Rupert Neve Designs 543 500 Series Mono Compressor/Limiter Reviews
Here's your unbelievably musical compressor, courtesy of Rupert Neve Designs! When you have the 543 in your 500 Series rack, you'll instantly be impressed. After all, this mono compressor has a strong lineage. Not only does it come from the brain of Rupert Neve, but it's also derived from the extremely popular Portico 5043. Now, you can get that unobtrusive, musical-sounding dynamic control into your favorite portable 500 Series format. The 543 sports individually controllable threshold, attack, release, makeup gain, ratio, sidechain highpass filter, Feed-Forward/Feed-Back selection, and Peak/RMS detection modes. When you have the compressor inactive, you can actually use the 543 as a transformer-coupled line amplifier for great results. And when stereo needs come about, just link two 543 units for unbelievable sound. With proven sound, thanks to its big brother in the Portico format, the 543 will be a sound addition to your 500 Series rack.
Earn $50 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $42/month with 24 month financing*
$50 Earn $50.00 back in Bonus Bucks† on this purchase when you use your Sweetwater Credit Card without financing. Select your offer in checkout. Terms
As low as $42/month
with 24 month financing*
See all payment options
Customer Reviews
Customer Added Media
Share Your Thoughts
Help other music gear aficionados by sharing your opinions of gear you've purchased.
Questions about the 543neve?
Or call us at (800) 222-4700
Sweetwater's Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. They are available to offer you personalized product advice any time you need it.
Highest Rated Reviews
At Least Two Compressors In One
I shot this out versus the RND 535 and Tree LC/1 and it sounded better more often on more things, so I bought a second one. Now that I have two, I can really hear the magic in this thing as a bus compressor. I do a lot of acoustic stuff, so I require less obvious compression. In feedback mode it is soooo gentle... I want to say transparent, but yet it imparts some sort of finished magic and color that is simply not there without it. It makes everything that goes through it sound better.... you know.... much more like a record.
In feedforward mode it can do the typical VCA thing. I was initially worried about 20ms not being fast enough, but it will clamp down on acoustic guitar transients with room to spare if I want it too (and I don't). Seems like RND measure the attack time a little differently on this one maybe. It also feels like it varies quite a bit between feedback and feedforward mode. You have to use your ears to get the attack/release right on this, the typical numbers you might be used to are are a little different with this beast depending upon the setting. However, it will do the job.
For me the magic is in the feedback mode, however it is certainly capable of more aggressive compression in feedforward mode as well.
Clean and effective
First of all, I'm just a hobbyist with a tiny apartment studio. I don't claim to be a "pro" like most people who post reviews or YouTube videos.
So this is what I know from using this compressor:
With the "Feedforward" and "Feedback" switch, the only different I hear is the the feedback setting, you have turn up the ratio more because the unit is not compressing as much. Also, it doesn't sound like this compressor colors your tone and I guess that's how VCA compressor operate. For what this compressor costed, I wish there was a on/off switch to saturate or something. But I know zero about analog circuity and I wouldn't even pretend to know how these compressor work.
I leave this compressor on the RMS setting and I guess the Peak setting functions a little more like a limiter. As for the side-chain HPF, I don't use use it because the frequency is set a little high (or maybe I just don't know when to turn it on.)
Other than that, it does it's job well. I do, down the road, want to experiment with different compressors and get me a tube compressor.
OUTSTANDING!
I began my recording career back in the summer of 1969. I have used all the great comps between then and now. This is simply the best VCA compressor I've ever used, period!!
The RMS/PEAK option is an amazing feature, along with the Feedback/Feedforward option too.
This gem is worth every penny and more, given the results it provides.
I ended up with five in my lunchbox!
Smoooooooth.....
Excellent, smooth, warm, professional quality, vintage tone. I except nothing less form Rupert Neve Designs.
Wow
I was absolutely blown away by this compressor. Sales Engineer Drew Foster told me about how good it sounds. He was not wrong at all.. Even doing loads of compression, there are no unpleasing artifacts and it just adds weight to the sound. Just like Neve should.. Awesome..
BEST 500 SERIES COMPRESSOR .
Not gonna say much about this purchase, only that the name and product speaks for its self. go to your nearest pro gear vendor and listen and believe.
Nice!!
I have to admit the low price point had me a little skeptical at first, but after using the 511 for a little over a month, I have to say that I am very impressed!
This thing just sounds nice and gives my vocals that presence I was looking for. I did only hear a slight difference when engaging the silk feature, but the hi pass filter works absolutely great!
Really good sounding pre at a REALLY good price.
"Among the cleanest, most foul creature!"
This was our first foray into the world of Rupert Neve Design. After countless performances and shows of using UA 1176LN, LA2A, Distressor, Presonus ACP88, including the ubiquitous Art Pro-VLA II, we decided that a cleaner and more transparent compressor was needed in our selections.
RND's Portico 543 particularly excelled in the category of sounding clean without having the pumping effect of an overly-compressed signal box. The first exception was it's high-pass sidechain parameter that enables all frequencies under 250Hz to pass through untouched. What this does is allow the compressor to work on only the mids and upper transients of the signal, thus, giving a much smoother and uniform body. Very similar to having a multiband compressor across your signal, ie bass, kick, mix buss, and boosting the lower frequencies for a fuller soundtrack.
The second most important feature is the feedback and feedforward parameter. The feedback mode is very gentle, while the feedforward mode has a higher compression effect. With feedback mode engaged and high compression ratio, the signal still retains most of it's dynamics except for the slightest transients that gets smoothed out.
In all, RND's 543 is by far the most transparent compressor we've ever heard to date. It's not unlikely that one would fill a whole 500 series rack full of 543's.
Creamy sounding compressor
The way I would characterize this compressor is creamy and rich, it's exceptionally good at handling transients and it can really help keep a vocalist in check. On FeedFoward mode the compression is subtle and effective all at the same time, You will not have a hard time hearing what this is doing to your signal. It responds well and imparts more feel than it does a texture of its own. In FeedBack mode, the compressor morphs into an entirely different beast, this thing pumps like a gas station. Honestly, this compressor really does feel like two compressors in one, the character in FeedBack mode is an entirely different sound, having both options is great. RND makes some of the highest quality parts on the market and this unit is no different.
This one is an absolute pleasure to work with and I expected nothing less from such a prolific designer.
Happy Mixing!
Clean...
I love this on FB mode for R&B and Hip Hop vocals (or for any vocal you want clean). This sounds great with my Pacifica mic pre. Very clean and transparent. One design aspect that I would change is to have the gain reduction meter on top so it's easier to see. That's just a personal preference. It seems to be of a very solid construction.
