MXR Rockman X100

In 1982, Tom Scholz of Boston fame unveiled the Rockman X100, a headphone amplifier that encapsulated the soaring, chorus-drenched guitar tones of 1980s arena rock. The sound of that device is reborn in the MXR Rockman X100—a compact, modern homage to Scholz’s design based on the same MN3007 bucket brigade chip.

The Rockman X100 features four modes: two clean and two dirty.

  • CLN1 offers a tight, mid-focused EQ for punchy tones.
  • CLN2 delivers crystalline clarity, perfect for arpeggios.
  • Edge Mode provides dynamic crunch with moderate compression.
  • Distortion Mode unleashes soaring leads and saturated power chords.

The built-in compressor adjusts release times to match the selected mode, ensuring balanced, studio-quality sound.

The two Volume and Input Gain sliders allow precise control over signal interaction with the preamp and amplifier, while the stereo channel option a rare feature in preamps) makes it incredibly versatile for live and studio setups.