Fairchild

Fairchild is a professional audio equipment company that was founded in the mid-20th century by Sherman Fairchild. The company is best known for its legendary range of tube-based compressors, which are widely considered to be some of the most sought-after and revered pieces of audio equipment ever produced. Fairchild’s first compressor, the 660, was introduced in 1958 and quickly became popular among recording engineers for its warm, smooth, and transparent sound. The 670, which was introduced a few years later, is considered the pinnacle of the company’s compressor range and is still widely used and sought-after today, particularly for its ability to add character and depth to recordings.

In addition to its compressors, Fairchild also produced a range of other high-quality audio equipment, including preamplifiers and equalizers. However, it was the company’s compressors that gained the most attention and helped to cement Fairchild’s reputation as one of the most important and influential companies in the history of professional audio. Despite the company’s relatively short lifespan (Fairchild was acquired by Klein and Hummel in the 1960s), the company’s legacy lives on today, with vintage Fairchild compressors remaining some of the most sought-after pieces of audio equipment among recording engineers and producers. Fairchild’s compressors continue to be used in recording studios and live sound applications around the world, and they are still considered essential tools for achieving the highest-quality audio recordings.