Boss Digital Delay Shootout DD2 DD3 DD5 DD6 DD7 DD20

[@delatronics]

Commenting as an ex Roland/Boss senior engineer; the best pedals are the DD2 or early DD3, the later DD3a had a narrower DC inlet socket and that's how you can tell it from the early DD3. The early DD3 was a rebadge of the DD2 but by the DD3a, the circuit had been revised and the feedback generation as well as the overall warmth of the pedal was nowhere near as good. I was with Roland UK in 1988 until 1996, but after forming my company Delatronics, have remained authorised ever since. Having been authorised by virtually every manufacturer since; I can recommend the DD2/DD3 as a stand alone delay pedal along with the RV3 reverb. The early Line 6 kidney bean pod v2 are brilliant too as is Digitech stuff. I currently own an Eventide Space (reverb and delay) which is a little cold at times but is phenominal!

[@tadlehmann1906]

Hello there This comment is very helpful. I have been doing some review research for my first ever delay pedal. A thousand options obviously but BOSS seems to be very popular and a safe bet as something I’d enjoy now and into the future if my abilities grow (I’m a basement player only now) DD-3 pedals are easier to find. Can you give me a guess as to what year they went from good to “bad”? I know bad is a relative term, and given my inexperience, I am unlikely to hear much difference regardless of which pedal I ultimately choose Many thanks

[@delatronics]

@@tadlehmann1906 look out for a DD2 or a Japanese DD3 (they have a wider DC inlet socket than the more narrow Taiwanese models). There's nothing wrong with the newer DD3, but the older made in Japan one has a warmer sound and nicer feedback settings.

[@tadlehmann1906]

@@delatronics thank you One more question - pedals as old as the 2 or JP 3 - should I expect to have problems with reliability / repairs? Everything I read says BOSS pedals are very sturdy, but thought to judge a 30-40yr pedal as I have no experience with them

[@delatronics]

@@tadlehmann1906 make sure the effect On LED is not dim (these can suffer with burnt out diodes but not too costly to replace)

[@tadlehmann1906]

@@delatronics thanks again

[@lobanovds]

00:44 DD2 01:05 DD3 01:29 DD5 01:52 DD6 02:21 DD7 02:49 DD20 Overdrive 06:08 DD2 06:37 DD3 07:09 DD5 07:38 DD6 08:12 DD7 08:40 DD20

[@sixbladeknife44]

DD-2 Best sounding digital delay ever made. Warmer than the others, repeats blend and fade in a more natural manner compared to the others.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Agree. There's a reason David Gilmour still uses them.

[@echopark78]

The dd2 is literally the dd3 just repackaged. Boss didn’t change anything except the name

[@pikkuarska]

@@echopark78 don't you mean the other way round? www.bossarea.com/boss-dd-3-digital-delay/

[@echopark78]

pikkuarska yes that’s what I meant

[@wodenoftheangles3339]

@@mattgilbert7347 Are you sure about that....?

[@robb4340]

2019 and still enjoying this comparison.

[@duaneanderson9492]

I've been cheaking out your delay pedal comparison posts and the clearity that you bring to the subject is refreshing I own several delay pedals and one of my all time favorites is the Boss dd20, the TC electronic flash back is also gaining favor. Your style and grace as a presenter are very much appreciated.

[@FretFriendGWaL]

I have the DD20 and the Flashback X4. The DD20 is going on my board permanently...

[@redielg]

I’m loving the dd5 and dd20 the most but honestly they all sound great.

[@gigsup]

DD20 is the most beat up one, followed by the DD2. That should tell you what you need to know.

[@TheDancingSaxophone]

gigsup It's funny how right you are!

[@puertecitos6888]

+gigsup bullshit, my dd7 is only one year old and it looks like the dd20 now.

[@hajiali2049]

Hello I want a DD20

[@hajiali2049]

Can you help me

[@hajiali2049]

How much cost of that

[@oliverandm]

Got the DD-20. It's a monster, and it has a great analog-ish kind of sound. I really dig it, but it may very well be too much for my needs... then again it does inspire me quite a lot, and i got it for rather cheap. Nice and robust!

[@DeemalAtapattu]

DD-2 0:43 DD-3 1:05 DD-5 1:29 DD-6 1:52 DD-7 2:22 DD-20 2:48

[@hajiali2049]

Hello I want a DD20

[@hajiali2049]

Can you help me

[@hajiali2049]

How much cost of that

[@mr.popoballballl745]

Warmth 2>20>7.......................

[@DouglasVenceslau]

DD3 AND DD7 ARE MY FAVOURITES. I WANT SO MUCH A DD20...

