Aphex1990sHarmonic ExciterHarmonic Exciter$$Mid-Range($250–800)
Aphex Aural Exciter Type C2
Mastering and broadcast engineers wanting genuine harmonic excitement, not just EQ boost, on dull source material.
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Check your gain staging
Free tool — convert dBu/dBV, chain gain stages, and check your headroom before it clips.
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Free tool — learn normalization types, get creative patching ideas, and build a printable layout.
Strengths
- Adds genuinely audible 'sparkle' and perceived clarity to a mix by generating new harmonics, not just boosting existing highs like an EQ
- Became a real broadcast and mastering-room staple specifically for making dull source material sound more present
- A genuinely different tool than an EQ or compressor, filling a niche few other processors address directly
Trade-offs
- Overused, it produces an unmistakably harsh, brittle top end that's easy to identify even to untrained ears
- A specialist, one-trick tool — it doesn't do compression, EQ, or anything else a general-purpose channel strip would
Full Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Aphex |
| Model | Aural Exciter Type C2 |
| Era | 1990s |
| Typical Price Tier | Mid-Range ($250–800) |
| Device Type | Harmonic Exciter |
| Circuit Type | Analog harmonic generation |
| Channels | 2 |
| EQ Bands / Ratio Range | N/A (harmonics amount + frequency + mix controls) |
| Rack Size | 1U |
| Sidechain Input | No |
A relative used-market guide, not a live quote — real prices vary by condition, region, and timing. Check the Reverb/eBay links on any item for current listings.
Match Score Explorer
Weight what matters to your workflow. Every deck is re-scored live against your priorities, benchmarked against the Aphex Aural Exciter Type C2.
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This deckAphex Aural Exciter Type C2
Match56
Flexibility40
Ease of Maintenance65
Ease of Use75
Tonal Neutrality45
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Maintenance & Supplies
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