Much has been made of the Fairchild 660 and 670 since the release of the former in 1959. Both compressor/limiters have a reputation for sonic superiority and rarity, which has pushed the asking price of some vintage units into the six-figure territory. These high prices have left many engineers scratching their heads, wondering how to get those classic sounds. Thankfully, several impressive reproductions can help you capture the essence without breaking the bank.

At AES New York 2023 in October, two brands got the pro audio community talking with new takes on the Fairchild 670. Telefunken Elektroakustik mainman Toni Fishman resurrected the Fairchild Recording Equipment name with a faithful 670 replica. Heritage Audio joined the fun by releasing the Grandchild 670, marking the first attempt at bringing the stereo compressor to the world of the 500 Series.

With these two releases, music makers and audio creators at all budget levels now have an option for recreating the Fairchild's magic. In this blog, we will break down some of these tools, from plug-ins and 500 Series modules to single-channel takes on the 660 and highly accurate recreations of the 670.

10 Modern Fairchild Compressor Reproductions For Your Studio

IK Multimedia Vintage Tube Compressor/Limiter Model 670

Price: $299.99

The IK Multimedia Vintage Tube Compressor/Limiter Model 670 is not only the most affordable version of the Fairchild 670 on our list, but the plug-in actually comes in the massive T-Racks 5 Max package, which includes 52 other plug-ins. As for the plug-in itself, the recreation closely follows the lead of the legendary Vari-MU compressor/limiter, offering two channels that can be used independently, in stereo, or in Vertical and Lateral components of a stereo mix.

Universal Audio Fairchild Tube Limiter Plug-In Collection

Price: $299

As a purveyor of iconic hardware and cutting-edge software, one would expect Universal Audio to come correct when modeling vintage gear. Guess what? They do just that with the Fairchild Tube Limiter Plug-In Collection! Utilizing a golden reference unit from Ocean Way Studios, Universal Audio has accurately captured the rich warmth of the 660 and 670. In addition, there is seamless compression control via Wet/Dry, Sidechain Filter, and Headroom switches and knobs.

Waves Audio PuigChild Compressor Plug-In

Price: $349

Waves Audio also gives you both the mono 660 and stereo 670, but this time, the reference units come from engineer Jack Joseph Puig (The Black Crowes / John Mayer / No Doubt). All the classic compression modes and controls (including Attack and Release times) are here, and there is the option to add back in the original hum and noise floor (50/60 Hz) for full analog glory.

Heritage Audio Grandchild 670 500 Series Vari-MU Stereo Compressor

Price: $1,999

The first physical reproduction of the Fairchild on our list is also the newest. Heritage Audio has been cooking up a few Fairchild options (more on those in a minute), but the Grandchild distills all that analog magic down to a lunchbox-friendly package. This 2U 500 Series module packs two NOS military-grade 6BA6 tubes per channel and utilizes three custom-made transformers in its makeup. One of these transformers is in the high-pass Sidechain filter, which features three positions to suit your taste.

Chandler Limited RS660 Mono Tube Compressor

Price: $3,599

When discussing modern reproductions of vintage classics, you can always count on Chandler Limited to deliver something unique. For the RS660, Chandler brings together the Fairchild 660 and EMI RS124, two timeless compressors used at Abbey Road Studios in the 1960s. The resulting mono tube compressor delivers a signature sound all its own with essential controls like Input, Output, and Time Constant, in addition to three different compression modes, including Comp, Limit, and THD. You can also link together two of these for stereo use.

Mercury 666 Studio Limiting Amplifier

Price: $3,888

We've talked about the Fairchild 660 and Fairchild 670, but what about the Fairchild 666? This compressor/limiter differed from its brethren, as the 660 and 670 were Vari-MU, and the 666 was an opto comp. This compressor was actually used a lot at both Motown and Abbey Road in their heyday.

Like the original, the Mercury 666 recreation features both solid-state and tube elements in its design. Mercury has made life easier for engineers and done away with the unfriendly controls that required you to break out the screwdriver to change them. The compressor's Attack Release Switch features 11 different settings; the first six are the same as the 660, and the additional five are more flexible than the original unit.

Heritage Audio Herchild 660 Tube Compressor

Price: $5,499

As previously mentioned, Heritage Audio has been busy building Fairchild reproductions in several forms. The Herchild 660 is a 19-inch rackmount take on the classic 660 mono compressor. There are 11 tubes and five transformers utilized in the compressor, and it features the same six Attack and Release times as the original unit. Heritage has added a DC Threshold control, which allows you to make curve adjustments by combining the ratio and the knee, and there is also a Side Chain Filter with four selectable frequencies.

Mercury 66 Studio Tube Limiting Amplifier

Price: $9,898

Mercury is back on our list of modern Fairchild reproductions with its take on the 660. These tube and transformer-based mono compressor/limiters are hand-built and assembled in the USA with a vintage-style VU meter and bakelite knobs. The Mercury 66 features extremely fast attack times, and its variable release time ranges from .3 seconds to 25 seconds. Just like the Heritage 660, Mercury has brought the DC Threshold to the front panel but calls it the DC Adjust. Turn the knob left for more DC and right to decrease the DC and amount of compression.

Heritage Audio Herchild 670 Stereo Tube Compressor

Price: $9,999

We've graduated from plug-ins, 500 Series, and 2U rackmount units to the big show. It's time to talk full-size Fairchild 670 reproductions. First up is the Heritage Audio Herchild 670. This compressor/limiter doubles up on the brand's 660 design and features 22 tubes and nine transformers. There are four modes of operation, including INDIVIDUAL, LINK (Stereo), LAT/VERT (Mid/Side), and LAT/VERT LINK, and a Side Chain filter with four frequencies. These frequencies include 50, 100, 200, and 350 Hz.

UnderTone Audio UnFairchild 670M II Dual-Channel Compressor / Limiter

Price: $10,995

Producer and engineer Eric Valentine was among the first to revive the Fairchild 660/670 and bring back the magic with a modern reproduction. The UnderTone Audio Fairchild 670M II emerged in 2017 after an exhaustive research and design journey. Every detail was meticulously considered in crafting this compressor/limiter, ensuring a faithful recreation of the original's sound while incorporating innovative, forward-thinking features. We've got MS functionality, side chain processing, true bypass, adjustable DC Threshold, and"Feed-Back" vs. "Feed Forward" functionality.

Fairchild Recording Equipment 670 Dual-Channel Compressor/Limiter

Price: $35,000

We're going from the first on the block to the new kid in town with our last entry on this list. Telefunken Elektroakustik's Toni Fishman has officially brought back the Fairchild Recording Equipment name, and its first release is an incredible 670 reproduction. As we've outlined, some of these other 670s have opted to add new functionality to make their compressor/limiters a better fit in the modern studio. This new Fairchild adheres to the exact specifications of the original and delivers the iconic feature set that we've come to know and love.

If you’re interested in purchasing any of the gear mentioned in this blog, contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.