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Boss IR-2 Review – It’s Better than both an amp AND Modellers!
Introduction
We haven’t all got the luxury of being able to cart around massive 4X12’s or even a 1X12 combo. Sometimes the need is for a rig that is super small and super effective. This pedal might just be the answer! The Boss IR-2! A amp and cabinet simulator pedal with oodles of features and sounds!
Now this pedal has been out for a while, however, it has been in and out o stock fairly quickly! So I finally pulled the trigger and pre-ordered one! It has finally come, I have been using it and I have some thoughts on it! Before we dive into our thoughts, let’s go through what the Boss IR-2 is and what it does! had to wait!
Boss IR-2 Amp & Cabinet Pedal
The Boss IR-2 is a compact amp and cab simulator designed as an “amp in a box” in a small form factor, keeping both size and cost minimal. This compact design lets you achieve professional-quality direct sounds without taking up much space on your pedalboard.
So, what amps does the Boss IR-2 include? Quite a few—11, to be exact! The pedal features a variety of amp models inspired by different styles and brands, plus some unique, original amp models created by Boss.
| Amp Name | Inspiration | Cabinet |
|---|---|---|
| Clean | BOSS original amp with a natural clean sound | 1x12” Celestion V-Type |
| Twin | Fender Twin Reverb | 2x12” Celestion A-Type |
| Tweed | 1959 Fender Bassman | 4x10” Celestion G10 Gold |
| Diamond | Vox AC-30 | 2x12” Celestion Blue |
| Crunch | BOSS original amp with high-clarity crunch tone | 2x12” Celestion G12-65 |
| Brit | Marshall 1959 Super Lead | 4x12” Celestion G12M-Heritage |
| Hi-Gain | BOSS original amp with smooth well-defined gain sounds | 4x12” Celestion G12M Creamback |
| SLDN | Soldano SLO-100 | 4x12” Celestion Vintage 30 |
| Brown | BOSS original high-gain amp derived from the Katana series | 4x12” Celestion G12M-Heritage |
| Modded | BOSS original amp with extreme gain and high definition | 4x12” Celestion G12K-100 |
| RFIER | MESA/Boogie Dual Rectifier (Channel 2, Modern mode) | 4x12” Celestion Vintage 30 |
Let’s talk Boss IR-2 Controls!
Now that we’ve covered the amp selection, let’s look at the controls. Boss has managed to pack an impressive amount into this stompbox! The pedal has four main knobs, but with dual-control functionality, you actually get seven controls. Let’s go through them from left to right.
Starting on the far left, there’s the Ambience/Bass control. This lets you adjust the bass response or add ambience (more on that shortly). Next is the Level/Middle knob, which controls the output level and allows you to fine-tune the mid frequencies. The third dual-control knob is Gain/Treble, used to set the amount of amp gain or adjust the treble frequencies. Finally, the last knob is the Amp Sim control, which lets you switch between the amp types we mentioned earlier.
Need inputs and outputs? This pedal has you covered! On the right side of the pedal, you’ll find the input jack, a Channel Selector jack (allowing you to use an external footswitch to change channels), and a Return jack for the FX loop. On the left side, there are two output jacks for stereo output, plus an FX Send jack. Finally, on the top of the pedal, there’s a 9V power input.
More on the Boss IR-2
This pedal is loaded with features! We’ll cover the key ones here, especially those that most players will find useful. For a full list of features and an in-depth walkthrough, check out the manual (Boss manuals are excellent). First, let’s talk about the On/Off footswitch. This standard switch works with a press-and-hold to turn the pedal off, while a quick press lets you switch channels (or presets). The IR-2 has two channels—a red and a green—which allow you to set and save two different presets that you can toggle between.
Like every Boss pedal, the IR-2 runs on a 9V battery or a power supply. It’s priced at £179, but due to its popularity, it’s often back-ordered—so be prepared to wait a bit.
The Sounds
For our sound demo, we created an expansive, atmospheric track and tried to use as many of the amp models as possible! There’s no overdrive, distortion, or post-processing pedals in this recording—all the grit and texture come directly from the Boss IR-2. Any modulation effects are from a Boss CE-2W pedal running in the loop.
After that, we walk you through the features and amp tones this pedal has to offer. We also add a few pedals in front and in the FX loop to demonstrate its versatility. What we don’t cover are the additional reverb settings and options available in the start-up modes. We’ve packed as much as we could into this sound sample!
What are my thoughts?
Let’s get this out of the way—I love this pedal! I’ve used it countless times since I got it. It’s incredibly easy to set up and perfect for practicing. But what’s it really like to use?
