MusicTech’s favourite outboard gear releases of 2025Visit 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 a powerful FET compressor with an ultra-fast attack time of 20 to 800 microseconds, 676 ensures precise control over transients. Its adjustable release time, from 50 to 1100 milliseconds, allows for tailored control over dynamics.
Learn more at behringer.com
Neve 88C

This super compact unit brings the legendary sound of Neve compression to your desktop. First introduced in the 1970s, Neve’s VCA compressors offered greater precision and flexibility compared to the classic, gentle compression of the Neve Diode Bridge design. Powered by USB-C, this unit has a maximum +18dB threshold and built-in limiting capabilities and works as a standalone stereo or mono compressor, delivering up to a massive -50dB of gain reduction.
Other features include brickwall limiting, adaptive attack and intelligent release capabilities, variable sidechain filtering and a true bypass design. While you would usually need to budget for lots of money and space to get that Neve sound, the 88C makes it accessible to almost any producer.
Learn more at ams-neve.com
Freqport FreqInOut F01

This innovative hardware unit is an audio I/O device that lets you integrate hardware outboard effects and processing directly into your DAW without loads of fussy routing and cabling. As the developers explain: “The FreqInOut couldn’t be easier to use. Just plug it in with a single USB cable, install the software, power up, open the interface, and connect your outboard equipment.”
The built-in hardware Matrix allows you to reconfigure the signal flow through your outboard equipment and does so without adding latency. You can even capture your hardware settings by scanning a QR Code and create a custom skin inside the plug-in. It’s also expandable, allowing you to add four or eight more I/O features, a Mid-Side mode, a Hardware Mix for parallel processing, and uses top-tier ESS 32 bit converters with support for up to 192kHz sample rates. It’s a “missing link” between the hardware and software sides of your studio setup.
Learn more at freqport.com
The post MusicTech’s favourite outboard gear releases of 2025 appeared first on MusicTech.