[@STAR_GUARDIAN_V]

0:57 sounded damn good on that DD2

[@gibbanz22]

The DD-6 I felt handled the overdrive really well, not overly saturated in the repeats.

[@HooksBill]

Great I'd already gone to bed and decided to watch this video. Looks like I'm going to go play with my DD-7 now.

[@fensterputzernuernberg]

The 2 the 7 and the 20.. 2 sounded the most magnetic and nicest to me .. but saying that they were all played at only a few certain settings..... but the 2 best .. i just learned something here .. and this video is very valuable much appreciated.

[@ItaiIfrach]

DD 2 the best to me, he sound a little bit warm and clear than others

[@FatBoy7.3Powerstroke]

All day long

[@fabriziolembomusician]

why don't you play all pedals together??! I'm really curious to ear them :D

[@stebolian]

Hear

[@pureblind0]

Actually, I quite prefer the original spelling.

[@kangaroofoot]

@@pureblind0 I agree, and I’m a grammar Nazi lol

[@B_Wolfen]

🤣😂🤣

[@dolcevita9531]

Boss DD-2 pedals and early Japanese Boss DD-3 used the same Long Chip of the Roland SDE 3000 delay rack unit. That's the secret

[@arsstelling1965]

Ok Friend, understood. Thanks thanks again for the attention !!!

[@scampthelazycat9891]

36DD is always gonna be most popular

[@raceface_m2579]

My DD7’s level knob died on me last night. Unusable now... but a DD3 showed up in the used market earlier this afternoon and I bought it. Can’t say I like it as much yet. The DD7 has analog, modulate, and reverse. It also has the tap tempo...

[@mattgilbert7347]

The DD-2 has a great tone. There's something about it, a "halo" effect around the repeats. The DD-5 probably sounded the weakest to me, but apart from the DD-2 they are all very similar.

[@Steelesque]

is it me or does the DD2 sound slightly warmer than the others?

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

Nope, DD2 and 3 are the same..

[@Nightingale1887]

Sean T How would you know? There 3 PCB's at 7 revisions each. An EARLY DD-3 is a rebadged DD-2 all other versions have different companders and DRAM.

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

Nightingale1887​ because I'm an electrical engineer and the parts you just listed have little to with it, They tend to change components because newer ones that do the same thing become cheaper (Especially in digital tech)... It's the same thinking as the MN3005 vs 3205 DM2 debate. There are so many other components (trim pot is a good example in the DM2) that are usually the cause of tonal variations yet people focus on ICs or in this case it's chips/RAM. I'd bet if there is a "warm" difference it's probably on the input/Output buffer.

[@Nightingale1887]

Sean T uhuh so bitrate increase, bandwith, conversion, slew,etc. don't matter much. I see your point.

[@rockeye]

@@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI I disagree. I think the DD2 has more depth and allows more bass to come through.

[@jasonring5231]

I've had the Boss DD-5 for about 20 years. A lot of complaints by most users when compared to the earlier DD-3 and 2.....except for the batch I got. It has a pinkish/purple sticker on the underside. I don't know what colors the other runs were, but this is the best one. I run it inline with the analog Deluxe Memory Man and will do so until it dies. Great video Schnoel. Love your channel.

[@LTJR.]

Got a 5, probably just as long, O problems, and really like. Paid for itself hundreds of times over. Easy to dial in Albert Lee chicken pickin, Hendrix reverse weirdness...I even put it after drum loops to alter beats when Busking, u get original beat, beat with dd5 on, then hit tap, or subdivision knob on right for 3rd pattern. With Mad Prof DB Delay clone I made, probably 125.00 for both. Got warm fat, and cleaner digital thing both covered. Mad Prof. has that cool EP boost type buffer/pre inside for nice/fat.

[@GothicXlightning]

so cool to see all this angelic beasts working together i still own my DD5, But i will love to try that GIGA DELAY

[@decopix5279]

Even with KZbin audio, you can hear the DD-2. And before you say the DD-2 and DD-3 were the same, this is generally not correct. DD-2 pedals had the famous large chip that was used in the rack units. Take a DD-2 apart and you'll see a huge chip that runs the entire width of the pedal. It really looks out of place! Back in the day, these huge chips had a big drop in price, so Roland decided to drop the price and call the new, cheaper model, the DD-3. These early DD-3 pedals sound great, because they are a DD-2 "in disguise." However...if you buy a recently made DD-3, it will not sound anything like a DD-2, unfortunately, and when people say the DD-3 is great or terrible this doesn't tell you anythng because you don't know which chip is inside. All this information is documented online and in some of the comments below.

