Boss Tube Amp Expander vs. Universal Audio OX Box - A Serious Comparison!
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
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As you will know, the tonal sweet spot of a tube amplifier tends to be at a volume which isn't exactly user-friendly (or should I say neighbour-friendly...). Thankfully, with the creation of variable load attenuators such as the Tube Expander and the OX Box, you can now achieve that same gnarly tone without waking up the entire street.
The Waza Tube Amp Expander is BOSS' answer to the demands of many modern players; those looking to add more flexibility to their traditional valve amp sound for both performing and recording applications. If you're someone that adores the genuine, analogue tones offered by real valve amps, the BOSS Waza Tube Amp Expander can take your amplifier to a new realm of tonal possibilities and versatility.
The Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box is a cutting-edge unit, allowing you to get the sweetest tones from your tube amplifiers but at ear-friendly volumes. Essentially an amp load box and attenuator, this amazing piece of gear goes one step further - in typical Universal Audio fashion!
With many sophisticated features such as dynamic speaker modelling and cabinet emulation, the OX also has a dedicated app to let you really fine-tune your tones. Old-school circuitry meets modern flexibility when it comes to the OX, with UA's boutique analogue quality ensuring that none of your base tone is hindered by digital processing, but rather embellished by the convincing modelling technology.
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Very good point Lee, that everything goes through a solid-state PA amp out front anyway!
For a serious and strong comparison, it was definitely for the best that Pete and Lee were the ones to primarily showcase this! Always love to see them in the limelight! Great work here!
Do they have one in brown?
Boss new ver 2 update has now added custom IR slots from 4 to 32! “More microphone choices are also available for the built-in cabs, including a new ribbon mic type, three dynamic/ribbon mic blends, and two different room mic variations. Boss is killing it! Gotta get my hands on one!
Thank you for doing a baseline where the amp is ran directly into the cabinet. Finally a demo that also compares original tone vs the attenuator tone! Nice Job!
i bought the OX recently, what frustrated me was volume nob because there are big differences between going from 5 to 4 to 3 etc..I exchanged it for the Boss and am very satisfied!
I heard the attenuator on the boss is better. Seems like it has a more in depth reactive load
Through cabs and as an attenuator the Boss sounds definitely better in all demos I've seen.
I would mostly use these for recording at home, so the Ox Box would work best for me. Having two mics as an option is really important to me. I almost always use two mics. However, if I was going to use one for live situations, then I definitely see the appeal of the Boss and would likely go with that. Great comparison guys!
Its tea time
I always drink tea when watching videos of my favourite English guitar channel
Come visit and have a cuppa with us!
Did anyone else just convert to being a fan of the Boss? I was totally sold on the Ox until seeing this! Thanks guys!
I have had the Boss TAE for a few years and it is stellar. Got it to tame an old JCM and add the fx loop. It’s great for silent stage or taming a loud amp, great for recording, has global eq on both direct and cab outputs. I use with HX FX and control the fx via midi. Stellar!
I bought the Waza tube amp expander. Best piece of gear I have ever purchased
Rikkousa I had the Suhr reactive load. I own a lot of 40, 50 and 100 watt tube heads. Also without master volumes. The WAZA is the only system that lets your attenuate like having a master volume, also adds amazing reverbs and delays, also has a effects loops.
Also the effects can be used in a live situation. And lastly you can take a 5 watt box amp and turn it into a 100 watt beast. The options are endless.
I have the Marshall 1959HW, does the Boss can dissipate It at full volume?
Bought the Wazza a week ago, great bit of kit.
Running a 2550 Jubilee.
Sounds great and a big thing for me was feel, nigh on identical when attenuated.
Hey, can i run the Waza without a cabinet and only with a Head?
@@Maggot2767 yes
Excuse the noob question but with a combo amp where does the tone come from, speaker or tubes or both? And if a large part of the tone is from the speaker, won't the tone be lacking when an attenuator is plugged in (and speaker bypassed)?
Henry Kirsch it plugs in between your amp and the speaker. You then go from load box back to speaker. I.e., your speaker is no longer directly connected to the amp section of your head or combo. IRs are what does speaker emulation in combination with modeled mic placement.
I asked a Boss tech rep about the electrical input (because he was talking about touring musicians) commenting that if you want to travel it will need to be switchable. 110-240v. Looking @ the manual online it doesn’t talk about this. I was told I would be e-mailed with a tech response to this query in US in June 2019 but never got one unfortunately. Silly when I consider that I was advised the touring musicians the Boss rep had in mind were swinging back and forth between geographical locations with different power requirements. Admitting if it can’t switch them, this is a pain for the traveling musician. I hope Boss work on this concept for the future...
