Boss has a lot of delay pedals. Since they are all named similarly and look nearly the same, it can be difficult to determine which to purchase. That’s where I come in.
I’ve been a guitar enthusiast for nearly a decade now, and I’ve tried delay pedals from just about every major brand. While most of them do the same thing, few of them do it well – and Boss is a brand made for quality.
So today, I’ll be looking at Boss’s DD-3 and DD-7 delay pedals to help you choose the best model for your stompbox. It’s time to get technical.
AT A GLANCE: BOSS DD-3 VS BOSS DD-7
- Best for Beginners BOSS Digital Delay Guitar Effect Pedal (DD-3T)
- Best for Recording and More Advanced Users Boss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal
In this review, I’ll be looking at the Boss DD-3t. This is an upgraded pedal that has all the features of the original DD-3. However, fewer DD-3s are available from the manufacturer every day. It’s difficult to get your hands on one, so we’ll be looking at the widely available version of the same pedal.
Here’s how the Boss DD-3 and the Boss DD-7 effect pedals stack up.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best for Beginners | BOSS Digital Delay Guitar Effect Pedal (DD-3T) |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Best for Recording and More Advanced Users | Boss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Main Differences
The Boss DD-3 and Boss DD-7 are both great pedals. They share a lot of the same features and functions, so they are comparable in nearly every way. Quality isn’t the focus of this comparison; instead, we’ll be looking at what sets these models apart from each other.
| Features | Boss DD-3 | Boss DD-7 |
|---|---|---|
| Current Draw | 35mA | 55mA |
| Delay Length | 12.5ms – 800ms | 6.4 seconds |
| Modes | 4 | 8 |
| Battery Type | Carbon, Alkaline | Alkaline |
| Battery Life | Carbon: 3 hours Alkaline: 11 hours | Alkaline: 6 hours |
| Modulation | No | Yes |
| Connectors | INPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type OUTPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type DIRECT OUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type DC IN jack | INPUT-A(MONO)/INPUT-B jack: 1/4-inch phone type OUTPUT-A(MONO)/OUTPUT-B jack: 1/4-inch phone type TEMPO/EXP jack: TRS 1/4-inch phone type DC IN jack |
| Weight | 440g | 450g |
| Price | $$ | $$$ |
Current Draw
It’s important to know the current draw of a pedal, especially if you are connecting several pedals. This will help you determine the type of power adaptor you’ll need. The Boss DD-7 requires 20mA more than the DD-3 because it has more features and a longer delay.
Delay Length
The Boss DD-3 has a range of delay lengths, from between 12.5ms and 800ms. There are three different modes and can allow you to make some great live sounds. The Boss DD-7 includes up to 6.4 seconds of delay time. This can be great for audio recording but doesn’t mean much for live gigs.
Modes
The number of modes on your pedal gives it additional functionality and allows you to fine-tune your audio experience. The Boss DD-3 has
Battery Type
The type of battery your pedal uses matters. The Boss DD-3 uses either a carbon battery or an alkaline one. This gives you options, but carbon batteries don’t last as long as alkaline batteries. The DD-7 uses only alkaline batteries, so it eliminates the guesswork when trying to power your pedal.
Battery Life
When it comes to alkaline battery life, the Boss DD-3 has almost double the runtime of the DD-7. This can be explained by higher power draws or additional features. However, it means that your DD-3 will last longer if you need to play on battery. Considering usage and fluctuating power requirements, the DD-7 may not last through a long gig without a power adaptor.
Modulation
Modulation allows you to set the delay time outside of pre-determined settings. This allows you to create some amazing effects, including on-the-fly chorus adjustments and more. The DD-3 has set delay times, whereas the DD-7 uses modulation to customize your sounds.
Connectors
If you have a large stompbox, more connections are necessary. To loop things together, it’s ideal to have multiple inputs and output jacks. The DD-3 only offers one of each type, whereas the DD-7 offers multiple inputs and outputs, including mono-only jacks.
Weight
Anyone who has played live gigs will tell you that setups can be extremely heavy. The lighter the better when you’re lugging your gear around. The DD-3 is lighter than the DD-7, albeit by only 10 grams.
Price
When you’re jamming on a budget, every penny counts. The Boss DD-3 is usually cheaper than the DD-7, though it can be harder to find it for sale.
Boss DD-3
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for Beginners | BOSS Digital Delay Guitar Effect Pedal (DD-3T) |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Boss’s DD-3 pedal is surprisingly simple but deceptively complex. While this pedal can help create simple sounds and basic loops, you’ll find that it’s an essential part of your stompbox. The industry standard DD-3 has been improved with new features. Now, this old favorite can compare with modern pedals like the DD-7.
This tiny, lightweight pedal maintains its dry/wet direct outputs. These outputs allow you to connect two separate amps, creating a wide sound profile. ‘Dry’ signal, or the pure sound from your instrument, goes into one side of the pedal. You can connect a line directly to your amp to maintain a dry signal.
The ’wet’ signal is the instrument sound after adding effects pedals, including delays, loops, and other distortion. You can feed this to another amp to layer sound and create multiple effects with the same instrument.
Another great feature of the Boss DD-3 pedal is buffered bypass. This isn’t as great a ‘true’ bypass, but it’s the next best thing. Essentially, the pedal is wired in such a way that your guitar doesn’t get bogged down with the excess load. The result is a pure, undistorted tone. Most Boss pedals have this feature. A simple and essential pedal like the DD-3 helps keeps your instrument sounding natural.