[@frederickshelborn6911]

Easy way to tell the good DD-3 from the bad DD-3. The good one had the power insert at the bottom of the case (think front door to a house when looking at the top). The bad one had the power insert in the middle of the case (think of a window to a house when looking at the top).

[@rockericdude918]

Yeah i really liked the one with the light and the black pannel

[@Strabbs12345]

I have the dd5 and 20, and the 5 is very bright and sterile in the repeats, but, through a valve amp, and a nice reverb, I've actualy learned to love it. Dd20 s a bit warm to my ears

[@hajiali2049]

Strabbs12345 Hello I want a DD20

[@hajiali2049]

Can you help me

[@hajiali2049]

How much cost of that

[@nickwilson9210]

Agreed

[@shnobeltone]

The DD-3 in my video is actually a newer one, its not the old 80's one

[@MusicFed]

shnobel can you do the stutter effect on the DD20?

[@andrepereira744]

Dude,you have to make another video with DD-8 now!!

[@JimmySatio]

wow..that DD-2 sound great

[@qzunie]

it sounds really warm an sounds like the circuitry makes it sounds compress love it an want it

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

DD2 and DD3 are the same circuit.

[@nickwilson9210]

Oh that dd5 is so nice no wondering they are so sought after the most rythmatic boss pedal

[@LTJR.]

I've had my 5 a looong time, 0 problems. Really like it. Also have Mad Prof. DBD clone I built for warmer analog like thing. I built a tap switch for the DD5 out of a right angle plug w/momentary mini switch inside, so no space taken up on my overcrowded board.

[@yeauld]

Out of the single sized pedals the warmest are the DD7 and the DD2 but the DD7 is cleaner sounding, the DD20 has a tone knob so its pointless talking about how warm or brite it is all depends on the tone knob position, the rest sound very very similar, so taking all in consideration I guess DD7 is the best option if you want to save space on your pedalboard even over DD2 because just with the analog preset on DD7 you have way more possibilities not to mention the rest the DD7 is capable to do By the way I watched the video listening with really really high end studio monitors so Im 100% sure the warmest are the DD7 and the DD2 with the DD7 being a little bit cleaner more refined sounding Peace !!!!!!

[@swangonzalez4797]

Glad you put that one to rest. I always wanted a 2 but am now considering a 7.

[@9520575]

Clearly the white one with the blue knobs sounds the best.

[@mrbungle8493]

DD3, best digital delay pedal ever.

[@NemoRamalho]

Clean samples: DD2 0:43 / DD3 1:05 / DD5 1:29 / DD6 1:52 / DD7 2:21 / DD20 2:49 Overdriven samples: DD2 6:07 / DD3 6:37 / DD5 7:08 / DD6 7:38 / DD7 8:11 / DD20 8:39

[@henryssurfshowcase]

Maybe because DD-2 is first in chain, seems to sound best?

[@v.k.7463]

Nice comparison! I have a DD-20, and I'm jealous of the DD-3's sharp tone.🙃

[@astorgaluthier]

Good test. Just one thing: put in them in series drastically affect the tone because of the buffers. Really do. If you compare them just plug in one at the time, the outcomes would be so much different. Thats the reason the first one sound Brighter than the rest.

[@TheNickArgo]

I like DD2 and DD3...sounds.

[@paan36ty]

DD 4

[@donpol7861]

Cursed

[@redielg]

Me, Also Me 4 is a unlucky number for the Japanese.

[@zombiemosher1139]

@@redielg there was a PQ-4 though.

[@jesusdlt777]

Aa sos re trol

[@sparkyguitar0058]

Been looking for a DD-4 for a while. Don't start rumors that they don't make them anymore. My DD -5 is having problems right now so I'm taking a # off and making my own DD 4. Hopefully it will play better than all this.

[@flagstamp]

The dd5 is sitting higher in the row than the others, which subliminally tells you which one is the best.

[@haydenhensley5322]

This is the only video I've seen where the person actually knows how to use a delay

[@johnk9762]

I disagree. I find that using that much delay is not practical for most songs.

[@danmartinazzi]

dd2 and dd3 made in japan are the same pedal

[@alanlescorbeau9224]

Il stick with my dd3 it's never let me down loved it from the first day

[@paulflook3505]

DD20 to my ears

[@wagyubeep605]

I'll go with dd2 for the single pedal, much warmer but so good in ears. dd5 for the cleaner tone and brighter tone.

[@jakollee]

You should do a new video comparing DD-20 with DD-200 and DD-500 (if you can get hold of them!).

