8.5Great
bx_console SSL 4000 E by Plugin Alliance / Brainworx: effect from Plugin Alliance / Brainworx. Price $299, Dubspot Score 8.5, specs and alternatives for 2026.
Plugin comparison
bx_console SSL 4000 E vs UAD Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.6Great
UAD Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection is the licensed Neve channel amp/EQ emulation for Apollo Unison tracking and UAD-2 DSP mixing color.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, UAD Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection comes out ahead (8.6). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | bx_console SSL 4000 E | UAD Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $149+ |
| Dubspot Score | 8.5 | 8.6 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Product type | effect from Plugin Alliance / Brainworx | — |
| Developer | Plugin Alliance / Brainworx | — |
| Typical price | $299 | — |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | — |
| Primary job | focused effect work in modern sessions | — |
| Catalog status | Current as of 2026 | — |
| Type | — | Mic/line preamp + 3-band EQ channel (Neve 1073) |
| Licensing | — | Official Neve-licensed UAD plugin |
| Platform | — | Requires Apollo interface or UAD-2 Accelerator/PCIe (per UA product FAQ) |
| Unison | — | Realtime preamp impedance and gain-stage modeling with Apollo |
| Circuit notes | — | Dual-stage preamp, three-band EQ, post-fader output amp behaviors modeled |
| Trial | — | 14-day demos via UAD software for hardware owners |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.