Clearly there's a misunderstanding that needs to be cleared up.
It seems there's a misconception that The Ox App Software only works on an Apple , whether it be an iPad or Apple Laptop or Mac Pro: well you'll be pleased to learn that The Ox App will run quite happily on Windows 7 (64 Bit) , as well as on any Windows OS up to Windows 10.
There wasn't a misunderstanding, as when the ox released (and for quite some time after), it could only be used on an apple device. Based on when this video was filmed/published, the Ox didn't work with windows at the time, so what they stated regarding the apple/pc connectivity, was true.
The big thing with the UA is their plugins are incredible, especially when using the OX in the studio. Impressed by Boss though
I bought the WAZA I have with me for nearly a month already and I can’t recommend enough if you like tube amps this is the the best purchase you can do on those days I have a lot pedals of all type from expensive ones to more affordable I wold say that I wold choose my WAZA over My pedalboard any time hands dow to boss 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 probably one of there best product
I live in an apartment and therefore, always use an attenuator. But if I want to plug into my Mac, I have to attach another box. Im using a DV Mark Gen 15 Silver for a really pure clean sound, and a bit of dirt. Or a Mk1 Hot Rod dlx if I want a bit more volume. But I really enjoy hearing those power tubes cooking. So even when I need it loud, I'm still using an attenuator on the HRDx. The thing that bothered me was the Ox got really muddy to my ears, with the dirt channel when the attenuator started really shutting down the volume. Even a bit of real fizzy sound. The Boss really came out on top, with the way it handles the tone. After all, all of us have a tone in our heads that we are chasing. And when we find it, especially if it means we have the amp cranked to get those tubes smoking, and then turning down the speaker output, changes the tone.... well what the heck? Clearly the WAZA was the winner. At least with these amps and speaker settings. The graphical interface via iPad or laptop, was much nicer on the Ox than the Boss, at least nicer looking. But we're chasing tone, not pretty pictures. Bob
I would think that if you are recording on a regular basis, you will have some great speaker cab & mic placement VST's in your DAW already? (with fancy graphical interface eye candy) I know I have several I enjoy using myself, so one could just use those when recording with the Boss over the OX. I've been using the old Groove Tubes Attenuator & then adjusting my Speaker & Mic sounds from my favorite VST's I have. For me I'd prefer the BOSS for using my amps live over the OX.
No question, the OX sounds better for recording and I want my power amp to be involved. That plugin is simple and the possibilities are all what you need. In addition the simulations are outstanding!
I bought the Waza and have been experimenting with similar results as I heard in the video. IMO the Ox UAD has better sound direct out; the Boss Waza does a better job attenuating at least to my taste. Just to compare their similar features. However I am starting to experiment w/ 3rd party IR's with the Waza to see if that improves the direct out results. I guess the real question I want to know is the Ox a better direct out device or are the UAD IR's better than Boss's. UAD had been at that game a lot longer so it could be either. Time will tell. Overall a great video. Thanks guys.
Any update on this for those of us choosing between the two still?
@@HeelBJC Ox is a tool for the job, Boss is a job for the tool. Ox is plug and play, the IR’s all incredible, it attenuates great. It’s become the standard for a reason.
The Boss is from a different school of though, sort of a jack of all trades and master of none. It does a bunch more than the OX, but IMO, at the loss of simplicity. Lots of bells and whistles, easy to fuck up, but good in its own right. It’s not supposed to compete with the Ox, it’s supposed to compete with every single reamp box, attenuator, IR Loader, etc. combined.
It’s an argument over which is better to kill with, a long sword or a multi tool. You can still kill someone with the knife in a multi tool but be damned if you’re gunna take out a Phillips head with a long sword lol.
I use the Boss Waza TAE almost for 2 years for my live gigs and its really the best investment I did for years. My only pedal is the guitar tuner. Especially when you change guitars during live gig with different characteristics and output, you can easily store the desired eq and outputlevel in a preset. De FX part is excellent...and overdrive pedal no longer needed...
I don't really have a use for one of these or like any of my neighbours enough to buy one : )
But the BOSS beats the OX hands down IMO, the tone suck on the OX below 4 is intolerable to me.
Yeah my neighbour is a prick too.