[@roderickpatterson5218]

Ryan Baker, those pedals were "delayed" in production, they're on "hold" ! Wah ,wah ,wah! Naa , not a Wah pedal! Ba dup dup! Purdy cheesy eh? LOL. Actually I believe the large jumps in numbers were part "sales oriented" and part ITHOs' meant to make buyers "feel" as if a leap in technology was passing them . Hell I dunno 4 sure , this was what I was told from a "Boss" rep. IMHO #5 is the go to since he mentioned the tail aspect. And it's a bit of an advantage for the DD-20, having so many extra bells & whistles. I believe the DD-20 "may" have a "loop" function? Not sure? From this demo #5 is the best value since it appeared to have a slight more umph to its sound and the 1st with the tail aspect.

[@planetweed]

DD2 has 12 bit convertors , that's probably the reason why many like the sound of it ... later models used better convertors , so they sound perhaps cleaner ,but at the expense of some character it seems

[@KarlSheridan]

DD3 sounds best in my experience

[@strikeout2143]

No japan model.

[@teacher5376]

DD3T ! DD8! DD200! Are the only pedals , that I can buys.and red colors analog 's pedals, coming soon.

[@Vildhjuggah]

To me it seems the dd2 and dd6 are the warnest while the rest seem brighter. And the dd20 sounded a bit spacey. Would you agree?

[@KineticLeather]

I always like the feel of the DD5. The DD6 had a very dead feel to it. DD5 feels like it's working with me musically. DD6 seems to work against me somehow.

[@benbrunskill5618]

DD-2 is very obviously the best. DD-5 was the worst on a clean - but I think I liked it the most with overdrive!

[@jjccllgg]

Great review!!! Time to add Waza Craft delay!

[@robb4340]

Yeah Waza please the DM2W is on my list but a DD7W won't hurt.

[@dimamikhaylov9805]

DD2 best!

[@brianlaforge5018]

+Dima Mikhaylov thats what Im rockn too! thinkn of gettn a carbon copy mxr too though

[@hajiali2049]

I YOU help me

[@hajiali2049]

I want a DD20

[@LOSELOSE666]

DD3

[@FatBoy7.3Powerstroke]

I have the MXR carbon copy, and T-Rex delay, they are both ok but not quite the warmth I'm looking for. The dd2 has a characteristic that stands out to me, I hear a Gilmour and Bryan Adams quality to it

[@Goofhonk]

guitar sounds good through the ac30. using the bridge pup? POT sounds nice too.

[@jseabo77]

Cool ,liked. The dd7 !

[@AmagrasMUSIC]

Why 2 and 3 have different feedback settings?

[@shnobeltone]

None of them except the DD-20 will do line level thats in the effect loop

[@DouglasVenceslau]

I have dd7 today, but I already had dd3 too and miss it. my dream is the dd20 ... I have a dl4 too...

[@곽성민-m7k]

DD3!!!!

[@007Elvisofnazareth]

Maybe you should put a dedicated buffer at the beginning and end of the chain just to be sure.

[@arsstelling1965]

Hi friend !! Very nice video .... which one will works better on the fx loop of my dirty Friedman Marsha amp, not including the DD20 ?? Can tou help me ?? Thanx.

[@xyholland]

I like the riff in the 7th min

[@lorenzoschiavetti168]

From 6:11 on pure The Edge sound.

[@lorenzoschiavetti168]

what does it mean?

[@emivalx]

That DD-2 was cool.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

The DD-2/DD-3 are the same with a number change as prices fell in the 80s. They were analog with digital processing. The big long chip. The DD-3 is now made differently. I have the DD-3 and DD-6 and the DD-3 sounds better. They sound cold now and I use a a DM-3 analog delay exclusively.

[@hajiali2049]

Hello

[@hajiali2049]

Hey. Can you help me

[@hajiali2049]

I want. A DD20

[@hajiali2049]

How much cost of that

[@nickwilson9210]

DD5 sounds the best to me by a long shot for a digital delay the dd2 sounds more alongy the dd5 rythmatic delay settings even beat the dd20 something special about that pedal I have own all them except the dd7

[@LTJR.]

Yeah on 5, and rhythmic/tap functions. And reliability! Been on my board forever, through Summertimes of 6nights and doubles on Sat. & Sun. Winters of Tues, every other Wed, plus TFSat, & Sun. I think it's been there when people smoked in the clubs! Ha.

[@nashville500]

How about a 36 Double D?

[@FraPinkFloyd]

DD2 is simply superb, the others nails the digitalish 80's tone in a very good way but DD2 is far away THE TONE.

[@GUZROCK]

There's a legend that if you turn all of 'em on, you call Exodia.

[@rowanvincent5762]

It might just be KZbin's audio, but is there any significant difference sound-wise between the pedals? Or is it more the features and controls on them?

