Review quickie: BOSS DC-2w

BOSS' DC-2w has an interesting history. It began as a feature in Roland's rackmount unit, SDD 320 aka the Dimension D & this was way back in the early  1980s. Come 1985, some of the SDD 320 features were manifested as an effects pedal, the DC-2 aka Dimension C. This didn't last long, the DC-2 was laid to rest before the '90s. About three decades later, the DC-2 was resurrected as the DC-2w, the difference here being that extra option to re-live the SDD 320 goodness via a switch option. 

Likes

• clarity
• ease of use
• works well clean & driven

Dislikes

• battery eater
• lacks editing features
• price

This is a tricky pedal to define; it's a chorus unit but not labelled as one. For this appraisal's sake, I'd refer to it as a chorus. Comprehensively, the DC 2w, to me, is a modulation pedal steep in its chorus function with hints of flanging & reverb in the mix. It's not readily audible unless you plug in a pair of headphones like I did. With this in mind, your clean tones will benefit the most but certain driven settings still sound good & won't get lost in the typical chorus slush. On that note, the DC 2w won't be good friends with the metalheads or anyone favouring intense distortion. Also, if you wish to tweak your settings to suit the music you peddle, that won't be possible as no editing features exist here; you either embrace the presets on board or move on with other chorus pedals. Nirvana's Come as You Are is impossible to mimic with this one. However, if you want an impressive clean tone that is rich in clarity, chorus-inclined but not entirely chorus laden, then all the on board settings will appease you. Yes, you can activate the presets in combo / various permutations. Do invest in a power adapter if you decide to embrace this one because it's a battery eater - normal dry cell will last you about 20min, alkaline will get you by longer but it won't reach the hour mark. Also, at this price, some of us would be happier with the regular chorus pedals out there.

Final rating: 75%

BOSS: Dimension C (DC 2w)

List: $299

Availability: Swee Lee Co.

Pic: MR