Audiority Space Age 555 Review – Is It Worth It?

Today, Space Age 555 is on the menu as we dive into a lush, tape-saturated world to bring the magic of vintage tape echo, chorus, and spring reverb to your mixes.

I’ve always felt something special about classic tape echo units, as they bring you the nostalgic vibe, coloring and shaping the sound, giving life to it. And, of course, one of the legendary machines for it is the Roland Chorus Echo RE-501 / SRE-555, which created countless iconic hits.

Luca from the Italian beauty Audority created a meticulous emulation of the machine with the new Space Age 555 plugin, as it brings the same smooth sound along with a built-in compander for noise reduction and a lush BBD chorus.

I really liked that the plugin not only faithfully captures the warmth it has but also its quirks while adding some modern tweaks for a better workflow. If you have ever played with a real tape echo, you probably noticed that these machines are quite unpredictable (in the best way).

The fluttering echoes, the slight pitch drifts, and the way they saturate over time are the imperfections that create perfection. (paradoxical as it is). That perfection makes the sound human, so we are all fans of it, unlike digital delays’ crispness and cleanliness. Space Age 555 shines at exactly this point, delivering the analog charm while giving you control over these imperfections to craft your sound.

But there are some other units that promise the same sound and features; that’s why today we will look at this new unit. What makes it stand out in a sea of delay and reverb effects? Is it the warm tape saturation? The beautifully lush chorus? The precise controls? We’ll go through all of that in a second.

Let’s break down the charm behind Space Age 555!

Features

Audiority’s Space Age 555 is a full-fledged tape echo, chorus, and reverb powerhouse that captures the magic of the Roland Chorus Echo RE-501 / SRE-555 while adding some useful modern features.

Let’s take a closer look at some of its standout features.

• Faithfully Modeled Tape Echo

The soul of this plugin is its tape echo engine, which recreates the analog warmth, saturation, and natural imperfections of a real tape unit.

Unlike digital delays, this one warms up your repeats over time, subtly rolling off highs and adding just the right amount of grit. You can even tweak the motor speed and age settings to make it sound like a well-loved (or well-worn) unit.

• BBD Chorus – The Secret Sauce

I loved that Audority added a bucket-brigade chorus modeled after the original RE-501’s circuit.

The lushness provided by this thick, warbly modulation is pretty impressive, allowing you to craft anything from subtle width to deep, detuned movement. When you want spacey, vintage textures, this feature comes super handy.

• Spring Reverb – Classic and Gritty

If you wanna go for “old-school” tones, nothing helps you like a spring reverb, and Space Age 555 gives you the authentic-sounding emulation of that metallic, bouncy ambiance.

But, the real deal here is the beautiful combination of this reverb with the delay, adding depth and glue to the sound. You can crank it up for a dub-style lo-fi wash, or go subtle for a more classic approach with a warm reverb tail.

• 6 Echo Modes & Sound On Sound Head

The versatility of the plugin is provided by the 6 different echo modes, with options from single-head repeats to complex multi-tap delays.

Furthermore, the Sound On Sound feature is great for crafting infinite loops to reach ambient soundscapes and experimental textures.

• Tempo Sync & Ducking – Modern Touches

As I said, there are some modern tweaks in the plugin to fit it for modern workflows.

These are tempo sync (so your delays lock to your project’s BPM) and ducking, which automatically lowers the delay when your dry signal is present so that the mix remains clean without the need for extra sidechain compression.

These features set the Space Age 555 apart, offering that nostalgic tape delay effect while giving you the tools to shape it in creative, modern ways.

Interface and Workflow

I always enjoy working with plugins that stay true to the classic look and feel of the vintage hardware, and that’s exactly what Space Age 555 offers. Of course, they cleaned the GUI slightly for ease of modern use, but that’s it.

If you like the old-school hardware aesthetics, you will enjoy how this VST looks. However, the more important question is whether or not it actually makes the delay workflow easier. Let’s see!

Interface

At first look, the GUI seems sleek, retro-inspired, and easy to navigate. My first impression was that Audority had put good work balancing authenticity and usability, as the design recreate the real hardware but doesn’t get overwhelming or cluttered.

You have clearly defined 3 sections with Chorus, Echo, and Reverb, each section offering its distinct controls.

The Chorus section has the Intensity knob, while the Echo section has Echo Mode, Intensity, and Repeat Rate knobs, as well as the SonS Volume knob, along with a Repeat-Single switch.  Finally, the Reverb section only features a Volume knob.

