AMSynths AM8060 (2010–2022)
A Eurorack version of the Roland Jupiter-6's underdog filter. It is aggressive, flexible, and built around a chip that vanished from the planet.
Overview
Turn the resonance knob past noon and you hear a snarl. The filter doesn't smooth the edges, it sharpens them. The AM8060 isn't trying to be the silky Jupiter-8. It goes after the less-celebrated, more characterful voice of the 1983 Roland Jupiter-6, a synth that always had a bit of grit under its nails. AMSynths cloned the filter down to the silicon, using the original Roland IR3109 OTA chip. That gives the AM8060 a sound most boutique modules can't match. It also made the module a collector's footnote, because once the IR3109s dried up, so did production.
Launched in late 2010 as one of AMSynths' first Eurorack offerings, the AM8060 arrived while the format was still finding its legs. Most filter clones at the time leaned toward the Moog or Oberheim legacy. This was a deep cut for people who knew the Jupiter-6's filter was its secret weapon. The Jupiter-8's 4-pole OTA filter glides. The Jupiter-6's dual 2-pole state-variable design bites. The AM8060 stacks two 12dB filters in series, each switchable between low-pass and high-pass. That gives three modes: 24dB low-pass, 24dB high-pass, and a 12dB band-pass, each with variable resonance but no self-oscillation. Roland engineered that out on purpose, and AMSynths kept it that way. This filter doesn't want to be a sine wave generator. It wants to shape noise, carve leads, and add muscle to pads.
The module is modest to look at: 14HP, black panel, utilitarian but clean. Two locking push buttons on the front toggle the filter modes. They're tactile and positive, and they're borrowed from the original Jupiter-6, especially on the SE version. You switch configurations the way you'd flip between pickup positions on a guitar. There are three audio inputs, dual CV control over cutoff, and a dedicated resonance CV input, so it patches easily. It's not the loudest or flashiest filter in a rack, but it's one of the most expressive if you know how to work it.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | AMSynths |
| Production Years | 2010–2022 |
| Original Price | $227 USD |
| Form Factor | Eurorack |
| HP Width | 14 HP |
| Filter Type | Dual 2-pole State Variable Filter (SVF) |
| Filter Modes | 24dB Low Pass, 24dB High Pass, 12dB Band Pass |
| Resonance | Variable, no self-oscillation |
| Core Chip | IR3109 OTA (original or AS3109 clone) |
| Audio Inputs | 3x 3.5mm |
| Audio Output | 1x 3.5mm |
| Cutoff CV Inputs | 2x 3.5mm |
| Resonance CV Input | 1x 3.5mm |
| Control Elements | 2x push-button mode switches, 2x rotary pots (cutoff, resonance) |
| Power Requirements | Standard Eurorack ±12V |
| Weight | 300 g |
| Dimensions | 14 HP x 4U |
| Special Features | Based on Roland Jupiter-6 filter circuit, uses original IR3109 chip |
Key Features
IR3109 at the Core
The IR3109 is the heart of the AM8060. This OTA (Operational Transconductance Amplifier) chip was used in the original Jupiter-6 and MKS-80, and its behavior under stress is what gives the filter its bite. Unlike more common designs, the IR3109-based SVF distorts slightly when pushed, which adds harmonic complexity. AMSynths sourced the actual chips, often pulled from vintage Boss PH-2 phasers, which shared the same IC. That came at a cost: when Boss stopped making the PH-2, the supply chain collapsed. For years the AM8060 was effectively extinct, until the AS3109, a faithful clone, reappeared. The SE version uses these new chips and keeps the original circuit's response, without relying on dwindling NOS stock.
Three Modes, Three Personalities
The three modes of the AM8060 behave like different instruments. The 24dB low-pass is thick and assertive, with enough top-end clarity to keep it from getting muddy. Flip to high-pass and it works well for stripping fundamentals from drums or building airy sweeps. The band-pass mode is where things get weird: narrow, nasal, and hypnotic, it suits vocal-like formants or resonant FX that cut through a mix. Each 2-pole stage is independently switchable via the front-panel buttons, so you're rewiring the signal path in real time. That's rare in Eurorack, and it allows live performance tricks most filters can't do.
No Self-Oscillation, No Regrets
Roland deliberately avoided self-oscillation in the Jupiter-6's filter design, and AMSynths respected that choice. Some will miss turning the filter into an oscillator, but the trade-off is stability and predictability. The filter doesn't howl or drift when resonance hits maximum. It just gets louder, more focused, more intense. Service technicians observe that this decision also reduces failure points, since there are no runaway feedback loops to stress components or blow outputs.
Historical Context
The AM8060 arrived in 2010, just as Eurorack was shifting from niche curiosity to synth mainstream. Most boutique builders were chasing the Moog sound or cloning ARP filters. AMSynths, a UK-based outfit with a "more analog than analog" ethos, went left field and pulled the Jupiter-6's filter out of obscurity. The Jupiter-6 itself was often overshadowed by the Jupiter-8, but it had a cult following among players who appreciated its digital control with analog warmth and its unique filter character. The Eurorack version gave modular users access to a voice that had been locked inside a keyboard for decades.
The module's reliance on the IR3109 tied its lifespan to the availability of a chip no one was making. Competitors like Make Noise or Intellijel could scale production. AMSynths couldn't. The 2014 revision improved the resonance circuit, but only 30 units were made before parts shortages halted everything. The 2019 attempt to switch to the SSI2164 failed to materialize in production, and it wasn't until 2022, 12 years after the original launch, that the AS3109 clone revived the line.
Collectibility & Value
The AM8060 is a collector's module, but not because it's flashy. Its value comes from scarcity and a sound you can't easily replicate. The original 2010-2014 runs are the most sought after, especially those with the actual IR3109 chips pulled from Boss gear. These command a premium of $400 - $600 on the secondhand market, depending on condition and provenance. The AM8060SE, reintroduced in 2022 with AS3109 chips and original JP-6 buttons, is more accessible at $227 new, but even these are hard to find due to limited runs.
Buyers should watch for one critical issue: IR3109 degradation. These chips, especially NOS ones, can fail over time, leading to noise, dropouts, or complete silence. There's no easy fix. Replacing the chip requires sourcing another IR3109 or AS3109, which aren't socketed on all versions. Documentation shows that AMSynths did not standardize socketing, so some units require soldering. Resonance circuit revisions in 2014 and 2022 improved reliability, but early units may still drift or distort at high settings. Test before buying: sweep the cutoff, max the resonance, and listen for crackles or dropouts.
For DIY builders, the AM8060 had a brief life as a build-it-yourself kit using a blank PCB and a Boss PH-2 phaser. Those PCBs are long out of production, and extracting the IR3109 from a PH-2 is a delicate process. Project notes exist online, but the learning curve is steep. Most owners today buy complete modules, and the supply could dry up again if the AS3109 does.
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