The Z&H Designs 1178 Stereo Peak Limiter is a modern recreation of the legendary UREI 1178, faithfully rebuilt using the exact and rare discontinued electronic components from the original unit. This ensures that the signal processing chain is authentically reproduced with 100% accuracy, capturing the aggressive, smoky tone and wide dynamic handling that have made the original a studio favourite for decades. Alongside this faithful replication, the Z&H Designs 1178 Stereo Peak Limiter integrates essential modern workflow enhancements such as M/S-L/R switching, independent attack and release controls, a mix knob, and a sidechain high-pass filter, making it as versatile for contemporary production as it is for vintage-style compression.
The Z&H Designs 1178 stereo FET compressor can operate as a linked unit or as two completely separate mono compressors, offering exceptional flexibility. The addition of onboard M/S functionality eliminates the need for external converters, providing creative depth for mastering and mixing. A high degree of sonic control is available through its combinable ratio buttons, which support unique colouration modes including the classic “all-buttons-in” setting. The linear power supply ensures a rock-solid foundation for noiseless, premium-quality audio. Each Z&H Designs 1178 is handcrafted, tested, and signed off by mixing engineers, delivering boutique-grade reliability and build quality.
The Z&H Designs 1178 Stereo Peak Limiter incorporates Z&H Designs’ dual sonic philosophy: “Zen” for a clean, nourishing sound, and “Hit” for punchy analogue colouration. By blending its unique sonic palette, engineers can achieve both transparent compression and harmonically rich results, making it suitable for everything from vocals, acoustic instruments, and bands to EDM and modern pop productions. With its wide frequency response, exceptionally low distortion, and robust headroom, the Z&H Designs 1178 Stereo Peak Limiter stands as both a faithful homage to the UREI original and a forward-looking tool designed for today’s demanding studio environments.
Features
- Faithful recreation of the UREI 1178 using exact discontinued components
- Onboard M/S-L/R switching with separate attack and release controls
- Operates as stereo, dual mono, or two independent FET compressors
- Sidechain high-pass filter with selectable frequencies (0Hz, 60Hz, 120Hz, 180Hz)
- Mix knob for blending compressed and dry signal
- Combinable ratio buttons including “all-buttons-in” mode for unique colouration
- Capable of clean, transparent compression or analogue colouration
- 1166 Neve-style output transformer, hand-built with 100% accuracy
- Linear power supply for strong, noiseless performance
- Handcrafted, boutique-grade build with engineer verification
- 5-year warranty and 14-day tryout satisfaction guarantee