I've had the OX since April 2018. I've spent most of that time shitting on UAD all over the web for not delivering windows compatibility. Most expensive attenuator ever made. No other practical use to me, but because the Boss wasn't around, I stuck with it and didn't sell. Now that I can finally access full functionality, there are a couple of things I think are worth calling out: 1. you have 3 mics on the amp, which you can blend to your taste - including stereo condensers for room ambiance - this is far beyond the Boss offering. 2. there is a 1176 SE Compressor / limiter on the master and other UA goodies (i.e a full channel strip) so you can feed "final product" guitar into your DAW. UAD make some pretty good shit at that level and the quality is truly top notch. Net net, I would have bought the Boss given the amount of grief I got from UAD's failure to deliver Windows compatibility. I'm still seriously mad at them for that; but in pure studio mode - now that I can use the damn thing - it still has a lot to offer, perhaps more than the Boss, and I have to admit it sounds incredible. The Anderton's demo doesn't really showcase what is the core functionality of the product in that respect. It's pretty incredible. One thing though: still not great for high gain - no Vintage 30 / Mesa cabs. Need another update to cover that significant deficiency. When all is said and done, I would have gone for the Boss just because they put out a finished product. I really feel that UAD fucked with its customers by delivering an incomplete product way ahead of its maturity date. Still seriously angry about that. But there's no need to chuck the OX, for a studio setting, it's a godsend - unless you are looking to record metal, in which case you can ignore it, it's just not there yet.
Actually if what you're saying is that The Ox App Software only works on an Apple ,
whether it be an iPad or Apple Laptop, you'll be pleased to learn that The Ox App will run quite happily on Windows 7 as well as on Windows 10.
^This^
Thank you to take the time to talk about what is missing in this video.
I do prefer the Boss approach of attenuation, but the OX micing capacity is its true strong point.
This was what make me hesitate, until you say that OX is not suited for high gain.
I mean, if i want to attenuate one thing above all, it's a cranked up Mesa on high gain and record it without blowing all my windows up.
Guitar tech is just awesome these days.
Also the boss doubles as an audio interface
I was thinking the same thing. The wifi feature is pretty badass on the ox though.
Proteus I did have an OX when they first came out and it is fantastic especially the 1176 compressor which is flat out amazing. However, as said in the vid you only get them great sounds through the DI out and not through the attenuated speaker out. With the Boss you can play along to backing tracks, record into your DAW and directly monitor the FX all at the same time - plus it’s all foot switchable. Awesome on toast
@@proteus2103 Yeah, but people are still having major problems with the Ox's wifi connection.
Thank you very much for this excellent comparison. Boss wins for sound AND for features, especially the continuous variable output vs OX has only 5 choices?!?! No contest just on that aspect alone. Also, the OX tone suffers dramatically with more attenuation compared to Boss.
The Ox shines for recording, and using the cab sims. I find it to be 1,000x better than it’s competition in that regard. However, as an attenuator, the Ox just leaves a lot to be desired. You are totally right. Luckily for me, I have no interest in using the Ox as an attenuator, only for home recording/playing. So for me personally, getting an Ox Box was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I am finally about to crank high wattage amps, and get a recorded sound that 99.999% of people would never think, “Oh, that sounds weird and unnatural.”
@@kevinmurtagh4996 I use my Boss for the attenuator features more than recording and that is where it really shines. Hated the Ox. If I am going to record, I just use hardware/software modeler as way easier to get recorded to a DAW. Fractal and Kemper win on the hardware modelers but the new Neural Quad Cortex looks interesting.
That was about as good of an overview as one could hope to fit in less than 3/4 of an hour! Well done!!
Boss/Waza 100% winner. I've been a UA user for audio on the computer for years, but for guitar, the Boss/Waza is the champion - no caveats.
Omg....a year later... still loving the sound of my Boss tube emulator with a Mesa V 90w head plugged into it, on a box full of V30s... Sugar on a stick!... dont need anything else... any volume, anytime... tone thru the walls....no more searching, no more gear required... all my other gear is in the back of the shed.....actually its time to get rid of that stuff and lean out!
As far as what I can hear you are going to want the one that has the best attenuation and the boss by far. I have never heard anything like that. There was no tone change on the boss all the way down low to high. I am very impressed. The ox attenuation sounds lifeless. Sorry I am glad I waited to hear the boss. Thanks great video.
Awesome comparison guys!
Personal feeling, the OX is best for a studio setup which doesn't go for lots of options, and for people who are used to "normal" amps as the UI is the most straightforward with enough options to work.
For everyone else who wants more features and control, the Boss is clearly better.
