Best 500 Series Components Under $500 2026
Affordable 500 series components under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
Golden Age Audio Premier Pre-573
- • Expandable rack system
- • High-quality analog processing
- • High learning curve
- • Limited to professional applications
Golden Age Audio Premier Pre-573500 Series Module1-Channel Microphone/Line/Instrument Preamplifier in vintage styleNo...
Heritage Audio LANG 312L
- • Professional studio standard
- • Expandable rack system
- • Requires 500-series rack chassis
- • Complex setup and routing
Heritage Audio LANG 312LSystem 500 ModuleNY-style preamp for drums and guitars in 500 module designSuper-fast...
Cranborne Audio Camden 500
- • Professional studio standard
- • Mix and match different manufacturers
- • Complex setup and routing
- • High learning curve
Cranborne Audio Camden 500Microphone Preamplifier and Signal Processor in 500 Series Module FormatLineartransparent...
Heritage Audio OST-4 V2
- • High-quality analog processing
- • Mix and match different manufacturers
- • Limited to professional applications
- • High learning curve
Heritage Audio OST-4 V2Empty Housing for up to Four 500 Series ModulesOn Slot technology (power regulation for each...
Radial Engineering X-AMP 500
- • Expandable rack system
- • High-quality analog processing
- • Requires 500-series rack chassis
- • Limited to professional applications
Radial Engineering X-AMP 500Active Re-Amping BoxSplitter for guitar ampConverts a +4 dB signal to a hi-impedance signal...
Lindell Audio 506 Power MKII
- • High-quality analog processing
- • Mix and match different manufacturers
- • Limited to professional applications
- • Very expensive professional gear
Lindell Audio 506 Power MKII6-Slot Rack for 500 Series ModuleUp to 400 mA load per moduleGold-plated XLR and D-Sub...
Golden Age Audio Project Comp-554
- • High-quality analog processing
- • Mix and match different manufacturers
- • Complex setup and routing
- • High learning curve
Golden Age Audio Project Comp-554Single-Channel Vintage-Style Compressor in 500 Module FormatDiscrete signal...
Fredenstein Bento 8 Pure Analog
- • Professional studio standard
- • Modular system flexibility
- • Complex setup and routing
- • High learning curve
Fredenstein Bento 8 Pure Analog8-Slot Rack for API 500 System ModulesWith analogue power supply +/- 16 Volt / +48...
Harrison Audio MR3eq
- • Modular system flexibility
- • High-quality analog processing
- • High learning curve
- • Requires 500-series rack chassis
Harrison Audio MR3eq1-Channel 3-Band Parametric Equaliser in 500 Module Format+/- 10 dB boostc/ cut rangeHF 800 Hz - 15...
Golden Age Audio Project Pre-573 MKIII
- • Expandable rack system
- • Mix and match different manufacturers
- • Complex setup and routing
- • Requires 500-series rack chassis
Golden Age Audio Project Pre-573 MKIII500 Preamp ModuleBased on the Golden Age Project Pre-73 MK3Gain range: -15 to +80...
Lindell Audio 7X-500
- • High-quality analog processing
- • Mix and match different manufacturers
- • Complex setup and routing
- • Requires 500-series rack chassis
Lindell Audio 7X-500500 FET Style Compressor and LimiterParallel compression with crossfade controlHigh pass sidechain...
Lindell Audio PEX-500
- • High-quality analog processing
- • Professional studio standard
- • Limited to professional applications
- • Very expensive professional gear
Lindell Audio PEX-500500 Series Module EQCoupled transformer with symmetric inputs and outputsPassive EQ in Pultec...
Fredenstein Artistic Leveler
- • Expandable rack system
- • High-quality analog processing
- • High learning curve
- • Very expensive professional gear
Fredenstein Artistic LevelerOpticalCompressorWith "Multi Channel Link" functionExternal sidechain input via...
Rodec M 108 Line Pre
- • Professional studio standard
- • Modular system flexibility
- • High learning curve
- • Very expensive professional gear
Rodec M 108 Line PreDiscrete Stereo : ine PreamplifierFor MX Modular consolesGain: 70 dBLED level indicator2 Vintage...
Fredenstein Bento 6S
- • Mix and match different manufacturers
- • Professional studio standard
- • Requires 500-series rack chassis
- • Very expensive professional gear
Fredenstein Bento 6S6-Slot Rack for Modules of API 500 SystemsInternal power supply +/- 16 V/ +48 VReduced cablingso...
How to Choose the Best 500 Series Components
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