[@brianlaforge5018]

+Rowan Vincent not positive but Im sure its just the features.. different generations..

[@htorres62]

yes remember it is settings for recording studio sound never gonna be. the same you got to use and thrust you ear

[@joelshaji2681]

shnobel which one is the best of all

[@EYECOMEINPEACE]

Thanks bro. I'm narrowed down to the Flashback (regular), Boss DD7, DD20 then hardwire DL8. ;) Now...to ...choose wisely I suppose....Dr. Jones..

[@bhigginsDublin]

Go for the dd20, by far the most practical choice and the best value for money!

[@zodiacbluesbaby]

If it didn't say which one was playing, you couldn't tell them apart.

[@alspdx]

Yea, but you only get cool points if you love the dd-2 the best.

[@mattgilbert7347]

The DD-2 stands out.

[@hajiali2049]

I want a DD20

[@hajiali2049]

Can you help me

[@johanvermeulen7668]

zodiacbluesbaby wq

[@technovan1133]

not sure about this shootout if it was fair, wether the dd20 dd 7 dd6 dd5 were in Fback 12 oclock, the dd 3 and dd2 were about 2 oclock!

[@kangaroofoot]

Is there a Boss DD-1?

[@strikeout2143]

No

[@tripleraven]

just picked up a dd-3 at a local music store

[@Damarisferdi]

In a "digital Delay" function they all sound the same ...

[@AlejandroFloresmotorsport]

yes it is

[@endrizo]

are there a DD1 and DD4 ?? i read your answer below...so they skipped the 4.

[@andremellao4882]

dd2 is the best, but dd7 is the closest

[@DDL381]

DD - 2 !!! DD - 3 !!!

[@teacher5376]

I see.i said all this , this all , of digital pedals of delays. Best on yesterday 's.....now, had released good, delays pedals for us! DD 3T ! DD8 ! DD200 ! DD 500 ! Analog 's with digital 's .....let enjoy 😉

[@meionerd_]

Is the dd20 right pedal used for tap tempo?

[@GingerChristmas]

+Matheus Merger Dörr it can be used for either tap tempo or for switching presets

[@meionerd_]

Rob Lockley ok, thanks

[@hajiali2049]

Hello I want a DD20

[@hajiali2049]

Can you help me

[@hajiali2049]

How much cost of that

[@mod3l]

ok i know this video is 5 years old but.... has anyone ever wondered if the buffers might effect the tone when these pedals are wired in series (like in this video)?

[@astorgaluthier]

Totally. Thats the reason the first one sounds so Bright

[@John-Perry]

I would bet if you were to hear these pedals in a double blind listening demo with Option 1. As they are connected now and Option 2. Individually connected in a guitar>pedal>amp configuration you would not be able to differentiate the two

[@floydchoi2277]

what's your favorite digital delay?

[@AlexDuarteMusico]

Nice video

[@guitarhub90]

Why does the delay effects on my Boss ME80 sound dull and muddy? I expect that at least it may sound dd2.

[@KarlSheridan]

DD3

[@davidbuzzin426]

👍🇺🇲❤DD2 & DD3

[@swanation45]

all through the effects loop?

[@JRNicholson27794]

I used to own both the DD-7 and DD-20 and ran them together for a long time, to my ears the DD-7 sounded better, the repeats were a bit crisper and generally more alive than the DD-20, but the features on the DD-20 at the time we're second to none...unless you had the money for an eventide...

[@hajiali2049]

James Nicholson Hello I want a DD20

[@hajiali2049]

Can you help me

[@hajiali2049]

How much cost of that

[@healer80]

God bless you...

[@IIlIQuANTuMllIl]

You should post a video with your board in it so we can see what you choose daily

[@1RIB100]

By plugging one into another the comparison is flawed. Need to use a bypass switch strip so each pedal is isolated from the rest and not going through all the other pedals' buffers.

[@chessman2461]

hello man, nice video, as usual, ¿what do you think is the best sounding one?...

[@SamuraiBud]

Dd2 and dd7 is warm this video makes dd3 the worst delay dd20 is nice but expensive and heavy to carry

[@albertomarzani3216]

DD2 and DD7 Are much warmer than DD3/5/6

[@EYECOMEINPEACE]

shnoble....which one do YOU prefer out of these?

[@shnobeltone]

I prefer the DD-20, in my opinion its an underrated delay pedal, it has alot of great sounds.

[@htorres62]

dd6

[@htorres62]

dd20 to many knobs it is overwellming i had the pedal and i did returned I got dd6 I like the dd7 just for looper that it