To the Captain, if you were buying one unit for yourself, I'm pretty sure you'd go for the OX - however if there was someone who'd help you set it up to your liking completely, I think you'd prefer the Boss for the direct functionality and the use of footswitches etc.
One thing though - it might just be my crappy phone speakers but it seemed that the Boss has some slight modulation of the tone even on a "clean" setting
Boss Tube Amp Expander for the WIN. Capt’s comment on a mic’d cab goes into a SS power amp and into the house system = AHA! Moment 🤔😝👍❤️- though I never had any qualms w the TAE pwr amp/reamp concept - love it and perfect for LIVE use which is what I’m acquiring it for exclusively
Reverse Attenuation. Or in other words, Amplification...
You noticed that too? It's funny the little things our brain "farts" out. 😜✌️
I think the Waza is a better unit for live scenarios and the OX is the way to go for the studio. Just my opinion.
There's so much taste in Pete's chords they remind me of Grandma's food
As always you've done your best for a non- bias showcase . I have to say the Boss is way ahead of the ox . On the practicality , stomp box , many options that make it superior to the ox . The only neg i noticed is you have to use USB to connect instead of Wi-Fi . What was they thinking ! Except for that it dug a grave for the ox . Lol .
Great playing as always pete 🤘 and thanks to both lee n pete for a great vid .
Unless the OX was like, 1/2 or even 2/3 the price of the Boss, I can't imagine ever buying one over the Boss. It's really no contest.
if rice is your only data point... which just means you're cheap.
Wes Chilton rice is your only choice, it’s gonna be sorta bland.
Totally disagree. The Ox sims sounds ten times better than the Waza sims, and not only do they sound a lot better, but you have more control over the microphones and each microphone sounds different. On the TAE, several mics sound similar and the sims themselves are so-so at best.
@@sephiroth762 I agree with you 100%. The Boss sounded thin and tinny compares to the much fuller sound of the Ox -especially in the beginning clean demos.
@@sephiroth762 yeah it’s kind of wild how many people are picking the boss, if SOUND is important to someone then UA is the only option here.
The cab emulation on the Ox Box was much more accurate than the Boss which seemed to be processing the sound somewhat. The overdrive sound on the Boss was way off from the natural amp sound. The Boss does seem far more flexible in terms of the control while the Ox seems easier to use. Personally I would prefer a unit that allows a basic controls / advanced controls choice so that the tweakers could do their thing while those who like to keep it simple can just select from a simplified menu that doesn't bring on option peralysis.
With all the extra flexibility and the slightly lower price along with the far better attenuation options the Boss just seems like a great product. Now, if we could just get Boss to add a bluetooth connection so we could control it with a tablet of smartphone and upgrade their software options it would be perfect.
I'm sold on the Waza. It's clearly a better product. However if UA lowered the price to $800, it would be competitive again.
UA won't do it, they came to make money! And many of their products are overpriced like this ox, which works only for apples.
The price on the Ox actually got up by 100€ ....
@@northernaccent369 FYI, there's been no price increase on OX. Hope this helps.
@@stingcarlsson7988 think they updated it to work with Windows
Sting Carlsson
Actually if what you're saying is that The Ox App Software only works on an Apple ,
whether it be an iPad or Apple Laptop, you'll be pleased to learn that The Ox App will run quite happily on Windows 7 as well as on Windows 10.
Re tone change at volume - the Fletcher Munson Curve: At low listening volumes - mid range frequencies sound more prominent, while the low and high frequency ranges seem to fall into the background.
At high listening volumes - the lows and highs sound more prominent, while the mid range seems comparatively softer.
I want the boss. Mostly because my amp only makes good sounds cranked.
That egg bit, halfway, made me spit my tea, dude... Brilliant!
I'd go with the waza- thicker tone and more tweakability and a nice loop.
Cheers
PS- "non-clicky " knob = top notch tech lingo
around 31:15 where Lee is turning the volume up and down - if you compensate the loudness in your headphones by adjusting computer V up and down you can hear how the tone changes very little even better since your apparent volume stays the same in your hphones. When Lee makes it softer make your phones louder and vice verse.
It seems that Universal Audio focused more on studio applications with the OX. UA has excellent effects in the OX, of course. Boss designed a more versatile unit especially since the attenuated output and the line output both have all the effects applied to them. Also, being able to use your own IRs with the Boss is a big advantage. I was looking at both and bought the Boss Tube Amp Expander. They were exactly the same price when I was looking.
I prefer the Ox for an overdriven / distorted tone and the Boss for a clean tone.
