The Killer New Boss IR-200 Amp & IR Cabinet Simulator Issues a serious challenge to all other Amp and Cab Sim Makers - with one of the smartest takes on that genre yet
Readers will know that I’ve not yet put too much focus on re-amping or recording - while I’m well aware of the leading smart Amp & Cab Simulators - including of course Strymon’s Iridium, Walrus Audio’s ACS1, Two Notes Torpedo, DSM + Humboldt Simplifier, GFI System CabZeus, and Atomic Amplifier-Firebox among some of the leading choices.
I always thought I would eventually go with either the Iridium or ACS1 - while in that head-to-hear the Strymon came out slightly better - because of its more refined Algorithms and better tuned IR’s. With Cab Sims it’s really not so much about the total number of flavours - but how convincing the output is for each key amp genre type - which typically focuses around the classic trio of Fender, Marshall and Vox Amps. And the depth and fidelity of the IR’s is really the major factor - while ease of use and versatility of course factors into it too.
For me, Boss has evolved the perfect format of Cab Sim in its IR-200 - with a brilliantly intuitive screen and 11 obvious and immediately accessible controls.
The IR-200’s 11 smart controls are - Memory / Select, Amp (Amp Type), Cabinet (Output Type), Ambience (Room Size / Dynamics), Menu, Exit / Write / Hold to Lock Panel controls, Gain, Level, Bass, Middle, and Treble.
The AMP Control covers 8 Guitar Amp Types, and 3 Bass Amp Types as follows :
- NATURAL : An unembellished, clean sound that minimizes the amp’s idiosyncrasies, such as its trebly character and boomy low end
- JC-120 :This models the sound of the Roland JC-120
- TWIN COMBO : This models a Fender Twin Reverb
- DIAMOND AMP : This models a VOX AC30
- TWEED COMBO : This models a Fender Bassman 4 x 10” Combo
- X-HI GAIN : A model that uses BOSS’s unique MDP (Multi-Dimensional Processing) technology for a high-gain sound with a wide-ranged, comfortable sense of separation
- BRITISH STACK : This models a Marshall 1959
- BGR UB METAL : This models the sound that models the high-gain channel of a Bogner Uberschall
- NATURAL BASS : Uncolored clean sound for bass
- X-DRIVE BASS : A model that uses BOSS’s unique MDP (Multi-Dimensional Processing) technology for a high-gain sound with a wide-ranged, comfortable sense of separation
- CONCERT BASS : This models the Ampeg SVT
The CABINET Control gives you access to 8 Guitar Cabs, and 4 Bass Cabs :
- 1x12” Original : Open Cabinet Type
- 2x12" JC-120 Original : Open Roland JC-120 Cabinet
- 2x12” Jensen C-12K : Open Fender Twin Reverb Cabinet
- 2x12” Celestion G12M Greenback : Open Vox AC-30 Cabinet
- 4x10” Jensen P10R : Open Fender Bassman Cabinet
- 4x12” Celestion G12M Greenback : Open Marshall 1960B Cabinet
- 4x12” Celestion G12T-75 : Open Marshall 1960B Cabinet
- 4x12” Celestion G12M Greenback : Open Bogner Ubercab Cabinet
- [BASS] 1x18” Original : Closed SWR BigBen Cabinet with two bass reflex ports on the back
- [BASS] 2x15” Original : Open Original Cabinet
- [BASS] 4x10" Original : Closed SWR Goliath Cabinet with built-in Horn-type Tweeter
- [BASS] 8x10" Original : Closed Ampeg 810E Cabinet
And you can specify 10 Celestion Speaker / Cab combinations
- 1x12” Celestion Cream : Open Cabinet
- 1x12” Celestion Ruby : Open Cabinet
- 2x12" Celestion Blue : Open Cabinet
- 2x12” Celestion Heritage G12H (55) : Open cabinet
- 2x12” Celestion Vintage 30 : Closed Back Cabinet
- 4x12” Celestion G12T-75 : Closed Back Cabinet
- 4x12” Celestion G12H-75 Creamback : Closed Back Cabinet
- 4x12” Celestion G12M Greenback : Closed Back Cabinet
- 4x12” Celestion Heritage G12H (55) : Closed Back Cabinet
- 4x12” Celestion Vintage 30 : Closed Back Cabinet
You further have a choice of 6 Mic Types, with Mic Distance set to either Short or Long :
- SHURE SM57 : General dynamic Mic used for instruments; optimal for use in miking guitar amps
- SENNHEISER MD-421 : Dynamic Mic with extended low end
- AKG C451B : Small condenser Mic for use with instruments
- ROYER R-121 : Warm and natural ribbon Mic sound
- A SHURE SM57 and ROYER SHORT R-121 : mixed at equal volumes
- NEUMANN U 87 : Condenser mic with flat response
Finally AMBIENCE sets the dynamics of the Space / Room - where you select either Stereo or Dual Mono output - and then 4 different Types as appropriate :
- Thru
- Room
- Studio
- Hall
All those different elements combine together to form multiple variants of Impulse Responses - which you can save to each of the 128 Presets. While there are a Total of 154 IR Presets Onboard - 106 for Guitar, and 48 for Bass.
