Buzz Audio KICK Brings Diode-Bridge Compression to 500 Series

Catch-up: originally announced April 30, 2026. Buzz Audio’s KICK places one channel of the company’s DBC-20 diode-bridge compressor in a single-slot 500 Series module.

The balanced analogue path uses Buzz Audio BE60 input buffers, a custom “radio steel” transformer feeding the diode bridge and a discrete Class A BE41 output stage. The sidechain applies a progressive ratio that rises from 1:1 toward 15:1 as gain reduction increases.

Controls include six attack settings from under 0.5 ms to 50 ms, six release settings from 50 ms to 600 ms plus Auto, output gain and compression amount. Soft mode retains more transient movement, while the Bass switch reduces low-frequency sidechain sensitivity. Two modules can be linked for stereo operation, and a 15-segment LED meter displays gain reduction.

Buzz Audio specifies maximum input and output levels of +27 dBu, a 6 Hz–400 kHz frequency response and up to 140 mA per rail from the 500 Series frame. The manufacturer does not publish an official retail price on the product page.

Manufacturer product page: Buzz Audio KICK