Edit: Now I've watched the full vid I now prefer the Boss overall
Pete definitely prefers the boss! You could tell from his playing at the start. Didn’t even have to see the entire demo.
Always watch the whole thing... :-)
@@andertons He didn't?
OX/Waza Review: 9/10
Pete’s Fletch Reference: 12/10
Pete: "It's all about listening"
Wait, wait, wait.... you mean I'm supposed to be listening to what I'm playing? Ohhhh man.... now I know why I don't sound like Pete when I'm playing! This should be explained during your first lesson! 😉
The Waza took this one hands down! For the price vs options available I'd say you'd be hard pressed to put the Ox Box first.
Thanks for the great content guys! ✌🏼
Minus 1000 points to the OX box for absolutely requiring Apple devices to fully function.
This has been true up until two weeks ago when the Windows app for Ox was FINALLY released by UA. But it took them forever...
Except if people used other devices they would have written that software for them right? Plus 1000 points for actually being in touch with reality
Yeah, god forbid they pick the best, most popular hardware to work with 🙃
@@tricko2286 "Best" hahahahaha sure buddy
Jordan It works with windows too, minus 1000 points for making an uneducated comment
I havent tried the boss yet but when I did a comparison of the OX and a Suhr Reactive Load... the Suhr sounded way better. Would be cool to see the Boss and Suhr in a demo
Make it happen!
Not “Suhr” Andertons is a Suhr dealer.
I've had the Boss for over a week now, and I'm first impressed with a loadbox attenuator it is for me the best thing currently on the market
This Boss has a lot of possibilities, the most important thing is that the timbre remains the same as the character of your tube amp! I previously had the Fryette Powerstation2 two notes torpedo Radial Head load Attenuator, But the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander is the tool that makes guitarists technici producers happy for the studio and live on stage! Unfortunately, a good piece of equipment is expensive!
Whoa, the Boss has some seriously nice tones and features. Too bad they didn’t include BlueTooth editing like they did on the GT-1000. Maybe in version 2 then.
Great show im addicted! Anderton is underrated guitar player he should be playing more on the show !
Tube expander for the win! 🏆
Very nice, the back side of such devices need be shown longer and possibilties explained..love these devices! Opens up new ideas..great!
I have a heavily modified Epiphone Valve Jr that I love the sound of and the Boss would totally make it a gigging machine. But I can't justify spending 10x what I spent on the Valve Jr lol.
Chuck's Guitar Geekery that makes sense but I’ll vote for you doing it anyway! That would be a small tight rig and would sound fantastic. Plus if you ever want to change amps someday you can still use this! Best wishes either way!
So far the Boss sounds better to my ears--plus, yeah, having more controls on the front panel is a winner.
Boss FTW
The OX was really revolutionary last year when it came out- in light of the WAZA entering the market and the OX having a foot switch jack with no functionality, no Android/windows compatibility, I wonder if UA caught word of Boss going to market and rushed their production to beat them to it.
The OX still is great, but it overall feels pretty incomplete sitting next to the WAZA.
It says something that, as they demo both the Ox and the Boss Tube Amp Expander (TAE), there is an Ox Box in the background. Is that just inventory to sell or tools they use for other demos? At any rate, it says to me that Anderton's has at some point made a decision to sell or use the OX Box more so than the Boss TAE, doesn't it? I had a Boss TAE and had to sell it before I got to use it thoroughly. I just loved all the tech and gadgetry behind it, not to mention the lesser price. I am looking for another and it will probably be a used TAE! I love the sound of my OG '68 Fender Vibro-Champ. I'm going to dig the gig where I can pump the Vibro-Champ into a real 2x12" Cab at 100 watts!...with EFX in the (TAE supplied) "EFX Loop"!
Impression from the very first A/B: OX sounded just like the real cab and Boss sounded with more "ohmpf" on the lows... BUT the Boss sound was more pleasant and less icy.
For about the same price range Boss is more flexible, do many more things... AND add a send/return loop fxs that is great for amp head that not have that feature (like my HIWATT SA212 Custom 50 Combo).
Universal Audio have had their ass well and truly kicked here by Boss. Well done boss. Wonder what features will appear on the Ox 11 ?
Reverse cowgirl attenuation!! I´m sold!!
Both of these are fantastic! The boss one to my ears, while the settings being a little anemic sounded a little better from what I heard on this video.
