MusicTech’s favourite outboard gear releases of 2025

Visit any commercial studio, even smaller ones, and we’ll bet you find some outboard gear in use. Whether it’s a simple mic preamp unit, a hardware compressor, EQ, or master bus processor, or many rack units stacked together, producers everywhere appreciate the power, flexibility, and ultimately the sound that these products can contribute to their workflow. READ MORE: MusicTech’s favourite studio gear of 2025 Here, we share some of the standout releases from 2025, including updated versions of classics, more affordable recreations of others and even some unique gear that lets you integrate rack processing directly into your DAW with no latency. LANG Electronics P.LANE Type 436 Image: Heritage Audio [products ids=”1OjlmiLmEzjC0umza61BNe”] LANG Electronics released the P.LANE Type 436 all-tube vari-mu compressor, which it calls a modern take on the modified ALTEC 436C behind “the fresh and furious British Invasion sound that conquered the world in the ‘60s”. Its 2U rack body contains three tubes matching the design of the original hardware, six-step attack and recovery controls and a SuperFast recovery setting not found in the vintage 436C units. Described as one of the most “mysterious” variable gain compressors of all time, the modded ALTEC 436C was notably used on recordings by The Beatles and became a staple of many other genres over time. Learn more at heritageaudio.com Elysia xmax Rack version. Image: Press [products ids=”5ID6LUFEZLH8cbAWLDXUdj”] xmax from German outboard specialists Elysia is a master bus processor with both multi-band and mid/sides VCA-flavour compression, soft clipping, stereo enhancement and a simple EQ. It’s designed to sit across your mix or your master channel and provide all the tools you need to get perfect-sounding end results. In fact, the developers tout its abilities not just for mastering but also for band recording or managing a live performance. In our review, we break down the complex processes by which the unit – which is also available in different form factors – splits and processes sound in order to work with it. After extensive testing, we conclude that it’s the perfect one-box solution for top-grade hardware mastering, “introducing analogue vibe through compression, saturation and tone shaping, while also offering creative stereo enhancement possibilities.” Learn more at elysia.com Warm Audio WA76-D2 [products ids=”2BTyyKhIJIDpzx4uSqvERn”] Building off the fame of vintage Rev D-style compressors, lauded manufacturer Warm Audio’s WA76-D/D2 includes all the controls of the original, one of the fastest and most powerful studio compressors of all time known for ultra-responsive dynamic control with rich analogue tone, now including additional modern recording features. Vintage ‘Rev D-Style’ 76 compressors are known for their versatility, speed and harmonic analogue tone and like the originals, the WA76-D and D2 deliver that classic performance that can be heard on legendary recordings by artists like Missy Elliott, Daft Punk, Timbaland, Rick Rubin. In our review we concluded “for a cleaner, less coloured and slightly more ‘hi-fi’ sound that still possesses that authentic ‘76 style from the mid-1970s, the Rev D models are hard to beat.” Learn more at warmaudio.com Antelope Audio A4-1B Antelope Audio A4-1B. Image: Press [products ids=”1Mlzlxa2HCzpkD1q2dfWSx”] Better known for its high-end audio interfaces, Antelope Audio’s A4-1B is an analogue automated opto-valve compressor in a 2U rack. A4-1B was designed to preserve vintage Opto-Tube units’ legendary smoothness and musicality. Even when pushed to the limit, the compressor remains transparent, breathing new life into vocal tracks, bass, keys, or percussion. But there’s more. This unit features unusual motorized potentiometers, allowing instant recall of patches and settings on the actual hardware front panel which is hardly ever found in rack gear, and allows the hardware to be automated from a DAW. It also links to a special plug-in version of the compressor although this is a paid extra, with different levels of access based on which tier you choose. Nonetheless it’s a new take on an outboard classic. Learn more at antelopeaudio.com Behringer 676 Image: Behringer [products ids=”4b6k56AIg9zzo6u1g42Ky8″] Behringer continues to produce versions of well-known hardware at more competitive price points, and in 2025, it released the 676, a recreation of Universal Audio’s 6176 with its “classic” vacuum tube preamplifier and FET-style compressor. The original 6176 apparently “served as the secret sauce” for some well-known artists and recording engineers such as Norah Jones, John Mayer, and even producers like Tony Visconti. Behringer says it wants to keep the “classic alive” with the 676, which has custom-built Midas transformers and premium 12AX7/ECC83S and 12AT7/6072 tubes for a “warm and rich sound”. It also has 2-band shelving EQ with switchable filters, switchable pad, phase reverse and vintage-style meters. Featuring