Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 7 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
5.0 (14)
$2,999.00
Guitar Center
5.0 (1)
$2,999.00
Amazon
5.0 (2)
$2,999.00 New
$2,769.90 Used (Like New)
Reverb
5.0 (12)
$40.00 New
$1,700.00 Used
Musician's Friend
5.0 (1)
$2,999.00
B&H
5.0 (1)
$2,999.00
Vintage King
5.0 (8)
$2,999.00

Average Price: $2,467

High-end/Boutique

$100

$501+

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High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Universal Audio 1176LN". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

The Universal Audio 1176LN Limiting Amplifier is a faithful reissue of the iconic solid-state compressor that revolutionized the music industry in 1967. Renowned for its ultra-fast attack and release times, this versatile limiting amplifier can deliver a broad range of compression effects, from subtle leveling to full-blown distortion.

Handcrafted in Scotts Valley, California, each 1176LN is meticulously assembled point-to-point, replicating Bill Putnam Sr.'s original design. This commitment to authenticity ensures that the 1176LN captures the heart and soul of the original unit that helped shape the sound of rock and roll legends like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Michael Jackson.

A true chameleon, the 1176LN can transform any signal it processes. Bass guitars attain immense presence, weak snares gain a distinct crack, and vocals are propelled to the front of the mix. Thanks to its Class A output transformer, renowned for its musicality, the 1176LN can morph even the most mundane tracks into sonic gems.

While modern limiters offer digital emulations and updated components, none can match the musicality and versatility of the 1176LN. Universal Audio's reissue captures all the nuances of Putnam's pioneering design, making the 1176LN a must-have for any studio.

Key Features:

  • Iconic solid-state compressor/limiter, reissued to original specifications
  • Ultra-fast attack time as low as 20 microseconds
  • Broad range of compression effects, from subtle leveling to all-out distortion
  • Class A output transformer known for its musicality
  • Handcrafted in Scotts Valley, California
  • Ideal for shaping dynamics on guitars, bass, drums, vocals, and more
  • Custom Class A output transformers
  • Record your tracks through legendary vintage-spec solid-state circuitry
  • Faithful to the original in design, manufacturing, and performance
  • Impart vibe, color, and character to signals without using compression

Product specs

Type FET
Number of Channels 1
Controls Input, Output, Attack, Release, Ratio (Buttons)
Ratio 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1
Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz
Inputs 1 x XLR
Outputs 1 x XLR
Rack Spaces 2U
Height 3.5"
Depth 12.25"
Width 19"
Weight 11 lbs.

FAQs

What makes the Universal Audio 1176LN unique compared to other compressors?

The Universal Audio 1176LN is renowned for its lightning-fast attack and release times, offering a wide range of compression sounds from subtle to aggressive. Its Class A output stage and iconic FET design contribute to its distinct tonal character, making it a staple in professional studios.

Is the Universal Audio 1176LN suitable for both vocals and instruments?

Yes, the 1176LN is versatile and widely used for both vocal and instrumental tracks. Its fast attack and release times make it ideal for controlling dynamic range while adding a classic sonic signature to various audio sources.

What type of connectivity does the Universal Audio 1176LN offer?

The Universal Audio 1176LN features XLR inputs and outputs, providing professional-grade connectivity for studio setups. This ensures high-quality signal transfer and compatibility with other studio gear.

Can the Universal Audio 1176LN be used in a stereo setup?

The 1176LN itself is a mono unit; however, for stereo applications, two units can be linked together. Alternatively, the Universal Audio 2-1176 model offers a true stereo version of this classic compressor.

What are the compression ratio options available on the Universal Audio 1176LN?

The 1176LN offers four selectable compression ratios: 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, and 20:1. These options provide flexibility for achieving different levels of dynamic control, from gentle compression to more aggressive limiting.

Universal Audio

Universal Audio

Chaining the 1176LN and LA2A compressors for maximum control.