I own the WAZA T.A.E. There was something about the Ox Box that didn’t convince me from the beginning. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what it was. I guess it’s like what Malcolm Gladwell mentioned in his book, “Blink”. Sometimes we make an instinctive decision upon seeing something that is totally correct upon deeper analysis. I think maybe the 5 way attenuation level control on the Ox was a big factor. Dan and Mick always said they wished there were in between positions. The fully scaleable volume control on the Waza is a big advantage to me. I was at NAMM in January, and Matt Knight, from Boss, took about 15 minutes to explain the unit to me. As he was going through the features I knew immediately that the Waza was what I wanted. As soon as the Ox Box came out I thought that eventually someone would come up with a competing alternative and that I wanted to wait to see if it was better. I’m confident that I made the right choice.
Guys I usually love what you do, but this time this is not a comparison. Settings are not equivalents Pete not playing the same riffs and sometimes in different pickup position. If I'm not mistaking, you only played the Les Paul on the Boss. I'm under the impression it was a boss tube amp expander demo with some added UA OX Box sound added
Thanks guys. For me it would be the Boss hands down.
Yes indeed the Boss Waza tube snake expander is the way to go.
I would like to see the Tone King Ironman II Vs the Suhr Reactive Load as a shootout, too.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think they're pretty different,no? The suhr is designed to pair with IRs, it's job is to mimic the load as accurately as possible of a real cab so it feels right, the tone king is just a really good attentuator right?
@@justingarcia7722 there are two, I believe, the reactive load and the reactive load IR. One is just an attenuator with a line out, the other is the one you describe. It was the more basic model that I had in mind, which I'm weighing up against the Ironman II mini (30 Watt version). They're about the same price bracket.
@@gerryjamesedwards1227 the suhr does not attenuate, both are great products though
I can’t comment on the Suhr, but I personally think the TK Ironman Attenuator is awesome and that’s coming from someone who already owns the Imperial MKII and Sky King amps with built in attenuators. The Ironman 2 weighs A LOT like a small tube amp. That quality of construction really shines in doing the job of attenuation. I actually bought it to use with none TK amps, but I have also enjoyed using it with my Imperial MKII to use the combo amp with an extension cabinet. The Ironman attenuator has 2 speaker out connections and if you have collect a number of speakers over the years you can try different ohm speakers with different amp ohm input. The Ironman has separate ohm settings for the amp and the speaker output. But most of all it’s just VERY good at cutting volume in fine increments without losing the tone you wish to retain. Much more authentic than the OX which I have also tried out. The BOSS TAE has the fantastic concept of just a volume knob. But you have to judge for yourself if you are happy with the sound and feel of your guitar through a TAE and your own amp(s). I personally would get the Ironman for attenuation and another box of choice dedicated for interfacing with computers/mixers. Or be happy saving money with the compromise of a do-it-all solution like the BOSS TAE. Just accept that the one box do it all cost effective solution has it’s compromises. That concept is nothing new though right 🙂
@@djt6546 Thanks, that was very useful! I'm picking up an Ironman II mini next week, hopefully.
I just got a chance to try both of these side by side. Imho the solid state amp in the boss box is very noticeable. Also the boss reverb is a joke compared to uad. If you gig a lot and have a high gain head, the boss will make more sense. If you want a recording application, the ox wins hands down.
Great video. Been 2.5 years since this was published. I am now contemplating buying the WAZA. Wondering if anyone has any updates on its performance. Primarily for home studio recording/playing.
Ive had it for a few years now and it is an amazing piece. Never tried the ox box. The fx on the ox box does not go the cabinet as it does with the Boss. I think the boss is def better for live use!
@@JefferyJMarshall Does the effects loop get sent through to a recording interface with the Boss? I think on the fryette power station you can't which is a bummer. Also can you play through the cab at the same time you're recording to an interface with the waza? I know a lot of people like to do silent recording but i'd like to be able to use the cab instead of head phones or monitor speakers, like live recording
@@AchillesWrath1I would have to check. I don’t normally use the usb interface. I mostly run to my audio interface with the mic out. In that case yes both of those functions work but I’m not 💯 if you are using it as an interface via usb. Hope that helps
I own the UA OX and have just ordered the BOSS unit. **Be aware** The OX requires a new iPad or newer Mac in order to run the OX APP and edit the sounds. The OX APP looks great on a computer screen but, on iPad or computer the wifi connection to the OX is hit and miss... when it does work with your new iMac/iPad it is frankly fiddly and saving rigs is a hassle, I have accidentally saved over my fave rigs to much frustration.
I brought the fact that new Mac products are required to edit the OX to the attention of UA and they were not at all interested.... I had to buy a more recent iPad at £400 in order to use the OX. Despite being a Universal Audio hardware and Software user this experience really put me off UA as they are not open to customer feedback or indeed really open about how to actually use and edit the OX in the real world.
