me also use 1176 for soap post, and i don't mind his behaviour while not officialy compressing, although i would like to have autogain feature on it. As the matter a fact i use it being the part of bigger team set-up around Nuendo template. Nevertheless, mine contribution to this template was obligatory use of Precission Limiter, 'cause it's mindblowing capability of handling very high levels. Yess, it kinda dulls things a little, but for TV soap use, benefits are more valuable.
Also i use pultec eq as a slight "brightener" of all clasical music scores i got for mixing.
Cambridge is excellent also, we have preset set for telephone simulation, as well for cleaning bad lav wirelles reception (sharp as a knife!)
