A reed valve having a plurality of tips and associated recesses is provided as a compressor suction valve with each valve tip coacting with a suction port. The recesses are located in the housing structure defining the cylinder of the compressor and are spaced a distance on the order of 0.1 inches from the tips when the suction valve is closed. The valve is secured on one side of the cylinder and each tip is located along a line from the center of the cylinder through the center, or axis, of a suction port.