- Build Rating
I’ll start with shoutouts- thanks @HamishR for bringing up the circuit in my Arche Boost build report. Thanks @szukalski for the great layout. It’s resdef on one side and value on the other- best of both worlds. And finally thanks @MichaelW for hooking me up with a PCB.
From what I understand, this is basically applying the concept of the Arche Boost (volume and bass controls) to the Episode Booster.
I like that fully CCW on the BOOST knob is unity. I don’t have to remember where unity is, and I never use a boost for attenuation. But the special sauce is the BASS knob. It’s well established that a HPF can be used to, as they say, “tighten up the bottom end”.
This doesn’t have the icepick treble that the Arche has. So it’s already a better solution if you don’t have an amp or pedal in front that lacks high end. The BASS knob on the Epic Boost seems more subtle, but not really an issue, it has enough range to get the job done. I also wonder if the narrower range is just a perception due to the intensity of the Arche Boost treble. But I guess I don’t wonder that much, I didn’t do any math.
The overall tone is different too. The Arche is built around an OPA2134. This gives it a low noise floor. But I’ve realized there’s something I don’t like about that opamp. Maybe it’s too hifi? The best way I can think to describe it is that it doesn’t have a pleasant “chew” to it
On the other hand, I do like the “chew” on the Epic Boost- good ‘ol 5457 gives it a more pleasant grit/grind.
I really liked it on my practice amp. It earns a trial period on the board.
From what I understand, this is basically applying the concept of the Arche Boost (volume and bass controls) to the Episode Booster.
I like that fully CCW on the BOOST knob is unity. I don’t have to remember where unity is, and I never use a boost for attenuation. But the special sauce is the BASS knob. It’s well established that a HPF can be used to, as they say, “tighten up the bottom end”.
This doesn’t have the icepick treble that the Arche has. So it’s already a better solution if you don’t have an amp or pedal in front that lacks high end. The BASS knob on the Epic Boost seems more subtle, but not really an issue, it has enough range to get the job done. I also wonder if the narrower range is just a perception due to the intensity of the Arche Boost treble. But I guess I don’t wonder that much, I didn’t do any math.
The overall tone is different too. The Arche is built around an OPA2134. This gives it a low noise floor. But I’ve realized there’s something I don’t like about that opamp. Maybe it’s too hifi? The best way I can think to describe it is that it doesn’t have a pleasant “chew” to it
On the other hand, I do like the “chew” on the Epic Boost- good ‘ol 5457 gives it a more pleasant grit/grind.
I really liked it on my practice amp. It earns a trial period on the board.