Yeah... still waiting for those UA software revisions (and Android compatibility) which is why I haven't purchased the OX.
The Blue Strat is pretty stunning though
What model is the 2004 Stratocaster? I checked the website and they had an Anderson’s Custom Shop Spec but don’t know for sure.
www.andertons.co.uk/fender-custom-shop-reissue-1959-stratocaster-relic-rw-lake-placid-blue-tortoiseshell-pickguard
I'm getting the Boss: Now I can take the amp of my choice to my church gig, when I must play a softer volumes, but not sacrificing any tone. I can also use the multi-effects inside for stage AND front of house. The OX is more of a studio box, and it's sweet, but the BOSS is more suited for BOTH stage and studio - more bang for my bucks. Great demo!
Oh and beware of blind purchases based on features/value. I really want to like and have a WTE but... The Boss might appear to win hands down on paper, but if you prefer the sound from the OX, or any other brand with some of these desirable options, if you are picky about tone, the Boss features might be a waste of time. We must all think hard about which tool works best in our own personal application(s). Just saying.
What are you talking about?...
@@dukey558 What's up with your worthless comments?
@@MrSlimfinger
Which point you are trying to say
?
Hard to say, but the UA produced cleaner sounds. The boss was a little muddy. That may just be a question of tweaking eq.
Great video! Isn’t reverse attenuation called amplification?
Boss nailed it. I've tried the headphone out from Katana amp (cab simulated), and that sounds pretty darn good too.
Harvey Fletcher and Wilden A. Munson were two separate scientists.
This needs more upvotes
Ok... so the Boss takes the signal and "converts" it down to line level, then amplifies it up via A/B Poweramp.
- Is there a digital conversion involved or is it analog?
- If you add Reverb/Delay - is that like a parallel fx loop or does the dry signal get digitally converted?
- can you send Tap Tempo / song tempo via midi to the delay?
Hope somebody can answer those questions. if it is analog - analog - yes, this is EXACTLY what i am looking for!
The Waza has great features but the drive tones sounded awful compared to the Ox. I'm surprised to read so many comments praising the Waza!
The Boss sounds fuller than the OX to me, which could make a significant difference with a guitar like my thing-twangy Tele -- that sounds thin regardless of cab/mic choices on the OX. which I've been using for home recording compared to my amp's speakers. That's why I'm here for the comparison.
Half way through the video and boss is an easy winner. The question remains whether this setup is any better than using something like a helix alone. By the time the valve amp has been “processed” is it really any more organic sounding than a helix?
Wow Cap has an extremely steady hand with that go pro 😏
🤨
I think tonally they both responded very differently. I think that I prefered the OX's tone over the Boss, but that doesn't mean that they both couldn't be used on a record to achieve a great blend of results. Maybe we'll see these types of attenuators be switched around in the future as people find they like them with different amps and statements like the boss sounds better with this type of amp and the ox sounds great with these boutique amps too and we get a variety of options that we love. Maybe let it be like the SSL vs. Neve argument and see how things blend together? I think so...
They should have mentioned that the OX doesnt have a V30 speaker sim. They were using an alnico (two rock) speaker. So they were comparing apples to oranges...
The Boss is the best device if you go for redundant features. If you want Cab simulation and the best common plugins than you have to go with UAD...
When it comes to recording, its a huge difference not having two mics set on the Boss. If you want to use third party impuls responses you can easily disable the Cab Sim on the ox and load your desired ones in your DAW. Most people are connected to their devices (pc, Laptop etc) anyway...
Neve you can also use the dual mic’d IRs in the Waza. Granted, you can’t play a video game (dragging mics around) j/k....but you have limited amount of those in OX. If you’re going to be playing in DAW, then just use free Ir loader or Two Notes wall of sound which will let you do much like the OX app.
The Boss is the....well, Boss in this contest! But yeah, like everyone's said, ox 4 studio, Waza live baby!
The Boss seems very cool but the price is going to be a sticking point for many. And the solid state part will be a sticking point for others. After all, despite the claimed wizardry keeping the signal’s tone, at that point you’re into competing with modellers like the Helix and Kemper (at a similar price but far more features) and also with solid state and hybrid amps (at often much lower prices with similar features). It seems like a very niche product for people who MUST use THIS amp at THAT volume where said volume causes them to get an ASBO. Sounds good though, but when does anything sound **** when it’s Pete playing through it?
