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Boss Roland RE20 Space Echo

 

Review of the Boss Roland RE20 Space Echo by The Man in the Jar  

The original RE201 Space Echo was equipped with a tape loop to furnish the echo effect. The physical, analogue created a particular quality of echo that "spoke" to the listener and convinced them the sound was retreating into the distance rather than simply getting quieter. This is Boss's solid state emulation of the seminal unit RE201.     

Features of the Boss Roland RE20 Space Echo

Construction - The Boss has a good robust metal casing that looks tough enough to survive on-road conditions. The two footswitches are also metal construction faced with rubber. The knobs are heavy duty plastic with good visible indicators of their positions.   

Ins and Outs - There are two inputs and two outputs on the back panel marked A and B. These can be used to put a mono source to a mono output (A to A), a mono source to a dual output, say mixer and recorder, or two amps (A to A+B), or a stereo source to a dual output (A+B to A+B). Also on the back panel you'll find the input for the optional power supply, an input for the optional expression pedal used to control repeat and intensity while your playing and a switch to mute the direct (dry) output.

Power - Six AA type batteries or the optional power supply.

Controls - Starting at the top left there's a block of three knobs on a black background. These are Bass cut and boost, Treble cut and boost and Reverb Volume.

Below these are three knobs on a green background. The first is the Repeat Rate knob which adjusts the intervals between repeats. The second is the Intensity Knob which controls the feedback volume or "lifespan" of the repeat. The third is the Echo Volume which dictates the volume of the echo signal in relation to the dry or unaffected signal.

To the right of this is the Mode Selector. The original RE201 had three tape playback heads and the RE20 emulates this and gives you all the possible combinations. Once you set the Repeat Rate playback head 1 echoes at that rate (let's say 1 second), playback head 2 delays twice that (2 seconds in this example) and playback head 3 delays for three times the original rate (3 seconds in this example). Of course if head 1 is not engaged then the Rate control sets head 2 or (if neither head 1 or 2 is engaged) the Rate control sets head 3).  There are 12 settings on the Mode Selector from which to choose:

Setting 1: Head 1;

Setting 2: Head 2;

Setting 3: Head 3;

Setting 4: Head 2 + Head 3;

Setting 5: Head 1 + Reverb;

Setting 6: Head 2 + Reverb;

Setting 7: Head 3 + Reverb;

Setting 8: Head 1 + Head 2 + Reverb;

Setting 9: Head 2 + Head 3 + Reverb;

Setting 10: Head 1 + Head 3 + Reverb;

Setting 11: Head 1 + Head 2 + Head 3 + Reverb;

Setting 12: Reverb only.

At the far right of the control panel is the Input Volume control and the Peak Level indicator. In order to get the best "tape saturation" sound you need to set the Input Volume so that the Peak light flashes briefly when you are playing at your loudest.

There are two footswitches, the one on the left turns the effect on and off and the one on the right is the Tap pedal to set the delay rate whilst standing. Holding down the Tap pedal initiates what Boss call the Twist Effect.

A very nice touch is a curved light that flashes to simulate the virtual "tape speed" chosen with the Repeat Rate control. 

 

Sound of the Boss Roland RE20 Space Echo

The first thing you notice about this effect is the naturalness of the sound. Boss have down a very good job at capturing the unpredictable wobble that high-speed tape travel added to the original sound and the warmth and depth of the delays here is remarkable. The second thing you notice is the huge number of permutations available. There are 7 different head combinations, with or without reverb, that makes 14. Each of these can be tweaked with Rate, Intensity and Volume (signal mix) and then tweaked further with EQ section. Mind-boggling. I particularly liked the lush layering effects possible with the multi-head options, particularly as the Reverb is an independently controlled element in the mix.

Beware that overzealous use of the Intensity control can set up a feedback oscillation that will continue to build until the Intensity control is turned down or your amp explodes and your house falls down. The Twist Effect gives you this same madness but with a bit more musical control. Press and hold the Tap pedal and the Rate and Intensity are increased and the oscillation begins but (and it's a big but) the echo volume is controlled. The sound will snake and twist like a binge-eating cassette player, increasing in intensity all the time. When the Peak Level light starts to flash rapidly you simply release the Tap pedal and the crescendo of sound subsides and returns to the original settings. Excellent fun.

Overall Impressions of the Boss Roland RE20 Space Echo

This is a comprehensive echo unit that knocks the socks off anything I can remember trying in terms of sound quality. It is the modern day emulation of a single (albeit complex) unit. Consequently, although the options available are very wide-ranging, they all lay within the palette of the original tape-driven unit. The fact that the original RE201 was, is and probably always will be the gold-standard in echo machines, the absence of digital tricks (such as reverse delay) available on other echo units is not really that much of a loss. If you want delay, the Space Echo delivers again and again and again...  

Buy the Boss Roland RE20 Space Echo

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