Description
This Expressor has been recapped & refurbished in our workshops. Electrolytic caps in the audio path have been replaced with high-value Panasonic bipolar caps and the power supply has been recapped. Switches & pots have been cleaned & lubricated
Rare 1U mono compressor from Aphex. The Expressor was from the era of the Dominator & Compellor levelling compressors but was a single-channel unit more aimed at recording studios than broadcasters
Using the knowledge of psychoacoustics and signal processing gained in previous products, the Expressor uses similar technology to create a compressor with a flexible sidechain and built-in HFX high-frequency expansion
The sidechain offers a a low cut filter to reduce pumping of the signal by the low frequency content, a hard / soft knee switch and a slave function for stereo linking. Two Expressors can be linked using a jack-to-jack cable. The sidechain send & return are on jack sockets as well. The HFX system gives high-frequency expansion to reduce dullness when using large amounts of compression and the amount & frequency of the expansion are adjustable
In use this is highly flexible, responsive compressor that sounds great. Control calibration is excellent and it’s easy to get the kind of compression you want, from soft, slow gain-riding to pumping drums. It remind me a little of the UREI 7110 – both are underdogs that are unjustly ignored. I don’t believe Aphex made a stereo Expressor but that would have been quite a piece of kit. If you find a pair of these 651s they can be stereo linked with a jack cable
These Aphex products were built to an extremely high standard with substantial aluminium front panels and steel cases and high-quality components. This was a reflection of their broadcast heritage – and their high purchase price!
Photos show an Expressor sold previously
