Origin Effects DCX Boost review – a pedal that simply improves your tone just by being active

This classy tone-shaping boost and drive from Origin Effects is based on a vintage valve-powered preamp

Origin Effects DCX Boost
(Image: © Future / Olly Curtis)

Guitar World Verdict

The DCX from Origin Effects is a really versatile boost and drive with tightly focused EQ options. If we were restricted to just having one pedal in front of an amp, this is the one we’d choose.

Pros

  • +

    Origin’s usual high standard of build quality.

  • +

    Compact size.

  • +

    Great response to playing dynamics.

  • +

    Variety of sounds.

Cons

  • -

    Absolutely nothing.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Origin Effects has history with pedals that are based on classic studio equipment, with its Cali76 offering Urei 1176-style compression and the M-EQ Driver featuring Pultec-style EQ. 

Now we have the DCX Boost, inspired by the Universal Audio 610 recording preamp – DCX being the Roman numerals for 610. Described as a tone-shaper and drive pedal, the DCX Boost reimagines the 610 circuitry, optimizing it for electric guitar and aiming to deliver the sort of sonic enhancement that the vintage circuitry would add with either a completely flat frequency response or some tonal tweaking.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49