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As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to dive into the outboard gear that defined studios this year. From legendary designs that continue to set the standard to groundbreaking new entries that earned their place in racks worldwide, this year’s best sellers span compressors, EQs, preamps, and beyond. Whether you’re fine-tuning your setup or building from scratch, our list of 2024’s best-selling outboard gear is a great starting point for inspiration.
Up from the #2 spot last year, our top-selling piece of outboard gear in 2024 was the Neve 1073SPX. Building on the legacy of the iconic 1073, the 1073SPX delivers the same unmistakable Class A sound that’s shaped countless hits over the last five decades. Handcrafted in England and engineered to original 1970 specs, this preamp/EQ powerhouse features the classic three-band EQ with its fixed high-frequency shelf, versatile mid and low bands, and a musical high-pass filter. Known for its big, punchy tone, the 1073SPX shines across every genre—from rock to rap to orchestral recordings.
A staple on our annual list of best-selling outboard gear, the API 550A has earned its place as one of the most revered equalizers in recording history. Originally designed in the late ‘60s by Saul Walker, this discrete three-band EQ became a cornerstone of custom consoles and studio setups worldwide, thanks to its smooth, musical tone and unmatched precision. Decades later, it’s still the gold standard against which other EQs are measured, proving its timeless value in both vintage and modern workflows.
The Universal Audio 1176LN is the definition of a studio icon. First introduced in the late ‘60s, this FET-style compressor revolutionized limiter technology with its all-transistor circuitry and ultra-fast attack times. Known for its unmistakable character, the 1176LN has shaped the sound of countless records, earning a place on the racks of legendary artists and producers like Peter Frampton and Vance Powell. Nearly five decades later, its signature tone and lightning-fast response continue to make it a favorite for engineers worldwide.
Up next on our list is the SSL SiX CH, which packs decades of Solid State Logic’s legendary engineering into a compact 500 Series format, delivering a versatile channel strip for recording, mixing, and beyond. Based on the SiX desktop mixer, this module combines SSL’s SuperAnalogue mic preamp, a responsive two-band EQ, and a deceptively powerful single-knob compressor, giving you everything you need for pristine audio processing.
The Rupert Neve Designs Portico 542 isn’t just a tape emulator—it’s the ultimate color box for adding warmth, texture, and unmistakable analog character to your tracks. Built around Rupert Neve’s “True Tape” drive circuit, this 500 Series module emulates the saturation of tape with unparalleled accuracy, feeding a custom-designed transformer to deliver rich third-order harmonics and soft clipping that smooths out even the harshest transients.
As one of the most popular preamps ever made, it's no surprise to see more than one version of the 1073 on our list. The BAE 1073MPL brings the legendary Class A sound of the iconic 1073 to the compact 500 Series format, delivering a mic preamp that’s as versatile as it is colorful. Known for its harmonically rich low end, slightly resonant highs, and tightly focused mids, the 1073MPL offers the same sonic signature and craftsmanship that made its predecessors studio staples. Built with Carnhill St Ives transformers and the same hand-wired attention to detail as the original 1073, this preamp ensures authentic vintage tone with modern flexibility.
The SPL Stereo Vitalizer Mk3-T is a powerhouse for shaping and enhancing your sound, combining a harmonic exciter, bass compressor, and stereo expander into one intuitive tool. With its patented Vitalizer circuitry, this studio essential breathes life into your mixes, delivering greater detail, enhanced transparency, and a profound bass foundation that’s impossible to ignore.
A newcomer to our list, the Standard Audio Level-Or Mk2 Dual takes the beloved Level-Or design to new heights, packing two channels of JFET-driven mayhem into a robust 19” rackmount chassis. Building on the legacy of the Mk2 500-series module, the Level-Or Mk2 Dual adds even more firepower, including a mix knob for parallel processing, stereo linking for cohesive control, and the innovative Cascade Mode, which opens up endless sonic possibilities. Use the Level mode for fierce limiting or flip to Crunch mode for everything from rich harmonic enhancement to unapologetic audio annihilation.
Released just last year, the Empirical Labs Pump 500 Series compressor is another new entry on our list of top-selling outboard gear. Inspired by the iconic Distressor, Arousor, and Mike-E, the Pump is a versatile and intuitive compressor designed for sound sculptors who demand both precision and musicality. With controls for input level, output gain, and eight selectable compression ratios from 2:1 to 20:1, the Pump offers an incredible range of tonal options, from subtle smoothing to bold, aggressive compression.
Hailing from the same console design that shaped countless 70s rock classics, this four-band EQ offers a wealth of sonic possibilities with its frequency-switchable high and low shelving bands, two sweepable midrange bands with resonant Q peaks, and a switchable high-pass filter. Whether you're shaping punchy bass, sparkling highs, or defining mids, the 80B EQ delivers precise, musical control over your sound.
A transparent and detailed 500 series mic, line, and hi-z preamp with two analog saturation styles that emulate vintage tube and transformer effects.
A versatile line-level stereo color box that adds saturation, harmonics, and compression.
A boutique analog stereo spring reverb machine with two delay lines, four stereo filters, stereo modulation controls, and a unit-wide feedback loop.
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