I prefer the Waza (which I admittedly own so you could say I'm biased but hear me out, I have technical engineering reasons for my opinion): 01. Electronics age. The DM2 (whether the design/parts slightly differ or not) is what, a 40 year old pedal? Oxidation and frequent use/heat will eventually alter the sound of any analog circuitry. The Waza hasn't "aged" like wine yet so to speak, so it's frequency response/imaging in the stereo image is going to sit a bit differently. 02. Maybe some people are right and it's closer to a DM3 (or maybe the Custom Mode is basically a DM3 setting)? But even still, I prefer the "bigger" image in the stereo image, and the more transparent transient response (especially when you start to add in higher gain-staging to the signal). I'm a engineer with training/mentoring from a top 40 mix engineer. I think I could "work" more with tracks cut with the Waza in a professional context. The original DM2 sounds very "smooth", and sweet, but you would need more EQ to retain transient response in a mix. 03. Also there's an improved buffer in the Waza stuff over older BOSS units. I much prefer the added clarity created by that buffer, especially when those pedals are OFF.
In a live situation, nobody will notice or care! they both sound great :) I think you get too many snob bedroom players on here who think blasting extra money on vintage is always better! I have the best version of the Boss CE-2 and I love the Waza version just the same but will use the reissue over the original! It has more options!
I recently got both DM2 older version (MN3205 chip) and a DM-2W, Hands down prefer the original DM-2. The Dm-2w does have the degradation on the repeats (Oscillated repeats) but that's about it. The Original DM-2 so warm and true to the guitar and amp sound that it is hard to imitate even for newer Strymon and TC pedals.
The MN 3005 chip is the better of the two, I have the original as well, worth holding on to, they’re getting so expensive to locate even at high prices
Let's put the ears where our mouth is... If the difference is THAT obvious to anyone, would you chance it in a 'blind-test'? You'll get $1,000 for correctly detecting the DM-2 vs the DM2w. But if you lose, you pay the $1,000. Great clip BTW---thank you for taking the time to create, and post! :-)
I used the DM2 back in the day and loved it, because it was so simple that you could literally tweak it on the fly when performing on stage. The other thing I liked about it and the way it worked was that the echo sat very nicely just behind the guitar signal - adding plenty of echo but without it being so dominant that it interferes with the beat. I have sophisticated pedals like the Strymon Timeline, but I have neither the patience nor the will to learn to use it properly - I just wanna play guitar.
Great comparison video as always. I noticed the rate control settings are not set the same. The original, the one on the right, had the rate at max (all the way to the left) and the waza version was set 3/4 of max. So this means the newer had a longer delay even at standard mode? What chip was used for the waza version?
They both sound good. The repeats on the the original DM-2 almost have a distorted quality. I don't mean in a bad way, it's just a different tonal characteristic. You can hear this on the DM-2w as well, but it seems a little more subtle.
This is a fair comment, I think. That's probably part of the appeal of the original DM-2 ... it always sounds so lush/warm, because the delays/trails just 'melt' into the original signal, and you get this lovely, soupy mix, with nothing sticking out like a sore, imposing thumb (which is what people dislike about many digital delays, I think). Other great analog delays (eg DMM) have this same quality/effect ... :) Same with SDD-3000, etc ...
I agree with you both. The Dm2 has that lovely soft distortion almost on half a cycle of a slow phase. A classic sound, for we older players maybe? I application to the average music listener it may make little difference, but huge to me as a tone hunter.
who fuckin care , its actually more transparent than the original and repeats are more prominent like an echoplex i dont understand those people who choose the old cuz its vintage
I bought the Waza simply for slap back, cause my old Maxon AD80 started crapping out on me(really bummed).Like the AD80, the Waza DM2W has the two wet/dry outputs and sounds sweet to two amps. The Maxon AD9 has the same outputs but a higher price tag. If TC Electronics made the mini Flashback with this option, I'd probably get one.The WAZA DM2W is a keeper, but I also have a few other delays in my collection.
repeats on DM2 original are more darker. Waza is very clear and thin. I have dm2 and dm3, waza is just to transparent, the trail is not warm like the old ones. But its a good pedal, pretty close.
It's not that the DM-2w is a bad pedal (it's not), it's just not as close to the DM-2/DM-3 as many people make it out to be .. nor can it be ... there is a reason that certain vintage units are classics ... ...
I really want to like the DM-2W more than the vintage. 1. For the convience of having extra delay time, more up to date components, ect. 2. So I don't have to dish out the money on a vintage pedal. But man.. that vintage pedal just sounds better to me. I've blind tested on several vids and it wins over everytime. It just has that sound. To call these identical is a stretch.
The DM-2W is cleaner but also thinner sounding. It sounds like the original DM-2 has more mids, lower mids, and a tad more bass. The difference is most obvious from 0:37 to 1:02.
One thing about this pedal , it's not stereo in . That's means you can't hook up the CE2 stereo into it to get all the lush sounds of that pedal. Normally you would put the delay pedal after the modulation so I think Boss have missed a trick here.
I think that the original has an ever so slight wobble/modulation on the repeats - dunno whether that's by design or because of the age of the circuitry I'm not sure - makes it a little more appealing on sustained notes and chords to my ears (a gentle chorusing), but for the more arpeggiated and staccato, parts I'd take the the Waza over the old one to be honest!
To say original DM-2 sounds "much better" is crazy. On shorter delay and slap back there is virtually no difference. On longer stuff and modulation the repeats on DM-2 original are a little more character rich and warm-but it's splitting hairs.
This demo only really matters if the vintage DM-2 is an early one with the mn3005 BBD chip. That chip was only used for the first year or so of production, the later DM-2s used the mn3205 which is still in production, so unless the old DM-2 is from 1981 they're pretty much exactly the same.
As the owner of many dm2s, dm3s, and various old analog delays, Ill say they both have a bit of clock noise, I dont like the sound. Also ,the original dm2 needs to be adjusted a bit. The new one feels like a dm3 to me, a bit thinner. btw Im guess the vb-2 will be next to re-done.
Yeah, it is closer to the DM-3, which had a noise reduction circuit which altered the vibe/feel of the pedal. I always loved the DM-2, used it religiously in my early days, and still come back to it ... and I found out recently that I'm in good company there (Dave Grohl, for example). :)
The Waza is better because it's the same price as a used DM-2 and mode 2 gives you even more analog odyssey! The Waza sounds superb too, warm, full and clear.
I wouldn't say better but more versatile. I've owned dm2w and now I have a 3005 dm2 and the sound from the old one beats down waza. Maybe the difference is not being well appreciated because of youtube
Man, great video and both pedals clearly rock but you spent way more time jamming out & exploring the Waza. Cool jam but you fluffed over the dm2 so it's not a definitive comparison for me.
