Boss EX-4 Effects Expander: Get (Almost) All the Boss Classics in one Multi-Effects Pedal!
120 Effects, four at a time, compact size!
3,4 / 5,0 | 
With the Boss EX-4, you get a multi-effect that includes just about all the classic effects from Boss in one powerful multi-effect. Stereo signal flow, four effects at a time, compact size – this seems like a winner!
This is the EX-4:
Boss EX-4: First Impression
It’s impossible to tell the strategy behind the Boss EX-4, but my guess is that Boss saw two things happening in the guitar world in the past few months: the loud pushback for the PX-1 and NAM A2. And chose to stay as far away from both as possible. This is pure Boss product policy: make something that’s not too innovative, excellent quality, meets the current demands of the market, not too quick to adapt new technologies. And four effects at a time with 120 Boss effects to choose from? Awesome!
120 Effects, Four at a Time
The Boss EX-4 Effects Expander includes 120 effect types from just about every major category Boss’ famous pedals are a part of. These include overdrive, distortion, modulation, delay, and reverb. The multi-effect also includes bass-voiced effects and rarities such as Slow Gear and Slicer.
You can run up to four effects simultaneously, including multiple instances of the same effect, so two delays in parallel are no problem, as are four DS-1s or Silcers, if you roll like that.
EX-4 also includes a new feature called Gear Suite, which provides several ready-to-use presets for each effect type. Just select an effect, hit the Gear Suite button, scroll through different presets, tweak and save.
Presets and Modes
In total, you get 128 user memories and 128 factory presets. There are also different operational modes. In Manual mode, the pedal behaves like a set of stompboxes. In Memory mode, it switches entire presets, with delay and reverb spillover available in certain configurations.
The multi-effect’s workflow happens through a 2.4-inch color LCD, dedicated FX1–FX4 buttons, Select and Type/Value encoders, and three parameter knobs. The two footswitches are multifunctional, and color LEDs indicate their current role.
Routing, Utility Blocks and Connectivity on the Boss EX-4
In addition to the four effect slots, you also get several utility blocks that can be placed anywhere in the signal chain: foot volume, two independent noise suppressors, a send/return loop and a divider/mixer. Plus, a global EQ shapes the overall output.
You also get several routing options: serial, parallel, or wet/dry. Through the FX loop I/O on the back, you can loop in your favorite pedals anywhere in the chain. In that case, however, EX-4’s full stereo I/O becomes mono, as the second jack pair becomes the FX loop.
Besides the four audio signal jacks, you get this I/O for the Boss Ex-4: TRS MIDI In/Out, USB-C, and a CTL/EXP jack for footswitches or expression pedals.
Under the hood, the Boss EX-4 runs at 48 kHz with 32-bit floating-point processing, 24-bit AD conversion using Boss’s Adaptive Focus method, and 32-bit DA conversion.
Boss EX-4 vs. GX-10, HX One and Other Alternatives
Within the Boss multi-effects range, the EX-4 fills a gap. Where the 500-series pedals (DD-500, MD-500, RV-500) each focus on a single effect category, the GX-10 is a complete amp-and-effects processor with guitar amps, effects, and a built-in expression pedal. The Boss EX-4 sits in between: it offers more variety than a 500-series unit and is less of a rig-in-a-box than the GX-10.
Outside Boss, the obvious rival is the Line 6 HX One, which occupies a similar footprint but runs just one effect at a time. With four simultaneous effects, utility blocks, and a loop, the Boss EX-4 offers considerably more flexibility for a single slot on the board.
| Boss EX-4 | Line 6 HX One | Boss GX-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects at once | 4 | 1 | Up to 15 + 2 amps |
| Effect library | 120 | 250+ | 170 |
| Amp modeling | No | No | Yes (23 guitar, 9 bass) |
| Effects loop | Yes | No | Yes |
| Onboard footswitches | 2 | 2 | 3 + expression pedal |
| Analog bypass | No analog dry-through | True or buffered | – |
| Best for | Expanding an existing board | One extra effect, maximum choice | Complete rig in one unit |
The HX One offers the bigger library, but it only runs one effect at a time. The GX-10 is the all-in-one solution. The Boss EX-4 sits in between, and that’s precisely its appeal.
How much is the Boss EX-4 Effects Expander?
The Boss EX-4 Effects Expander is available for pre-order from Thomann* and Sweetwater* for 349 euros / 329.99 USD.
More on the Boss EX-4
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