Video thumbnail for Chaining the 1176LN and LA2A compressors for maximum control. by Universal Audio

Chaining the 1176LN and LA2A compressors for maximum control.

Universal Audio

Universal Audio

Video thumbnail for 5 Minute UAD Tips: 1176 Classic Limiter Plug-In Collection by Universal Audio

5 Minute UAD Tips: 1176 Classic Limiter Plug-In Collection

Universal Audio

Universal Audio

Video thumbnail for Urei 1176 Compressor In Action by Doctor Mix

Urei 1176 Compressor In Action

Doctor Mix

Doctor Mix

Video thumbnail for Tips & Tricks — 1176 Classic Limiter Collection Plug-Ins by Universal Audio

Tips & Tricks — 1176 Classic Limiter Collection Plug-Ins

Universal Audio

Universal Audio

Video thumbnail for History of the Universal Audio 1176 Compressor/Limiter with CEO Bill Putnam Jr. by Musician's Friend

History of the Universal Audio 1176 Compressor/Limiter with CEO Bill Putnam Jr.

Musician's Friend

Musician's Friend

Video thumbnail for Universal Audio 1176LN Compressor Demo by BIG EGO

Universal Audio 1176LN Compressor Demo

BIG EGO

BIG EGO

Video thumbnail for VK Shootout: Urei/Universal Audio 1176 Compressor vs. Reproductions, Plug-Ins, and Pedals by Vintage King

VK Shootout: Urei/Universal Audio 1176 Compressor vs. Reproductions, Plug-Ins, and Pedals

Vintage King

Vintage King

Video thumbnail for Vintage Urei 1176LN Peak Limiter | VintageKing.com by Vintage King

Vintage Urei 1176LN Peak Limiter | VintageKing.com

Vintage King

Vintage King

Video thumbnail for Universal Audio 1176LN by SamAshdotcom

Universal Audio 1176LN

SamAshdotcom

SamAshdotcom

Video thumbnail for Universal Audio 1176LN VS. UAD UA 1176ln REV E by Signature Sound Studios

Universal Audio 1176LN VS. UAD UA 1176ln REV E

Signature Sound Studios

Signature Sound Studios

Reviews

PROS

  • Essential for FET compression, especially on voice tracks and snares

  • Clean, fast compression with unique tone and character

  • Adds rich tone and weight to signals, enhancing recordings

  • Durable with robust metal enclosure and high-quality components

  • Faithful recreation of the original with classic details

  • Versatile, works great on a variety of sources like guitars and vocals

  • Adds polished and finished sound to recordings

  • Can add aggressive coloration when needed, making instruments stand out

CONS

  • One unit had quality control issues with gain reduction and output levels

  • Not all units consistently replicate the sound of original UREI 1176s

  • Modification and repair can be costly if issues arise

  • Potentially too aggressive, might not suit all tracks or styles

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Universal Audio 1176LN.

Features and functionality

  • The UAFX 1176 pedal's parallel mode uses the output knob as a dry/wet mix control, contrary to initial perceptions of it being a fixed 50/50 blend.

    Source
  • The promotional UA 1176 plugin lacks output saturation and headroom controls, differing from the full version's capabilities.

    Source
  • Pulsar's Smasher plugin uniquely offers individual saturation controls for input and output, a feature rare among 1176 emulations, enhancing its versatility.

    Source
  • The Purple Audio MC77 plugin offers a distinctive inversely linked input/output knob and a unique distortion character, making it a standout among 1176 emulations.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • Renaming the UA Connect app might prevent automatic updates, offering a potential workaround for background CPU usage.

    Source
  • Users report issues with UA Connect on older macOS versions like Mojave, suggesting compatibility challenges.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Despite being a simplified version, the free 1176 plugin is still considered a valuable compressor for those without existing alternatives.

    Source
  • The UA 1176 pedal is praised for its sustain setting, particularly beneficial for slide guitar playing.

    Source

Comparisons

  • T-Racks Black 76 behaves differently from UA's 1176 even with identical settings, highlighting distinct tonal characteristics.

