Is the Boss IR 2 Worth the Hype?

[@philbrannigan5854]

I've had my IR-2 for just over a month now, and I still love it. My objective has been to build a stereo rig where I can get to a gig or a rehearsal and quickly tweak physical knobs to get whatever sound I need in that situation, without having to hook a phone app up, and it's looking like this is what I've been looking for. I have it set up with (among other things) a Blues Driver style overdrive in front and a UAFX Del-Verb in the loop. A TC Viscous Vibe in front of the overdrive is amazing for a Bridge of Sighs tone. I have it connected to my audio interface so I can play over backing tracks and listen through headphones, and I've never had as satisfying a sound through headphones as the IR-2 gives me. I'm going to book a rehearsal room in a couple of weeks to connect it up to a PA and try it at volume, but I have high hopes. I thought that having the physical knobs potentially not reflecting what the current preset was set to would be a problem, but the pedal is simple enough that remembering what I had set isn't an issue. As you point out John, you can take a photo of settings if you need it. Since I bought the IR-2, I've put in more practice hours than in any equivalent period of my entire playing life.

[@DizzyKrissi]

What about the onboard reverbs? Do they do their job?

[@philbrannigan5854]

@@DizzyKrissi The onboard reverbs are really usable. I'm running a UAFX Del-Verb in the loop, which is a really excellent delay and reverb pedal, so I haven't been relying on the IR-2's reverb so far. However, when I want to switch off the big sound of the UAFX, eg if I'm playing crunch chords behind vocals, then I'll use the IR-2's reverb to be just a little ambient. I haven't worked out how to quickly go from one to the other yet, but I have ideas.

[@DizzyKrissi]

@@philbrannigan5854 : thanx for your quick reply.

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

​@@DizzyKrissiThere mediocre at best just like the rest of the pedal. I sent mine back.

[@chemistry3934]

I think the problem here John is that you would sound good plugged into my dishwasher!

[@mzwakhilethwala7105]

😂😂

[@joellebrodeur1015]

Have the IR-2. It's awesome and it's on my board as we speak. I do have a Fender FR12 to run it when a mixer or PA isn't available for band rehearsal.

[@simonhall2682]

I love John’s slower soulful playing. He has such good feel and note choice.

[@Sticky_Tea]

happy birthday to the little Cordy lady 🥳

[@alexstrums]

Been looking for an ampless / headphone capable solution to replace the katana mini. The IR2 sounds great. Major selling point for me is it only draws a current of 160mA. This is important as I run 8 pedals off a rechargeable power pack. Look into the Joyo JP-06W ZGPW Power Converter. It got rid of that horrible ‘dirty’ electricity buzz from my house and made my board portable. Looking forward to adding the IR-2

[@stiffmata]

Thank you for yet another great video JNC! Definitely getting an IR 2 for my next working board. Your playing is so fluid, pure and dynamic that is hard to really tell at times what the gear is doing. (i bet this guy sounds good plugged into a toaster!)

[@rainshadowband3161]

Ordered one from Sweetwater. Said they're about a month and a half on back order lmao.This thing is such an incredible bang-for-the-buck for what it does.

[@arliestiles3852]

I'm thinking HX Effects and an IR-2 might be a wicked small fly rig that does it all.

[@ransombaggins9301]

I'm a big fan of these alternatives to modeling devices, etc. This and the ME-90 are wonderful for my particular needs and brain. :)

[@jordanbrown9507]

I own the IR-2 and recently did a shoot out between it and my UAFX pedals (Ruby, Woodrow and Dream). My drummer actually liked the AC30 sound on the IR-2 better. I’m torn on what to keep.

[@michielroom]

I couldn’t get along with my Ruby. I like the Vox tone on the Ir2. I am also torn about weather I keep my Dream and Woodrow. I definitely keep my Lion 68.

[@h1strat]

I left the Woodrow and Dream for an IR-200 a year and a half ago.

[@ZackPomerleau]

@@michielroomwhat did you decide? I couldn’t stand the Woodrow. It was too crackly for me.

[@Nightwinflyer]

The fx loop in the pedal size format is the game changer here.

[@ssdravidian]

Exactly.....

[@RobertFisher1969]

I'm still waiting for them to come back in stock. Really looking forward to getting one.

[@writewheel]

My vacation/travel rig: IR-2 with a Zoom MS-50G in the send/return for FX and headphone out to a little JBL for FRFR is working well for me. I'm wishing for more than 5 hours battery life in the IR-2

[@tonyhills2112]

Got one on back order. Sounds very promising, can’t wait to check it out!

