Aries 300

Back in the 1970s, when modular synths were the wild frontier of electronic sound, a small outfit in Massachusetts crafted this gem alongside Moog and ARP heavyweights—its oversized panels and exposed PCB wizardry making it a hands-on playground for sonic explorers.

At its heart, you'll find a fully modular setup with voltage-controlled oscillators, a versatile state variable filter offering lowpass, bandpass, highpass, and notch modes at 12dB/octave, plus envelope generators, VCAs, and utilities like sample & hold, clock, noise, and even a quirky 16-step sequencer labeled 0-15. Control comes via the AR-313, a bulky 61-key (five-octave) keyboard interface pumping out 1V/octave CV, multiple gate/trigger banks, and linear outputs to drive any number of modules—perfect for chaining extras in a sprawling rig. Modules measure a generous 9x3 inches, evoking vintage Moog or Wiard heft, with patch points for CV/gate and line out, all pure analog subtractive goodness in monophonic voice.

Vintage hunters prize it for that raw, untamed character—throaty basses to screeching leads—and well-preserved units still turn heads in collector circles, though expect some trial-and-error tweaking on those eccentrically labeled knobs.