    Source
  • The Empress MkII is highly recommended for its versatility, although it may lack the specific distortion characteristic of the UAFX 1176.

    Source
  • The UAD 1176 collection includes the exclusive 1176 Rev. AE model, offering a unique 2:1 ratio and a "slow" attack setting, highly praised for vocal processing.

    Source
  • The Cali76 Stacked is noted for achieving the "Black Dog" tone through carefully researched settings, offering a more analog experience compared to the digital UAFX 1176.

    Source
  • Softube FET MKII is frequently cited as a top-tier compressor, appreciated for its analog sound and noted for being potentially more aggressive than UAD models.

    Source
  • Arturia’s 1176 emulation is critiqued for a consistent "veil" across their plugins, though praised for its cohesive workflow with advanced options like M/S processing.

    Source
  • The Analog Obsession FETish plugin is noted for superior control and saturation over UAD models, providing a snappy 1176 sound highly favored for aggressive tones.

    Source

User experience

  • Some owners report the Cali76 can be noisy, especially with single-coil pickups like those from a Telecaster or Strat, whereas Keeley compressors offer quieter performance.

    Source
  • Despite newer emulations, some users still rely on the CLA76 for its familiar compression sound, often adding saturation plugins like Decapitator for enhanced tonal character.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Review of Universal Audio 1176LN enhanced recreation of the Urei 1176N, my absolute favourite desert-island compressor/limiter - recording equipment review

recordproduction.com

Universal Audio's 1176LN reissue delivers a faithful recreation of the classic Urei 1176LN, capturing the vintage charm with meticulous attention to detail. The sound character is impressive, maintaining the unique FET-driven tonality that enhances vocals beautifully. While the unit operates similarly to the originals, it offers slightly more clarity, though some may find its distortion character less warm during overdrive. Despite a few modern safety quirks and a pricier tag compared to the Purple Audio rival, the 1176LN stands out for its authenticity and prestige as an iconic studio staple. If you seek a true-to-the-original experience with the allure of a legendary compressor, this is the box to have.

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 26 Ratings

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bobguido7

Urei 1176LN Limiting Amplifier

"This is the box that I use to add agressive coloration to sources. It can be just the right thing on some sources like bass guitar to make it jump out of the mix. It can also really destroy the integrity and beauty of an instrument. Don't be running every single track through this baby unless you're making punk rock!"

A

Amazing

Soo sorry I don’t have it anymore .... this is a classic

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Prince uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Prince

Singer, Guitarist

The New Power Generation

...
Verified via YouTube

An article released talks about what different gear Prince used during the recording of the Purple Rain album it is mentioned that he used a few 1176s and Susan Rogers during an interview said that she used a 1176 compressor on the Linn snare for the song If I Was Your Girlfriend.

See how Josh Dun uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Josh Dun

Drummer, Composer

Twenty One Pilots

...
Verified via YouTube

In a video tour of his home studio, Josh Dun is confirmed to use the Universal Audio 1176LN as seen at the 7:55 mark, according to the source by Sweetwater on YouTube.

See how Swedish House Mafia uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Swedish House Mafia

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

Two of these are visible behind Steve Angello at 10:40. They appear to have a design similar to the UREI version (the manufacturers of the 1176LN before Universal Audio), as they lack UA's distinct blue stripe around the lit meter.

See how Dr. Dre uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Dr. Dre

Rapper, Music Producer

Soul Assassins

...
Verified via Photo

In the image provided, Dr. Dre's studio rack clearly includes the Universal Audio UREI 1176-LN Peak Limiter.

See how Justice uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Justice

Music Producer

Justice vs. Simian

...
Verified via Photo

can be seen in this post from May 19, 2022

See how Joe Perry uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Joe Perry

Guitarist

Hollywood Vampires

...
Verified via Mixonline

Used for the ending guitar solo in "Walk This Way", as stated by engineer Jay Messina in this March 21, 2017 Mix Online interview.

