The Spaceman Effects PDX-2A Ixion is a special edition of the company's Ixion: Optical Photocell Compressor, a compressor pedal that uses the gain-reduction power of an optical photocell together with a parallel-compression mix control and Spaceman's signature discrete FET stages. The Ixion was influenced by the classic rackmount Leveling Amplifier, the vintage studio unit whose approach it brings to a pedal format, though Spaceman is clear that it is not a clone of the vintage circuit.1
What the PDX-2A is
The PDX-2A is the "Space Mod" edition of the Ixion, described by Spaceman as a special edition of the Ixion: Optical Photocell Compressor. It is an optical photocell compressor, meaning the gain reduction is carried out by a light-dependent element, the approach used in vintage rack Leveling Amplifiers. Spaceman pairs that with a parallel-compression mix control, which lets a player blend compressed and uncompressed signal, and the company's discrete FET stages.2
Spaceman states that although the pedal draws on the vintage unit, it is not a clone of the vintage circuit. The engraved faceplate design is a visual nod to the original vintage device that inspired the Ixion.1
The original Ixion and the Space Mod edition
There are two versions of the pedal, and the differences between them are cosmetic rather than electrical1:
| Original Ixion | PDX-2A Space Mod Ixion | |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit | Optical photocell compressor | Same circuit, no changes1 |
| Faceplate | Original Ixion design | Custom engraved faceplate, previously only available on an extremely limited Spacelab edition1 |
| Knobs | Original design | Updated to be more in line with Spaceman's current aesthetic1 |
| List price | $299.00 USD2 | $279.00 USD1 |
| Status | Sold out2 | Sold out1 |
Spaceman describes the Space Mod edition as the final batch of NOS Ixion Optical Compressors, with the faceplate design updated to something special for that run. The company states that no circuit changes were made between the two versions, so the Space Mod Ixion sounds and operates the same as the original Ixion.1
Both versions are listed as sold out on Spaceman Effects' product pages, and the Space Mod run was the final batch of NOS Ixion units.12
Availability and price
The PDX-2A Space Mod Ixion carried a list price of $279.00 USD on Spaceman's product page, and the original Ixion was listed at $299.00 USD on its own page. Both are shown as sold out. The PDX-2A was limited to 20 hand-wired units.12
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Questions
Is the Spaceman Ixion a clone of a vintage compressor?
No. Spaceman Effects describes the Ixion as inspired by a vintage device, the classic rackmount Leveling Amplifier, but the company states plainly that it is not a clone of the vintage circuit. It takes the optical photocell approach of that style of unit and builds it into a pedal with a parallel-compression mix control and Spaceman's discrete FET stages.
What is different about the Space Mod Ixion?
The Space Mod edition is the final batch of NOS Ixion Optical Compressors with an updated faceplate design and new knobs. The engraved faceplate is a nod to the vintage device that inspired the Ixion, and that design was previously only available on an extremely limited Spacelab edition. No circuit changes were made.
Did the circuit change in the Space Mod Ixion?
No. Spaceman Effects states that no circuit changes were made between the original Ixion and the Space Mod edition. The differences are cosmetic: the updated engraved faceplate and knobs chosen to match the company's current aesthetic.
Is the Spaceman Ixion still available?
Both the original Ixion and the PDX-2A Space Mod edition are listed as sold out on Spaceman Effects' product pages. The PDX-2A was limited to 20 hand-wired units, and the Space Mod run was described by the maker as the final batch of NOS Ixion Optical Compressors.
What was the list price of the Ixion?
The PDX-2A Space Mod Ixion was listed at $279.00 USD on Spaceman Effects' product page as of October 2026. The original Ixion Optical Compressor was listed at $299.00 USD on its own product page.
Sources (2)
- Ixion - Optical Photocell Compressor - Spaceman Effects, Spaceman Effects
- PDX-2A (Special Edition Ixion: Optical Photocell Compressor), Spaceman Effects
