BOSS’s 200 series pedals are smaller but not necessarily less powerful versions of the Japanese company’s flagship, multi-algorithm, stereo 500 series. The BOSS RV-200 (also a stereo device) is the much-anticipated shrunken version of the RV-500. Considering that its delay sibling, the DD-200, was released four years earlier, one may say it was a long time coming.
Maybe this lag in release is due to the fact that the RV-200 features a lot of new algorithms not found in the RV-500, in all likelihood an effort by BOSS to release a pedal that would feel more competitive and modern in an extremely competitive niche.
From the selection of modes, it appears clear the attempt to appease the ambient guitarist:
A quick comparison with the RV-500 shows that more than 50% of the 12 algorithms are entirely new: Arpverb, Slowverb, Modulate, +Delay, Lo-Fi, Gate and Reverse. On the other hand, the more traditional modes Room, Hall, Plate, Spring and Shimmer were kept.
Each mode has something special and unique to it, whether it be various room sizes or special parameters:
- Room with four size selections
- Concert hall with three-size selections
- Studio-style plate with high and low damping
- Amp-style spring with an adjustable spring count
- Dreamy shimmer with adjustable harmonic character/diffusion
- “Arpverb” arpeggiated cadences with pitch-shifted tails and adjustable arpeggio attack
- “Slowverb” ambient algorithm with reduced attack, gentle harmonics, and pronounced wet/dry contrasts
- Reverse reverb with enhanced high-frequency control
- Modulated hall with adjustable modulation depth
- +Delay reverb with a united time parameter and adjustable delay level
- Lo-Fi mode with adjustable tape-like distortion
- Gate reverb that defeats reverb tails with an adjustable gate
The RV-200 also features a smaller, simpler screen, one fewer footswitch, and no tap tempo functionality (which isn’t really necessary on a reverb), but all the other front panel controls are the same, with knobs for Time, Pre-Delay, Effect Level, two EQ controls (Low and High) and a Param knob whose function varies with the selected mode.
A new thing that will intrigue creative guitarists, however, is the momentary effect function, a feature that no modern reverb should miss, with options for Hold, Morph and Twist.
The Density function is also new, allowing access to six stages of more or less thick reverbs.
As expected, the FV-200 boasts plenty of preset capabilities, full Midi compatibility, and the ability to be controlled remotely via an expression pedal.
But of course, the sound is the most important factor in evaluating a reverb pedal, and you’ll be able to hear it in the videos below.
[Wanna get this baby and be supportive? Buy it through our Sweetwater affiliate programs – at no extra cost.]
BOSS RV-200 Reverb Features
- Premium BOSS reverb processing in a streamlined pedal
- Class-leading sound quality with 32-bit AD/DA, 32-bit floating point processing, and 96 kHz sampling rate
- Twelve distinctive reverb types, including the newly developed Arpverb
- Fast, easy operation with hands-on controls
- 127 user memories for storing sounds
- Density control with six stages
- Param knob to access extended functions within each reverb type
- Selectable carryover for maintaining reverb trails when switching presets or bypassing the effect
- Stereo I/O with wet/dry and dry mute output options
- Two assignable footswitches
- Expressive Hold, Warp, and Twist effects available via footswitch control
- Deep external control support via footswitches, an expression pedal, and TRS MIDI I/O
- Connect and control multiple 200 series pedals at once via MIDI
- Panel lock function to avoid accidental sound changes
- Powered via three AA batteries or optional AC adaptor