The guitar solo that ends the track in a fade is all one track, Messina says. “When we mixed, that was probably a 30 ips delay on the opposite side of the lead track, which is what gives it that spread,” he says. “That was probably a Fender Twin. At Record Plant, we used to have these vintage amplifiers. They were small amps that had really meaty power without tearing your head off with volume. Probably three mics [were used]: a Sony C37, which provided the meat and bottom end of the sound, an SM57, and a Sennheiser MD421, which provided the edge. The combination of all three was compressed through a UA 1176, followed by some boost at 5k in a Pultec EQP-1A.”

See how Travis Barker uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Travis Barker

Drummer, Music Producer

Blink-182

...
Verified via Photo

In a user-uploaded photo of Travis Barker's home studio, the Universal Audio 1176LN is visible in the middle rack, indicating its use in his recording setup.

See how Charlie Puth uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Charlie Puth

Singer, Keyboardist

...
Verified via YouTube

Watch at 1.13 and you'll see, he's explaining what he's using ! ;-)

See how Joe Duplantier uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Joe Duplantier

Singer, Guitarist

Gojira

...
Verified via YouTube

In the studio tour of Gojira's Silver Cord Studio, Joe Duplantier's studio gear is shown to consist of various rackmount units and a Diezel Herbert tube amp head.

See how Steven Wilson uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Steven Wilson

Singer, Guitarist

Porcupine Tree

...
Verified via Steven Wilson

In his QnA, a 1176LN can be spotted in the background.

See how Headhunterz uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Headhunterz

Music Producer, DJ

Project One

...
Verified via MusicRadar

In the February 2014 issue of MusicRadar's Computer Music, Headhunterz is shown using the Universal Audio 1176LN on page 67.

See how Madlib uses Universal Audio 1176LN

Madlib

Rapper, Music Producer

Madvillain

...
Verified via Archive

Used for the vocals on Champion Sound, as stated in this September 1, 2003 Remix article.

“I think Madlib pretty much just invents his own rules,” Peanut Butter Wolf muses. Studio engineer Dave Cooley claims that holds true even when a different setup is needed. For “React,” Jay Dee's beat and 'lib's turntable cuts were flown into Digidesign Pro Tools from separate stereo and 4-track masters. Madlib then tracked his vocals on an Audio-Technica 4033A and a Shure SM7, from there going into a Neve 1099 preamp, a GML 8200 EQ, a Universal Audio 1176LN limiting amplifier and finally a dbx 902 De-Esser. “We usually de-ess maybe 4 dB off of the vocals and then compress with a ratio of 8 to 1, which is pretty high,” Cooley explains. “But Madlib likes his shit loud, and it's mixed loud to begin with. He has a really cool ‘angular’ mixing style: Something is always sticking out.”

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Universal Audio 1176LN, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Avid Pro Tools
Avid Pro Tools DAW Software
14
Neumann U87
Neumann U87 Condenser Microphones
10
Shure SM57
Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphones
8
AMS Neve 1073
AMS Neve 1073 Preamps & Channel Strips
8
TUBE-TECH CL-1B
TUBE-TECH CL-1B Effects Processors
7
Sennheiser MD 421-II
Sennheiser MD 421-II Dynamic Microphones
6

Community setups

Show yours
andyshick

andyshick

Gear IQ 121

centric_engineering

centric_engineering

Gear IQ 1293

adanowsky

adanowsky

Gear IQ 249

9 alternative and related items for Universal Audio 1176LN, curated by the Equipboard community.

Warm Audio Pedal76 Analog FET Compressor Pedal

$229.00 - $279.00

similar sound cheaper alternative

A pedal version of the 1176 compressor, with traditional controls, and a retro housing inspired by the old studio units.

Universal Audio UAFX 1176 Studio Compressor Pedal

$152.50 - $169.00

newer similar sound cheaper alternative

A digital pedal version of the 1176, designed for guitar use. Features dual and parallel modes.

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