If you’re into amps and know how to dial in tones on a physical amp, the IR-2 is ideal. It’s laid out just like a traditional amp, making it perfect for players who prefer amps over modelers with complex menus and touchscreens. It’s truly WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). Need to tweak something? Just reach down and adjust—there’s virtually no learning curve if you’re used to amps! Plus, it’s all packed into the familiar Boss pedal format and size, which we all love.
One of my favorite features is that there’s no software required! This is truly a plug-and-play pedal. What about the USB-C port? That’s only for changing out IRs, so if you don’t plan to swap them, you’ll never need to connect the pedal. This simplicity is a big plus for me—and we’ve got a whole article coming soon about why.
Boss IR-2 Continued
One thing to note: the stock IRs and amp models aren’t interchangeable, but you can load your own IRs on a computer if you have preferred ones. This flexibility means you can use the pedal’s amp sims with an IR you’re already comfortable with. Speaking of customization, the IR-2 is packed with features—different reverb options, various setup modes, and more! To access these, you start the pedal up with the knobs in specific positions depending on what you want to change. I love that they packed so much in, but it’s both a blessing and a curse; to get the most out of it, you’ll need to read the manual (luckily, Boss manuals are top-notch).
And what about the sounds? This pedal sounds incredible! I keep looking down at it and thinking, I can’t believe this pedal makes these tones! I’m especially impressed with how well it responds to guitar volume; the crunch sounds clean up beautifully. If you’re used to working your volume controls, you’ll feel right at home. I find myself using the Marshall and tweed models the most—they each have distinct flavors. For example, the Brit model (Marshall-inspired) has that edgy top-end we love about Marshalls, while the Soldano model has a thick yet tight low end and a broad gain range for versatile tones.
"Surprisingly, I haven’t used the IR-2 exactly how I thought I would. I expected to set it up as a two-channel amp with separate crunch and clean settings!"
Is it Useable?
The three-band EQ is a bit tame on some amp models; you may need to turn the knobs more than expected to dial in your tone. For other models, it’s more responsive, and smaller adjustments go a long way. Lastly, the built-in reverb effects make creating an “in-the-room” sound really easy.
My band uses IEMs, so running this straight to the mixing desk has been a huge time-saver—and it sounds fantastic. Surprisingly, I haven’t used the IR-2 exactly how I thought I would. I expected to set it up as a two-channel amp with separate crunch and clean settings, but instead, I’ve been using my guitar’s volume to go from clean to crunch, with the IR-2 as a boost pedal. I set up two similar sounds, with one slightly louder and boosted in the mids.
Now, I won’t claim every tone sounds exactly like the amp it’s modeled after. But if you focus on the sounds rather than the specific amp they’re imitating, you’ll find they’re all impressive! I think the Boss Original models really shine here—the Crunch and Modded tones are incredible. Blues and hair metal tones in a box!
"If you are a fairly basic delay user, meaning you only use one setting and nothing else, then this will be overkill."
What are the Issues?
Of course, I do have a few minor critiques. First, there’s no aux input! To me, this would’ve made the IR-2 the best in its class (and maybe one of the best amp sim pedals overall). It would be amazing to run your whole pedalboard, plug in headphones, and jam along with your favorite tracks for practice sessions. It does support playback via USB-C, but to me, that’s cumbersome. An aux input would be a simpler, more convenient option.
My second critique is that while I like the preset switching style, it would be helpful to have some kind of visual indicator for settings when switching presets. For example, if you switch from one preset to another and want to adjust the mids, the control will adjust based on the current knob position. It’s not a huge issue, but maybe an LED ring or similar indicator would’ve been helpful. I often find myself taking a quick photo of settings when making adjustments.
My final, minor issue is that you can’t split the simulated and DI outputs, meaning you can’t run it to both an amp and the front of house simultaneously. I think a lot of players like to have a bit of stage sound from a guitar cab, so having that option directly from the pedal would be fantastic. I’m not certain if the FX send is pre-cab sim, but it would be a nice addition.
Conclusion
And that’s our review of the Boss IR-2! It’s easy to see why this pedal has been making waves—it’s fantastic. If you’re interested in going down the cab and amp sim route but want to keep things straightforward and familiar, this is the perfect pedal. There are other options out there that might offer more sounds or extra features, but for the price, it’s hard to beat the Boss IR-2. Sure, it has a few drawbacks and some missing features, but overall, it’s a powerhouse pedal that I think just about anyone could get great sounds from with ease.
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