Review: BOSS DA-2 Adaptive Distortion

Intro 

The BOSS DA-2 Adaptive Distortion pedal was introduced at the 2013 Winter NAMM show in January 2013. At nearly two years old, it is not new by technology standards. However, it is still fresh and intriguing, and every bit as "cool" as BOSS'es 2014 introduction of their MDP (Multi-Dimensional Processing). In fact, MDP seems to be just a renaming of the "Adaptive" part of the Adaptive Distortion technology. In both cases (Adaptive and MDP), the internal processing adapts to both the frequency and dynamics of the guitar signal, processing different registers optimally to produce clarity, creating a sound with simultaneously greater dimensionality and focus. It is hard to describe, though very pleasing to hear. (BOSS has done a good job selling the sizzle about their Adaptive and MDP technology. I recommend checking out Sweetwater's page, as it has two videos: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DA2)

Build

First--and this can never be said enough--BOSS pedals are built incredibly well. They are solid little tanks, able to withstand the doomiest Heavy Metal apocalypses. Though they're not literally indestructible, they come darn close. They're made of thick, high quality sheet steel. They are shaped so thoughtfully that BOSS/Roland has not changed their basic design since the first BOSS pedals appeared way back in ancient times (1980s). They are essentially the same size, shape and dimensions as the BOSS pedals I first owned in the mid- and late-80s (the red Distortion and the yellow Overdrive pedals--I used them, along with a couple other pedals and a rack DD in front of a JC-120).

Sound

I have not owned an actual amp or amp combo in years. I record direct, and always go direct when playing live. So, I always use an amp+cab simulator of some kind. In this case, my DA-2 sits in front of a Behringer TM300 Tube Amp Modeler (which I affectionately call "the poor man's Sans Amp", and which I will review separately). The guitar used is a Jackson Soloist SLATFXQMG3-8.

I tend to overue this word: Delicious. To my ears, the DA-2 sounds delicious. Though I wouldn't characterize the sound enhancement as ineffable, it really does defy easy description. What I hear when I play through it is an added clarity. The harmonic components of the tone are more subtly distinguishable, yet both richer and somehow edgier. It facilitates clarity even on dissonant chords at high distortion settings. I like what this pedal is doing to my sound.

I started by setting all knobs to the "12 o'clock" position then experimented from there. The only significant adjustment I made since adding the DA-2 to my pedalboard is to increase the "A-Dist" setting to about "14:30 o'clock", which gives my sound just the right amount of Metal bite and sustain, plus a nice decrease in grit when the volume (knob) is attenuated to reduce the guitar signal going into the pedal.

Conclusion

The BOSS DA-2 Adaptive Distortion is now a permanent member of my pedal parliament. With a booster pedal in front of it for soloing, the DA-2 is just about perfect.