[@Adventuresingearland]

Given it stands up to the morning-after interrogation, perhaps an episode entitled something like ‘Amp-less Boss fly rig’ might be in order? Angry Driver>GT1000>IR2 - four easily accessible gain stages, more than enough FX and IR out. Could do different gigs in that London Town using the tube with that! Happy birthday Elodie.

[@monstercadaver]

Having the GT-1000core would probably render the other pedals useless .

[@saywhat445]

Thanks for the video. Have used ir-2 for about a dozen gigs. It’s great. Sold the hx stomp.

[@frankphvrvon3153]

The fx loop works really good. Didn’t played it a lot cause I don’t have enought time outside the jams… but the twin and bassman also are really good with gain pedals :)

[@ShreddingFinn]

I think it’s the best in price and flexibility, although something like a Mooer x2 is the same price and for my money can definitely sound as good if not better depending on the profile

[@iancohen]

Love your reviews John and I've had a Boss IR-2 from launch and love it. Crunch and plexi tones are my favourites. QQ though, what were the Sennheiser headphones you were using to test with

[@RajorshiBhattacharyya]

IR2 vs IR200?

[@Sea_Jay]

I'm going back and forth between just being satisfied with my HX Stomp or playing with an IR-2 (not that you can buy one right now) or a Tonex can be had for about $100 more than the IR-2. I toy with the idea of putting a Tonex into the loop of the Stomp.

[@DoubleDguitar]

I have recently grabbed a Stomp because of JNC. I love the IR2 with my pedalboard as an amp replacement. But the Stomp has some amazing tones on tap. Spent the eve last night playing through his Eric Johnson patch and am thinking his custom IR would be great in the IR2.

[@davidthomas9960]

I run tonex in the loop of my HXFX and love it tbh

[@DoubleDguitar]

@@davidthomas9960 I was really close to grabbing one, but when the IR2 came out, I got it on a whim and have been happy. One day, I will end up with a ToneX, I’m quite sure.

[@scottsherman2279]

Helix stomp and tonex starts to exceed 5ms of latency pretty consistently passing through both, so in that case I would recommend the GX 100 with the tonex instead to keep latency down.

[@alexforget]

A modern system while keeping the boutique and vintage flair look. A winner! You don't want to get seen with a digital multi-effect under your foot.

[@veissanr]

Hello ... When you move through the amplifiers and come back, the settings have changed... I wonder why? thank you

[@BeardedLer1WD]

I'm feeling pretty married to my pedalboard at this point and the BOSS IR-2 has definitely caught my attention as I am a church worship leader. The church I'm in would benefit from an amp-less setup. This just may be the solution for me. Glad this video showed up this morning, thanks for all you do on the channel JNC!

[@nuggers23]

I'm about to buy myself one. Here's a question you may have a good answer to: - i got my tc flashback x4 as last with its good quality buffer on to feed the signal nicely to the amp. Do you think the ir2 boss standard buffer can match the buffering quality or should I just always have the tc flashback behind the ir2? :) cheers!

[@timothy5974]

Thanx John, I picked up the zoom ms50G and I wonder how it would sound in the Boss loop? Which do you think does amp sounds better? Again thank you, and Happy Birthday to your little Girl! 🎉🎂

[@robinjgill]

Thanks. Any background hum into a PA/mixer?

[@picksalot1]

It is very dark sounding compared to an HX Stomp. It would be interesting to see how much you'd have to dial the trebles back on the Stomp to match the same Amp in the IR-2. Thanks

[@jollytry3500]

The boss is very bright actually. More so than the helix. It's got a very prominent glassiness. That is why I couldn't love it personally. Hx stomp and Strymon have more pleasant tone qualities to me even though they are both slightly darker than the boss.

[@picksalot1]

@@jollytry3500 I've been playing an HX Stomp for over 3 years, and every video I've watched of the IR-2 has sounded significantly darker than it. Perhaps that's just the way users are dialing in the IR-2. 🤷 I used to play through a Boss GT-6 for many years, and number of Boss pedals prior to that, so I have some familiarity with the "Boss sound."

[@StratsRUs]

It is how you dial it in. I have a Helix, GT1000Core ...It all depends on the song.

[@jollytry3500]

@@picksalot1 the boss is overall very bassy but it is also very top end heavy. Some of which I could not get rid of neither with irs nor with EQing

[@tazinguitars]

Amazing revisited review, however have you used directly to record any audio tracks as an interface straight on a DAW? If so could you please comment or better yet see if you can add fx from 3rd party plugins on the DI whilst recording and show us. I'm really looking for something like for awhile and have been thinking to get one soon.

