The Boss IR-2 Amp is a Boss preamp pedal, currently around $131.99. Close alternatives include the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier DLX and the Mooer Radar Simulador de altavoz. It pairs well with the Strymon Eventide TriceraChorus and the Suhr Shiba Drive.
Boss IR-2 Amp
Boss · pedal
The Boss IR-2 is a compact amp simulator and impulse response cabinet loader featuring 32-bit floating-point processing at 96kHz sampling rate. Includes 11 amp models covering clean through high-gain voicings, Celestion-powered IRs for cabinet simulation, a 3-band EQ, Gain, Level, and Ambience controls. A TRS-capable send/return loop enables integration of drive and modulation pedals within the amp sim chain. Stereo output, headphone jack, and USB-C connectivity for audio interface use.
What stands out
“A TRS-capable send/return loop enables integration of drive and modulation pedals within the amp sim chain”
— from the listing
“headphone jack”
— from the listing
“Onboard TRS effects loop enables integration of real drive pedals within the amp sim chain”
— from the reviews
“and usb-c connectivity for audio interface use”
— from the listing
“USB-C audio interface functionality supports direct recording”
— from the reviews
- headphone
- effects loop
- trs
- usb
- direct recording
- recording
- eq
- silent
Good for
- Live
- Silent Recording
- Silent Stage
- Studio
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Pedals that stack with the Boss IR-2 Amp
Strymon Eventide TriceraChorus
Strymon
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Strymon Eventide TriceraChorus after Boss IR-2 Amp in the signal chain, clear of Boss IR-2 Amp's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
16% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Feed a high gain signal into Suhr Shiba Drive and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Soldano SLO
Soldano
15% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Soldano SLO pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Meris Mercury7 Reverb's ambient voice goes after Boss IR-2 Amp in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Boss IR-2 Amp's own high gain character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Marine Layer Reverb
Fender
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Keep Boss IR-2 Amp's high gain voice out front: Fender Marine Layer Reverb goes after Boss IR-2 Amp in the signal chain so its shimmer voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Pico Deep Freeze
Electro-Harmonix
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
What Electro-Harmonix Pico Deep Freeze brings here leans toward ambient — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah goes in front of Boss IR-2 Amp — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4
Jam Pedals
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Cheaper alternatives
Boss TM-7
Boss
54% similarityShared character: effects loop, stereo, practice
Palmer Pepamp Mk II
Palmer
51% similarityShared character: wide range, practice, recording
Palmer Pocket AMP MK2
Palmer
47% similarityShared character: practice
Mooer Micro PreAmp 001 (Diezel Hagen)
Mooer
42% similarityShared character: practice, high gain settings
Boutique & premium upgrades
DSM & Humboldt Simplifier MkII
Dsm Humboldt Electronics
58% similarityShared character: effects loop, stereo, signal chain
DSM & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier
Dsm Humboldt Electronics
57% similarityShared character: effects loop, stereo, signal chain
Tone King Imperial Preamp
Tone King
50% similarityShared character: stereo, recording, response
Walrus Audio Mako ACS1 MKII
Walrus Audio
43% similarityShared character: stereo, practice, recording
Strymon PCH-1
Strymon
42% similarityShared character: stereo, signal chain
Amptweaker Big Rock Pro II
Amptweaker
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar character
DSM & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier DLX
Dsm Humboldt Electronics
56% similarityShared character: effects loop, stereo, signal chain
Mooer Radar Simulador de altavoz
Mooer
53% similarityShared character: practice, recording, response
EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd
EarthQuaker Devices
50% similarityShared character: recording, response
Fender Mustang Micro Plus
Fender
45% similarityShared character: practice, recording
Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2
Cusack Music
44% similarityShared character: effects loop
See all alternatives to the Boss IR-2 Amp (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss IR-2 Amp?+
The closest matches in character are the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier DLX, the Mooer Radar Simulador de altavoz, the EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd. Budget picks: Boss TM-7, Palmer Pepamp Mk II, Palmer Pocket AMP MK2. Boutique upgrades: DSM & Humboldt Simplifier MkII, DSM & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier, Tone King Imperial Preamp.
What pairs well with the Boss IR-2 Amp?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Strymon Eventide TriceraChorus, Suhr Shiba Drive, Soldano SLO — Keep Strymon Eventide TriceraChorus after Boss IR-2 Amp in the signal chain, clear of Boss IR-2 Amp's own gain stage.
How much does the Boss IR-2 Amp cost?+
Around $131.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).