Show's compressor comparison, the Dyna Comp circuit was shown to have a higher noise floor than the other compressors in the video514. At 11 mA of current draw, though, it is an easy pedal to power5.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Max compression | 36 dB5 |
| Tone control | ±7 dB at 1 kHz5 |
| Max input level | -5 dBV5 |
| Max output level | +2 dBV5 |
| THD | 0.2%5 |
| Noise floor | -100 dBV (A-weighted, controls at mid)5 |
| Current draw | 11 mA5 |
| Power supply | 9 VDC5 |
Videos
The Bass Channel
Daric's Bass Lessons
Bass Bonedo
Questions
Is the MXR Dyna Comp Bass analog?
Yes. Bass Magazine's review lists the M282 Dyna Comp Bass Compressor as an analog pedal, and it is built around the classic CA3080 "metal can" integrated circuit that MXR uses across the Dyna Comp line for quiet operation, transparency and dynamic range.
How does the bass Dyna Comp differ from the guitar Dyna Comp?
The bass version keeps the Dyna Comp's sensitivity and output controls but adds a Clean blend so you can mix in unaffected signal and keep your low end intact, plus a tone control centered on the upper mids and an attack switch. It also comes in MXR's mini housing rather than the standard-size box.
What does the attack button do on the Dyna Comp Bass?
It switches between a slow attack and a fast attack. Slow attack lets the initial pluck of a note through before compression kicks in, which suits a more vintage feel, while fast attack clamps down on the note right away for tighter, more even dynamics.
Can I use the Dyna Comp Bass Compressor on guitar?
The manual describes the input simply as taking a cable from your instrument, so nothing stops you plugging a guitar into it. The circuitry is tailored to bass frequencies and the nuances of electric bass, though, and the tone control works the upper mids around 1 kHz.
Sources (14)
- MXR® DYNA COMP® BASS COMPRESSOR, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Review: MXR M282 Dyna Comp Bass Compressor, Bass Magazine, 2019-07-23
- MXR releases Dyna Comp Bass Compressor pedal, MusicRadar, 2019-02-27
- MXR® BLACKOUT™ SERIES BASS COMPRESSOR, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- M282.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2025
- MXR Sub Octave Bass Fuzz, Vintage Bass Octave and Dyna Comp Bass review, Guitar World, 2021-08-26
- MXR launches four new pedals, Guitar.com, 2018-07-03
- A Dyna Comp-rehensive History, Dunlop (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2018-10-25
- MXR Custom Shop Releases 1976 Dyna Comp Reissue, Premier Guitar, 2008-12-09
- Best bass compressor pedals 2026: ultimate low-end control, Guitar World, 2022-05-11
- MXR® SCRIPT DYNA COMP® COMPRESSOR, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- MXR® DYNA COMP® MINI COMPRESSOR, Dunlop (www.jimdunlop.com)
- MXR® DYNA COMP® DELUXE COMPRESSOR, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Beyond The MXR Dyna Comp & Boss CS-3 Compressor J Rockett Airchild, UA LA-2A, 1176 & Origin Cali76, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2024-03-22