I disagree. With Helix, etc...the entire tone is software. With this, the SS part is only part of the powered output. Utilizing the line outs or direct to daw, you’re basically getting a loaded down analog preamp/pwr-amp tone. If you’re main purpose is as an attenuator back to a cabinet, I guess I see where you’re going, but it’s still not the same as fully modeled tone generator like a helix, Kemper, etc. another thing that I consider is the fact that unless your listening to your analog recorded tapes through an analog powered stereo, you’re basically listening to a recorded signal played back through a SS amp anyway.
I went with the TAE. Bottom line, brilliant sound and versatility!
Boss WTE is very impressive! Seems like the last attenuator you'll ever need, and we know how well Boss stuff holds up over time. I want to hear a tone comparison: Boss Katana vs. Good tube amp into Boss WTE
I've used the UA OX box extensively at a friends studio, certainly "can be made to sound great" Yet, there is that old "amp emulation tone" coloration, still barely in there. You might know it as heard more obviously on early Line 6 Pods and cheap plugins. That mid hump "tone robbing" boxy thing. Many companies thought (and still apparently think) guitarists like it, must retain that, but most hate it. I call it the "Amp Softube Sim" filter. ASS Filter for short. It's mysteriously layering a hint of ASS over many tube amp plugins/emulations to this day, if dialed back slightly so they would still sell. To their credit, I get it, they are trying to capture some of that speaker/cabinet compression that is part of a tube amps overall tone signature, but it's more pleasant/less noticeable with the real thing. And they got it sort of uh...wrong, but are scared to alter the ASS filter now. It can't really be dialed out, just contended with, relatively easily with practice and a well placed EQ notch or two. It seems the Boss TAE somehow forgot to put the ASS filter in?? Or gave us the option to make it go away with settings. Intriguing, must be the WAZA craft logo. Plus the routing and speaker load options, effects built in, etc. Gotta say go Boss!
Before watching this video I was team OX..... Boss, all the way now!
Something about Boss stuff always sounds like yeah that's what a guitar sounds like. Maybe because so many people use Boss pedals and have for a long time.
WiFi is not necessarily an advantage-I always prefer a cable connection myself-plus, not an Apple fan either
There is a Windows 10 (64 bit) App for the UA Ox now
congratulations, you're a technology snob. There is a Win10 app now, also UA is 10 times better than boss.
@@Mathcartney If you ever had to rely on a Wi-Fi connection on a gig to control something, like a mixer, or the Ox Box, you would know how unreliable Wi-Fi can be in a place full of people with smartphones emmiting radio frequencies, even if the acces point is 5 feet from you. I'm not a technology snob, I love tech, but Wi-Fi is only when I can't use a cable...
Both solutions seem pretty flawed to me, at least if you have to use them out of the studio.
If the Ox actually acts as a wifi router, then that's great if you can connect to it wirelessly and directly. If you depend on connecting both devices to a router where you are working then that seems like a weak point. Maybe someone can enlighten me?
But on the other hand, I'd much rather be able to use an app on a phone or tablet than have to carry a laptop to a gig or a location recording scenario.
For home/studio use, both solutions seem ok. Wouldn't be a deal-breaker.
@@Mathcartney Your last sentence shows what kind of over-exaggerating you're prone to. These two items are very close, as you can clearly hear, there may be one you prefer to the other. '10 times better' is a staggeringly stupid statement. Like people who give 1 star reviews or 10 star reviews to films.
UA is better for the studio (slightly) and looks better to clients in the studio (a lot)... but live, it's all about the Boss for the flexibility ...and reverb.
I went for the OX, mainly because of the simplicity and the lean approach with the user interface. I play mostly at home and am lucky enough to have a decent Marshall. I don’t have time to start my laptop and plug it in to whatever device I am using in order to tweak some deep editing options - look at that delay and reverb setting interface on the Boss- total mood killer. The only usable “live” adjusting on the Boss is the reverb level. For everything else you need your laptop...
For me it is: power on OX, power on Amp, play. If i need to tweak something, it takes literally 10 seconds to get into the app. iPad is always at hand.
What a shit!
Great vid guys. One of the best demos out there for sure.
Heard to say from a video, but the OX sounded better, but the BOSS had a better set of features for a small bar gigging musician, but the iPad interface, and then the... the... the... I'd love to hear them compared to the Two Notes stuff.
Best dudes on the best channel for sure...
Very helpful review lads, thank you 😊
I personally like the sound and the look of the OX Box better 🙌😎
Shane_guitarist_68_ Daniels it is pretty as hell, isn’t it?