[@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist]

A very happy birthday to the little boss lady

[@ksharpe10]

JNC could make a electric Can Opener sound good.

[@900tks]

You mention the ME90. That unit seems to have the same amps sims built in? Yet, everyone seems to love the IR-2, but not those in the ME90. Can they really be that different? Did anyone test?

[@monstercadaver]

Could be that the IR-2 is 96khz and the ME-90 is 48?

[@matthewearl9824]

I have both this and the Two Notes Opus. Let's just say that I use the Opus everyday and in more ways then just one. If you have tube amps the Opus is insane also. Boss is good for set and forget, but I would save the extra 100 and get the Opus.

[@JR.Spliff]

How do you use the Opus w amps?

[@DizzyKrissi]

I would get the Opus if it would be capable to be used as an audio-interface.

[@Flaseflag911insidejob]

The me 90 was crap in my opinion unless you used the editor which is something I don't want to do. The IR2 on the other hand looks like a great option and the resolution is higher also..

[@johnplaystheguitar123]

Nu-X Amp Academy just got an update. 6 more amps. thats 18 total now. They added a Vox AC30, Fender Deluxe, Princeton, Mesa Boogie Lonestar, JCM 2000 and a 5150. If you still had one would've been worth a revisit. Probably not worth buying again.

[@iqbalirmawan9941]

wait sorry I don't get it. which one is not worth to buy (again)? the IR-2 or the nux AA?

[@johnplaystheguitar123]

@@iqbalirmawan9941 oh i just meant John reviewed the AA a year or so ago and I think like a lot of demo gear got rid of it after. and given he has helix, fractal etc probably not worth getting again just to review updates. i mean i think it is worth buying again. but maybe not for a youtube review. i love my AA and the new update came out of no where. very happy they're still updating. the new amps sound good. AA is cheaper than the Boss, has drives/compression as well as reverbs, XLR out etc. app can tweak with. it only has a mono send/return though where as boss has stereo.

[@marciolimongi]

Thank you for the video! I have a question (for anyone who has this pedal) - Has anyone tried to plug it into the front of an amp? (the manual says you can turn off the cab sim and do that). I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and a pedalboard that is missing an overdrive. I could buy a regular overdrive pedal, but thought of the IR-2 as an option to use it both as a regular drive in front of the amp, as well as for direct recording/headphone practice. Will the IR-2 sound good if used as a regular drive pedal? It would be awesome if it did, especially since it has so many different sound options in it. If anyone has a chance to try this and let me know, I will be very grateful! Thanks!

[@jbh219]

I've plugged mine into the front. With IRs off it sounds fine...but I feel it would be better into the return of the fx loop than the front end

[@marciolimongi]

@@jbh219 Thank you! The pedal was on backorder forever but I finally have one coming in two days. The new band I joined has an ampless/silent studio with headphones, and I will need to go direct with the guitar, so the IR-2 will be perfect!

[@Zemael]

Hi. Thank you for this video. Please, how do you feel it over gt1000core? Thanks.

[@StratsRUs]

I love the GT1000Core. This is cheaper

[@citizenphaid1880]

What speakers are you using or is this going into a cab?

[@dnah2k]

I’m just having trouble hearing the IR-2 do the clean/edge of break up to slight overdrive very well. Anyone out there find a good amp or setting?

[@C2G007JB]

Fellow worship guitarist... I bought one. The twin and diamond is definitely the go to for that. However I must say that is sounds very box-like. But im sure there's a way to manipulate that. Must just figure it out

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Do you need this if already have a Dual Cube LX lunchbox amp?

[@jimmyjames2022]

Dual Cube LX is from the Roland modelling amp lineage so amps sound different to me than Boss's offerings (same company now so it's labelled as Boss). Are you happy with the amps, time effects and the built in looper of the Dual Cube LX? (Can't use the looper without buying the extra foot pedal.) IR-2 has only "ambience" time effect, and no built in looper. If you want looper, delay or other time effects pedals you have the FX loop in the IR-2 but have to buy the pedals. Dual Cube has no FX loop but has everything that you really need built in. Plus bluetooth, but again you have to buy the adapter. IR-2 is not a powered amp just a preamp. But line out into PA would work. And you have stereo line out in the Cube too. I thought a lot about buying the Dual Cube LX but I think the amps sound better in the IR-2 and the FX loop is a necessity for me, so I went with that. Still waiting as back ordered.

