right-hand side chorus
could be shallow and rely
on the cool photocell
setting for a less
symmetrical waveform.
I figured that I might at
least verbally command
the Alexa to switch
between the two circuits,
since online shopping
seemed not to be its
forte. I spoke into the
various quarter-inch jacks
and received no response.
Alas, I had to physically
tap the admittedly
smooth-acting A/B switch.
But I couldn’t ignore the
sheer quality of its tone.
I noticed, for example,
that the vibrato and
chorus settings could
produce similar, yet
subtly different forms of
modulation. The Vibrato
tended more toward the
classic era of subtle and
rubbery phasers and
flangers. I would even
describe the tone as more
restrained than the lush,
ultra-wide, and slightly
metallic tones which the
chorus effect offers its
listeners. Both appealed
to me, and both seemed
suitable for different
situations.
Adjustments to the
Delay of either channel
tended to either contract
or expand the effect’s
“soundstage.” Suhr
says that the delay
ranges from 10 to 40
milliseconds, which might
seem like an insignificant
range. However, even a
delay increase of 10ms
produced a noticeably
more expansive effect.
The effect seemed to
emanate from all around
the room, rather than
from the amplifier alone.
W H AT W E LI K E
Excellent range of chorus
and vibrato tones, from
flange-like, to rubbery, to
slightly metallic; switching
between two circuits
for two settings; stereo
output and expression/
tap-tempo control.
C O N C ER N S
None.
My final verdict: as an
online ordering device,
the Alexa was useless,
but as a chorus and
vibrato unit, the thing was
second to none. I highly
recommend the new Alexa
for any tech geek who
needs more modulation
effects in their life. Just
don’t expect it to order
pizza when you’d like it
to.
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