SOILDGOLDFX
HORIZON
REVIEW BY DAVID A. EVANS
STREET PRICE $175.00
Aside from equalization,
probably the least
understood effect in a
musician’s arsenal is the
compressor. Basically,
a compressor acts as a
variable master volume
knob for one’s signal.
Delicately pluck a string
and the compressor
lets the signal through
untouched. Strum a chord
right afterward, and the
compressor will clamp
down on the signal before
it’s outputted. The result
is a more “even” sound,
volume-wise. Not only
will compressors even out
the louder portions of
one’s playing, they’ll help
to highlight those softer
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GEAR REVIEW
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notes and noises, thereby
producing the impression of
increased sustain.
The effect sounds
simple enough, but each
compressor has its own
character, its own “sonic
signature.” The Horizon
by Solidgoldfx delivers on
the company’s promises
in its tagline of “clarity,
response, tone,” a slogan
that could also double as
the pedal’s sonic signature,
were it capable of writing.
The Horizon uses optical
compression, which means
that the inputted signal
powers a small LED that
sits next to a light-sensor.
As the light brightens, the
pedal clamps down on the
SolidGoldFX Horizon
signal, thereby evening the
outputted volume.
In testing, the Horizon
performed wonderfully.
The intuitive and simple
controls—only three of
them—allowed for easier
experimentation. (It’s
unfortunately the case
that a greater number of
controls o n a compressor
might make for a more
difficult time of “dialing
in” the perfect sound, a
result of too many choices
to make.) The Horizon is
pretty loud, which is great,
because more overhead
is always nice to have; in
testing, the Volume knob
never really went above
9 o’clock. And even in