[@Whydyoucare]

so does it take pedals well? especially drive pedal?

[@Mdougherty8054]

I have it, and can confirm a couple models take gain pedals well, but not all. Light drives will be just fine, but really heavy gain pedals don’t sound great on all models. Idk if that helps but there it is. I run a blues driver in front of mine and it works great.

[@joellebrodeur1015]

I can also confirm it's brilliant with drive pedals or any pedal. I run two ODs: Pelican Noiseworks 50/50 into a JHS Notaklon.

[@MusicFed]

What headphones are those?

[@SlavJerry]

sennheiser hd600 edit: nvm it looks like hd650 or 6xx

[@MusicFed]

@@SlavJerry thanks. Is the headphone output good enough to drive these sennheiser. I think they are 300 ohms?

[@SlavJerry]

@@MusicFed I doubt it can, but if you're quiet listener it might be I guess

[@lirojhonson]

Thanks John for the video! I d like to ask you what do you think about not having eq (specially Low /High cuts filters) on these amp in a pedal, if that is important or not, I saw some videos from you explaining that you setup those filters for live gigging in order to not have harsh tone when playing loud, is it that relevant in this case or others like straymon iridium, or a proper IR would do the job of cutting out the frequencies? Thanks a lot in advance!

[@mikewick77]

thats my concern as well.

[@leal77]

Poderia colocar um equalizador no loop do ir-2.

[@89digits59]

Boss Amp sims lack dynamics, it's no match for HX Stomp Amp Sims, plus the HX Stomp can do way more than Boss IR2, yes the Boss is good conceptually, but Boss need to up their game on their Amp Sims / Cab Sims / reverbs and Delays. Boss need to work on dynamics / string attack and make the Sims sound more natural, currently it's to digital.

[@monstercadaver]

Whoah there. Lots of people find the tones, feeling and interaction on the AIRD models are better or just as good as Helix stuff. You can’t compare the IR-2 to an HX Stomp - it’s 3 times as expensive. Boss cabsims? For real, you can load up the same IRs on both. Line6 need to work on DSP, How many blocks can you load up on your stomp?

[@89digits59]

@@monstercadaver - DSP on the HX Stomp for sure could be better, the point to note here and in my opinion is that weather it's the Boss IR2 / Boss ME80 / ME90 / Boss GT 100 / GT 10, they all sound the same ( static - no note dynamics ) they either give very little reverb like - Room / Plate / Hall or simply add stuff that is not usable - the Line 6 Reverbs are miles ahead of Boss - In general Boss needs to get their modeling act together and even Fender need to do the same, their new Unit was a no go. By the way I used to me a Boss Fan boy for a long time and still own some Boss Pedals.

[@johnplaystheguitar123]

Headphone Cordy feels trapped

[@jimandcathep9915]

If they add MIDI I would buy in a second.

[@LewWelchThePoet]

🤘👍🏿

[@kyolic]

Ffs John turn on the gas, babies will freeze!

[@nathan_789]

Day 1 of asking for EVERY backing track to be available on Patreon! They're all too good to not share :)

[@danamoose1234]

Where's the bot comment???

[@MarshallSetUps]

Four months after my purchase, and still no pedal. BOSS has lost a long time customer. A terrible business practice.

[@iloveitall]

Which hype? No hype amongst musicians. Influencers maybe.

[@mrbuttons1243]

I guess "youtube" hype? Most everyone just wants clicks or to sell something though. Shootouts and comparisons are helpful though.

[@GreenHoleSun]

It's a fact that these pedals have been sold in large amounts and stocks are currently empty. Influencers? Maybe, but this pedal sounds good (like the IR 200 that I own), and it is well built and designed... The price is generally lower than its competitors and it fits in any pedalboard. And it can be battery powered, a unique feature that I would not underestimate. So, hype or not, musicians or influencers set aside, I would say that Boss has definetely nailed it.

[@leal77]

​@@GreenHoleSunna sua opinião, se fosse comprar agora, seria o ir-2 ou ir-200?

[@GreenHoleSun]

@@leal77 probably i would stay with the ir200. The lcd screen let you set the controls easily and there is a bit more features (it manages stereo IR, it has midi connectivity, more tweakable etc). On the other hand it costs more, it is a bit bigger and it is not battery powered...in the end it depends on your needs.

[@leal77]

​@@GreenHoleSunobrigado. Penso o mesmo. O ir-200 tem dois tipos de equalizadores e redutor de ruidos. Tem saída de fone também. Boss poderia atualizar o ir-200 com os novos amps do ir-2.