Swedish record producer Tobias Lindell is well known for his dedication to great sound. When he launched Lindell Audio in 2010, his goal was to create equipment that suited his own working methods and satisfied his need for quality. Now he has brought that same dedication to the 500 Series format with three modules: the 6X-500 mic pre/EQ, the 7X-500 FET compressor, and the PEX-500 Pultec-style EQ. I had the opportunity to load all three up in an API lunchbox and take them for a spin.
The 7X-500 is Lindell’s take on classic 1176-style compression, with all the expected features and controls. However, two additional features take it up a notch: a mix control for parallel compression and a sidechain with a highpass filter. The 7X-500 excels anywhere you’d use an 1176. I found the 7X-500 is especially awesome on drums, guitars, and vocals, but it is a great all-around compressor.
The PEX-500 is a Pultec-style EQ with both low and high bands, each with boost and cut controls. Being able to boost and cut in the same band allows you to create complex EQ curves, but the real power of the PEX-500 lies in the fat, punchy bottom and creamy top end it can produce. I used it on kick drum, snare drum, electric bass, and vocals — everything simply sounded better running through the PEX-500.
The 6X-500 preamp/EQ offers a thick transformer-coupled sound with fat low end and smooth top end. The bonus is the inclusion of two boost-only bands of Pultec-style EQ, each with three frequency selections. There’s 65dB of gain on tap, plus 48-volt phantom power, polarity reverse, and EQ bypass switches. This is a great-sounding preamp.
The Lindell Audio 500 Series modules offer incredible value — at just $299.99 each, they’re no-brainers for building a hybrid studio based around a DAW and a mixer or summing box. Check these out — great audio awaits!