Key Features
- Sampling Frequency 96 kHz
- 32 Bit + Adaptive Focus method AD Conversion
- 32 Bit DA Conversion
- 32-Bit Floating Point Processing
- 11 Amp Types
- 12 Cabinet Types
- 10 Celestion Speaker Types
- 6 Mic Types + Short/Long Distance
- 4 Ambience Types
- 2 EQs in each memory plus 2 global EQs, all with selectable parametric or graphic operation
- Memory has 128 Preset Slots
- IR cabinet data format : Mono/Stereo, 96 kHz, 24 bits
- 154 Preset IR Cabinet
- 128 Preset User IR Cabinet
- Normal Input Level : Input, Return : -10 dBu ; Aux In : -20 dBu
- Maximum Input Level : Input, Return : +7dBu ; Aux In : 0 dBu
- Input Impedance : Input, Return : 1 M ohm : Aux In : 27 k ohms
- Normal Output Level : Output (A/Mono, B), Send, Phones : -10 dBu
- Maximum Output Level : Output (A/Mono, B), Send, Phones : +7dBu
- Output Impedance : Output (A/Mono, B), Send : 1k ohm ; Phones : 44 ohms
- Recommended Load Impedance : Output (A/Mono, B), Send : 10 k ohms or greater : Phones : 44 ohms or greater
- 11 Smart Controls, Dual-Footswitches
- Display : Graphic LCD (132 x 32 dots, backlit LCD)
- Connectors : Input, Send, Output (A/Mono, B) ; Jacks : 1/4-inch phone type ; Return Jack : 1/4-inch TRS phone type ; Aux In : Stereo miniature phone type ; CTL 1, 2/EXP Jack : 1/4-inch TRS phone type
- MIDI (In, Out) connectors : Stereo miniature phone type
- USB Computer Port: USB Micro-B type
- 9V DC [-] In Jack
- Power supply : AC Adaptor
- Current draw : 335 mA
- Dimensions : 101 (W) x 138 (D) x 63 (H) mm or 101 (W) x 138 (D) x 65 (H) mm (including rubber feet)
- Weight : 660 g / 1 lb 8 oz (excluding AC adaptor)
- MAP / RRP Price : $399 / €399 / £345
Demos
Final Thoughts
I believe the current champion / most popular contemporary Amp and Cabinet IR Simulator in the market is currently the Strymon Iridium - that's the one I'm seeing the most in circulation and on the most pedalboards. With the Walrus Audio ACS1 as a recent significant challenger to that, and Two Notes Torpedo the previous key operator in that segment.
For me the Boss IR-200 has more than enough to leave those others in the shade. The highly visible and intuitive screen and smart controls offer a much better and more easy to dial-in IR environment. And there are all manner of further features that this overview article cannot fully broach. The IR-200 has so many more aces up its sleeve. As long as the quality of those IR's is fully up to scratch - this should be a major challenger for the crown of that genre. Again a wholly bespoke format with its own unique control topology - and a super legible logically segmented screen which clearly displays at all times exactly what's going on.
When I finally get to the recording phase for my rig evolution - I would imagine the IR-200 will be a major component of that - which I would put in on the #41 Slot in place of the RC-10R - whenever I needed to make recordings. I would be investigating a 3-Mic more traditional room recording setup also - while the IR-200 is obviously the more sensible and practical choice.
I feel Boss has done a superb job here in crafting just the right feature set in absolutely the best format for the job. Everything about this shouts quality - and we can only hope that the IR's are as good as the device looks!
Any of you Strymon Iridium owners tempted?
