Abstract: A poppet valve assembly for a high-speed compressor, the poppet valve assembly including a cage that includes a plurality of counter bores disposed therein. The poppet valve assembly further includes a plurality of poppets, each poppet having a stem and a head. The head of each poppet has a maximum diameter that is less than approximately 0.75 inches. The stem of the poppet is disposed in each of said counter bores. The poppet valve assembly also includes a seat plate overlying said cage, said seat plate including a plurality of through bores axially aligned with the counter bores of the cage. Each through bore is sized to have a smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the head. A lift spacer is disposed in each of the counter bores.