On the bottom, there are the Chorus-Echo-SonS buttons to turn the effects on or off. The Baxandall Bass & Treble EQ controls are located on the right-hand side, giving you quick control over the tonal balance of echoes and reverb, helping them sit better in a mix.

On the left-hand side, input controls are present, like Direct to enable the direct signal output, Sync to lock the unit’s speed to the host tempo, Input Volume, and an input meter.

The great touch is on the bottom, where the global controls are present, Age, Feedback, and Motor Speed Trimmers, which let you dial in just how “vintage” or “worn-out” you want your delays to sound.

The resizable interface is also a big plus for me, as when working on a small laptop screen or a multi-monitor setup, I can adjust it to my desire.

Workflow

From a usability standpoint, the Space Age 555 strikes a great balance between simplicity and depth.

If you just want a quick vintage delay, you can dial in a great sound within seconds. But if you want precise control over modulation, saturation, and stereo movement, the deeper settings let you shape the sound exactly how you want.

The tempo sync function ensures rhythmic delays lock perfectly to your project without any guesswork, while the ducking control keeps echoes from cluttering up a mix, making it especially useful for vocals or dense arrangements. The Sound On Sound mode is a fantastic creative tool for building ambient loops and experimental textures.

One negative here is the lack of explanations for some features, as while the interface is praised for its vintage aesthetic, some users feel that the layout could be more intuitive, suggesting that certain controls might benefit from clearer labeling or more streamlined placement.

I think the lack of a detailed user manual can make it challenging to fully explore and understand all the plugin’s capabilities, particularly for those less familiar with vintage hardware emulations.

First Impressions and Sound

When I first used the Space Age 555 (I tried it out on electric guitar and synth), my first impression was that it sounded really alive. I could immediately hear the unmistakable warm, tape-driven character, which is the reason behind my admiration for vintage delays.

The echoes are far from being sterile or overly clean, sitting in a nice balance with a natural, organic movement that evolves little by little with each repeat. That is exactly what I expect from a tape echo: imperfections that feel musical rather than mechanical.

One of the first things I played with was the tape age and motor speed settings, and wow, they make a tremendous difference. When you want a warbled, worn-out tape character, you simply crank them up to craft great tones for lo-fi beats, ambient washes, or just to add some old-school charm to your track. You can also keep these settings low for a smooth, vintage warmth without that instability.

Another feature I liked was the BBD chorus, as it sounds lush and adds almost dreamy movement, unlike typical chorus effects. It makes the tones feel wider and deeper without getting too harsh or overbearing.

The Spring Reverb has the classic metallic bite, adding some old-school vibes to the sound. It is not a very special reverb, but it is a good addition. It can give you big, splashy dub echoes with higher settings, but it also works beautifully in subtle amounts for extra depth.

The ducking control is key for me as it automatically lowers the delay volume when the dry signal is playing, so your mix stays clean. I love using it with vocals and lead instruments to make the delay shine in the gaps.

On the negative side, I think the addition of a more detailed visual meter would be a plus. Also, I think the plugin uses a slightly higher CPU than it should. But that’s not a dealbreaker as it is still on the manageable side.

Finally, I think the preset library can be enriched as it is a pretty versatile plugin, and more presets as starting points would be fantastic. These are minor drawbacks, and they are far from being dealbreakers. Overall, I think it is a pretty impressive plugin.

Compatibility

CPU usage is manageable but can be demanding, especially with multiple instances running. If you’re on an older system, it’s worth testing a demo to ensure smooth performance.

Last Words

My conclusion is that the Space Age 555 is a great blend of vintage charm and modern flexibility with its warm and evolving character that brilliantly replicates the real tape echo machine. Audority has done a stellar job of recreating the Roland Chorus Echo RE-501 / SRE-55.

The highlight is the faithful tape modeling, lush BBD chorus, and spring reverb, making the unit more than just a delay unit but a vintage effects tool that can transform your sound.

Also, the modern additions like ducking, tempo sync, and fine-tuned control over tape degradation are really handy.

While there are minor drawbacks, like higher CPU usage, a relatively small preset library, and a lack of detailed descriptions of the full features of the unit, these are small trade-offs.

I recommend trying Space Age 555 out for anyone who likes the nostalgic, warm, organic echoes for a vintage soundscape potential. For the price offered, this plugin is totally worth it!

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