The final pedal in the Dept. 10 Series of valve pedals from Blackstar Amplification is the Dual Distortion, a bold, black beauty that takes high gain action up a notch. A formidable-sounding valve distortion and world-class recording preamp, this one features 3 Crunch/Overdrive voices alongside the clean channel, Blackstar’s patented ISF control, low latency USB, XLR out and Dept. 10’s proprietary Cab Rig simulator technology. We’re loving these Dept. 10 pedals, let’s see what this last one has to offer…
Like all Dept. 10 pedals, the Dual Distortion is powered at its core by an ECC83 tube (luckily, they all have that perfectly-placed guard to protect it). Channel 1’s Clean and Crunch modes let you move from clean, to boost to overdrive; Channel 2 then takes you from super crunch right up to screaming lead and beyond with ease. There’s so much range and versatility in these two channels, and Channel 2 has OD1 and OD2 modes, with the latter producing more gain and saturation, along with a lift in presence, for greater sustain throughout. There’s something for everyone with this list of parameters and options, which include separate Gain and Level controls for each side, along with a shared Bass-Middle-Treble EQ section.
Blackstar’s patented ISF control works in conjunction with the EQ section, allowing you to choose the exact tone signature you prefer. Fully CCW is a more American characteristic with a tight bottom end and more aggressive middle, while fully CW has a British characteristic, more ‘woody’ and less aggressive. The Dept. 10 Dual Distortion also includes Cab Rig, a next-generation DSP speaker simulator that reproduces the sound and feel of a miked up guitar cab in incredible detail. You can take it further and deep-dive using the accompanying free software and capture the incredible tones via USB / XLR out or headphones.There’s even a built-in effects loop allows for effortless integration with your pedalboard, which when used with the XLR D.I. makes for a great sounding and flexible backup amp.
As we conclude our look at the Dept. 10 Series of pedals, it’s clear that the amount of research and testing that went into these three pedals was massive and precise, resulting in some incredible effects machines. The Blackstar Amplification Dual Distortion provides a wonderful range of boost and overdrive options, as well as routing, USB, XLR and headphone connectivity, performing perfectly in any musical situation. Don’t forget to read our reviews on the Boost and Dual Drive Dept. 10 pedals as well – click here for more info on these pedals, and don’t forget to check out our demo video below!
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