Mooer’s New Stereo X2 Game-Changers

Mooer’s New Stereo D7 X2 Delay and R7 X2 Reverb are genuine Game-changers – each with 14 Algorithms onboard a Compact Enclosure – and with Foot-switchable Presets

Mooer Audio has launched its all-new lineup of updated X2 effects units with the D7 X2 delay pedal and R7 X2 reverb pedal.

The X2 Series is designed to take some of Mooer’s most popular mini pedals and treat them to an additional tonal and functional makeover, with the brand’s incumbent D7 and R7 pedals undergoing some significant modifications.

Each of the new-and-improved pedals comes loaded with 14 individual sounds  – distinguished via LED lights – and sports an additional footswitch designed for tap tempo or infinite sustain functions, as well as easy preset scrolling.

The D7 X2 – a supercharged version of the original D7 pedal – promises a range of classic sounds, including the go-to tones of Analog and Tape, as well as the more modern-minded delay concoctions of Low-Bit, Galaxy and PingPong.

In practice, each effect has its own specific sound-sculpting boundaries, with the ambiguously named Tweak 1 and Tweak 2 knobs catering to a broad range of potential effect-manipulating parameters, depending on the delay sound selected.

Mix, Time and Feedback knobs work alongside the Tweak controls for a pretty comprehensive control layout, while a tap tempo-loaded footswitch works to accommodate impromptu delay changes.

As for the R7 X2, Mooer has aimed to combine the best of both digital and stereo worlds, partnering its digital algorithms from the A7 Ambience pedal and original R7 to create what the brand boldly dubs “one ultimate stereo reverb pedal”.

Again, up to 14 reverb effects are available to be experimented with – Room, Plate, Shake, Shimmer and Dream are among the offerings – with parameters for High Cut, Low Cut and Mix charged with tweaking the pedal’s sonic character. Further controls for Decay and Pre-Delay feature in order to either tame or unleash the effects’ intensity.

The sounds themselves are immaculate, typically limpid and largely artefact free. If you don’t need the digital delay, then the R7 X2’s bigger reverbs help position the unit as a cheaper and more compact alternative to the Ocean Machine – especially if you have got delay covered elsewhere on your pedalboard.

Classic reverb is well serviced here. Even the spring reverb algorithm does a good job of digitally replicating the metallic splash of a hardware unit. And when you bring modulations into play, dialling up the decay, it’s not long before you shape the electric guitar tone into something a little more soft-focus and lush. 

Ambient dreamscapers will not be disappointed, and turning the Mix dial past three o’clock will send your guitar into a pleasing wash on some of those A7 algorithms. 

The infinite function is perhaps less suited to performance – or at least to lead guitar – than we might have expected but is nonetheless an interesting nuclear button for total reverb immersion. 

Sometimes that is just what you need. Of course, not always, but that’s why you’ve got the Studio reverb on hand for some high-quality pristine space, or Room and Hall, offering a little three-dimensional space that’s vanilla for some but essential for others. The R7 X2 has something for everyone.

Another new update Mooer has made to is the inclusion of Infinite and Trail On functions. While Infinite endlessly extends the tone’s tail for atmospheric soundscapes, Trail On configures the reverb to fade out naturally when bypassing the pedal.

Mooer R7 X2 and D7 X2 available from Marshall Music