4 Slot or less 500 series Chassis recommendations ?

I started my 500 series acquisitions with a 3-slot Radial Cube. I never had any issues with that chassis. It is built like a tank and was rock solid for everything I threw in there. While its no longer handling studio tracking/mixing duties, that little champion is my main chassis for testing and calibrating 500-series builds. I'd have no hesitation putting him back into the studio rotation should the need arise. That Cube has been rock solid and never failed me.  I liked that you can remove the handle.   I never needed the handle.  I think I removed the handle within 5 mintutes of opening the box, then I probably promptly lost it.  Wherever you are handle, may the Force be with you! 

FWIW, I currently use Neve R10 units for all of my 500 series modules in the studio.  I can tell no difference in performance or sonic quality between the R10 and the Cube.  Had Radial offered their Workhorse 10 with a power switch on the front (like the Cube and the R10), I would have probably just gone with the Radial 10-spot unit.  But, I was young and stupid back then, and I overestimated my need for a power button on the front of the unit.  So, Neve R10s happened.   They're awesome.  But the Radial is awesome too.  

BAE 3LB is excellent!

Heritage makes a 4 slot and Lindell has a 3 slot. They both have enough power on the rails but I have no experience with either so can't speak about audio/noise performance or reliability. Worth checking out.

+1 on the Radial stuff. I have 2 of the cubes and they are built great. I had a Lindell 3 slot I had to return because I couldn’t get my modules to fit in the power rails. They were way too tight. The Heritage looks cool but it doesn’t have a power switch and it has leds that bleed through the front.

having owned 2 and 3 slot chassis' in the past, I'd say don't waste your time or money.  Get at least a 4 or 6 slot because you'll probably find use for those empty slots, and when they are not there, you'll just be kicking yourself for not getting the larger one in the first place.  Notice how many 6 slot and smaller chassis are on the used market?  Almost everyone upgrades at some point. (and yes, I have an API 8B and an API 10 slot)

I used a Heritage OST-4 for years and it worked great. Only sold it because I went to a 10-slot unit.

My 8 slot is waiting on a Stam comp and then it’ll be down to 2 empty slots. That went a lot faster than expected.

I am not a huge 500 series user (since I spent so many years building up a collection of 19 inch rack stuff, arguably too much for a non-pro) but I have a radial cube (3 slot) and an API 6B-HC (6 slot) lunchbox.

The radial is built like a tank and has switching on the back making it very easy to send a signal from one slot to another without applying patch cables, that's been useful. But...it also appears to have a fairly stringent built-in current limit (at least my specific model), which is good from a protection standpoint, but for some of the 500 series units I bought the current level is too low - it just keeps clicking the power off & on again until I remove the unit asking for too much juice. Namely, the Buzz Audio units I have (two Elixir preamps and a Tonic EQ) were just too much for it, and they might be my favorites overall.

The API 6 slot has worked out perfect for me in all cases but does not have the convenient switching I mentioned. If I were to sell either, it would be the Radial.

I'm totally in agreement with others in this thread that 6 slots is much better than 3.

-Chris

Did I buy it?  I bought mine from someone here.  It does exactly what it’s supposed to.  

I have both. Radials and one of the new black 8 space Freds, the Fred has been rock solid in the several months I've owned it. Fully loaded with Premier 73s and 2 sound skulptor preamps, working really well. I wasn't sure if I would be OK with a giant glowing ear in my rack, but it hasn't bothered me since I installed it.