602

Aphex 602 Aural Exciter (1977-1979)

(under construction)

The Aphex 602 Aural Exciter was the second Aural Exciter unit to be released and was created with a solid-state design. It is rumored the 602 units were created to be solid state because to the 402’s tube design was too fragile in the field and often required repair. The 602’s solid-state design was supposedly more reliable, released circa 1977, and was also a pinnacle model involved in various #1 records of the era.

There was an initial batch of 50 units created. Eventually, another batch of 300 were completed, for a total of approximately 350 units in existence.

In this Billboard October 1978 issue, Marvin Caesar discusses “improving” the Aphex Aural Exciter from his 402 conception, which will eventually be the 602.

Above you see Marvin Caesar discussing how Aphex is working with consultants, B&B Audio, and Inter-technology Exchange Ltd. David Baskin, Eddie Brissot, and Gary Liden were involved in the process, along with Curt Knoppel, the inventor of the original Aural Exciter.

602 Model Variants

There is a broadcast and non-broadcast version. These are the primary variants.

-Older style aluminum casing (like 402 and 712) with a De-esser.

-Alternate (newer) casing with a built-in compressor.

-Broadcast versions. These generally had the new, alternate casing and labeled “602B” “Broadcast” or both. Sometimes these had an “in/out” bypass switch button on the front pannel (but most didn’t).

Above shows version 1 casing with a built-in De-esser. The casing is similar to the 402 and 712 exciters and believed to be earlier. However, the serial number on this particular unit (#308) would make it a later unit. So, the timeline isn’t clear. Perhaps Aphex occasionally used these earlier casing styles when making units with De-essers instead of Compressors.

Above shows a version 2 casing with a built-in Compressor. The serial # on this unit is #389, likely one of the last 602s built.

This is a Broadcast unit (#021), as seen by the “602B” label. Sometimes the units just said “Broadcast” and “602B” on the front casing. According to it’s serial, this is a very early unit.

Above is another Broadcast version (#174). Here you see “Broadcast” written on the unit. This particular unit features an In/Out byass feature on the front of the unit.