The incredible price/value of the LA-610 is the result of using the existing 610 tube amplifier and simply adding the T4 optical element creating a mono channel strip that can serve as a mic or Instrument preamp with or without EQ and compression. Unlike the LA-2A, the LA-610 offers a wide variety of tone and character by virtue of the dual stage level controls and EQ section. The unique and musical behavior of the LA-2A is present in the LA-610 as well, the main difference being a more colored sonic signature with the LA-610. The heart and soul of the LA-2A is mostly a result of this special optical gain control element. The T4 Compressor element in the LA-610 is identical to the circuit components housed inside the T4 optical cell used on the legendary LA-2A compressor. At Ocean Way Studios (formerly United), the 610 is lovingly preserved and still used in Studio B. The legendary Wally Heider used the 610 in his remote truck for many of his best known live recordings.

The Beach Boys Pet Sounds, the Doors LA Woman, and Van HalenвЂ™s debut album were all recorded on the 610. As a prominent part of my fatherвЂ™s United/Western studios, the 610 was used on many classic recordings by Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan. Although technologically simple compared to modern consoles, the 610 possessed a warmth and character that kept it in demand for decades. The 610 was a rotary-control console and was the first console of the modular design. Our 610 was inspired by the microphone preamp section of the 610 tube console designed by my father, M.T. This unit combines a modified channel of our 2-610 Mic Pre with an LA2A style T4 Optical Compressor. Since this unit is no longer in production, I stole the following info from an online copy of the owner's manual.

An original Universal Audio LA-610 (not the mkII) that is in excellent physical and working condition.

Universal audio la 610