With the rise of home recording, videos, and gigging without amps, Boss has introduced its IR-2 Amp & Cabinet, a small box with a range of amp and cabinet sounds called impulse response (IR) captures.

In a nutshell, impulse responses are not just a simulation, but add the ambience of a room, speaker size, microphone type/distance, etc. Instead of a basic “amp sim,” an IR is a more-accurate representation of guitar tone. You can plug it directly into a PA, recording interface, or powered cabinet and play a gig, with 11 amp choices at your disposal. No traditional amp required.

Working in mono or stereo, the IR-2 possesses two channels as well as bypass (off). The main bank of concentric knobs offers three-band EQ along with Ambience, Level, and Gain. On the back is a USB-C jack to access Boss’ IR Loader software, so you can edit or download favorites. The IR-2 can even function as a stand-alone digital interface for recording guitar or bass.

Tested through a Mac recording system and Fishman Loudbox amp, the IR-2 delivered powerful, full-range tones, strongest toward the crunchy end of the spectrum (think Marshall to Mesa-Boogie). While the direct-guitar-box category is getting crowded, for price and functionality, Boss’ Amp & Cabinet is seriously worth anyone’s attention.

This article originally appeared in VG’s April 2024 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.