Finally, there are three delay modes. Since this is a delay pedal, this is naturally what the DD-3 does best! These simple modes are:
- Short mode: 12.5ms to 50ms delay time
- Medium mode: 50ms to 200ms delay time
- Long mode: 200ms to 800ms delay time
These modes make this pedal extremely versatile. The mode you choose can affect your sound on the fly. Use it during live gigs to change things up. The short mode bulks up the output, layering the sound nicely in short bursts. The medium mode creates a fuller sound, while the long mode allows a note to linger on so you can add effects.
These can also be extremely useful for recording. The pedal also allows a shorthold or ‘short loop’ of up to 800ms, which adds additional functionality to your stompbox. It’s more than just a delay pedal, even as it simplifies the delay process.
Plus, it performs well. With 11 hours of peak battery life, you can keep your jam session going for hours. Attach a power adaptor for unlimited play.
Overall, the DD-3 is an inexpensive starter delay pedal that has a ton of great features. This is a good place to start playing with your sound.
Who Is It For?
If you’re looking for a more traditional, 80s-style sound, the Boss DD-3 is for you. It’s a simple pedal with simple controls. If all the new, modern features don’t appeal to you, go with the Boss DD-3. Similarly, if you are a beginner, this is a great first delay pedal at an affordable point of entry.
For an in-depth look at this pedal, including sound samples and a hands-on experience, check out this video review.
Please note that the Boss DD-3 does not come with a power adaptor. While most 9V power adaptors will work, Boss offers the PSA series, which is compatible with Boss pedals.
Similarities
These guitar pedals are extremely similar. Here are just some of the places where they are perfectly matched.
| Feature | Boss DD-3 AND Boss DD-7 |
|---|---|
| Nominal Input Level | -20 dBu |
| Input Impedance | 1 M ohm |
| Nominal Output Level | -20 dBu |
| Output Impedance | 1 k ohm |
| Recommended Load Impedance | 10 k ohms or greater |
| Bypass | Buffered |
| Controls | MODE knob, D.Time, F.Back, E.Level, Pedal switch |
| Size | 2.875 x 5.125 x 2.375” |
| Tap Tempo | Yes |
| External Footswitch Input | Yes |
Nominal Input Level
The nominal input level is the ‘typical’ input you can expect from the pedal, though it isn’t an absolute value. -20 dBu is roughly instrument-level, meaning that they can handle the output from your electric guitar with ease.
Input Impedance
Lower input impedance values can change the tone of your instrument. Thankfully, at 1 M ohm, both pedals have enough input impedance to make your guitar sound great.
Nominal Output Level
The nominal output level, like the nominal input level, tells you the ‘typical’ output value. At -20 dBu, it’s the same as you can expect from your electric guitar. This is a good value for power planning and amp usage.
Output Impedance
A low output impedance helps keeps sound clear and helps amps work with the best possible signal. 1 k Ohm is a great lower value for these pedals.
Recommended Load Impedance
The amount of power your setup uses can affect how your sound a lot. These pedals can handle 10 k ohms or greater, which is the ideal value for pedals on your stompbox.
Bypass
Buffered bypass preserves the tone of your instrument by reducing bypass load. It’s not as effective at removing impedance distortion as true bypass would be, but it helps regardless.
Controls
These control knobs will help you customize your sound and access the pedal’s features in a simple interface.
Size
These pedals are relatively small, so you can easily find room for them on your stompbox.
Tap Tempo
A tap tempo allows you to control repeat timing. Both pedals have this feature. This allows you to time repeats without an additional pedal or soundboard. It’s great for live freestyling.
External Footswitch Input
An external footswitch will allow you to control the delay. Both the DD-3 and DD-7 have a built-in footswitch, but it requires you to hit the pedal to turn the effect on. Input for an external footswitch gives you more flexibility and allows you to place the external footswitch where it’s easier to reach.
Boss DD-7
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for Recording and More Advanced Users | Boss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
The Boss DD-7 is yet another delay pedal update that adds increased functionality and longer delays. That is one of the key differences between the two pedals we are looking at today. While the longest delay on the DD-3 pedal is 800ms, the DD-7 can delay up to 6.4 seconds.
This is a remarkable delay time across comparable delay pedals. When recording in your studio, this can be an exceptionally powerful tool. However, live performances don’t need a delay that long.
However, the Boss DD-7 has other benefits. Tap tempo is one of the features that sets this pedal apart. Tap tempo allows you to control when your delay or repeat happens. It’s great for live music and improvising on the go. You can force the pedal to fall in line with your timing, rather than trying to time yourself against the pedal.
In the same vein as the DD-7’s external footswitch input. Here, you can attach an extra foot pedal so that you can turn the delay on and off from anywhere. It allows you to be more flexible in your stage setup and gives you more room to work as you figure things out on stage.
Finally, let’s talk about modulation. Modulation is a feature that allows you to control your delay without conforming to pre-set times. This means that you can easily create different effects, the most notable among them being the ‘chorus’ effect. Modulation makes this easy to achieve, which is priceless for live shows and essential for recordings.
The DD-7 is an improvement on the formula that makes the DD-3 so great. They have slightly different uses in different contexts, but each pedal will perform well and keep going for a long time. Just beware of the shorter battery life of the DD-7 – due to its many additional features, this pedal only has 6 hours of battery life.
Who Is It For?
The Boss DD-7 can be useful for live performances but in a limited capacity. There are some features (such as the extended delay time) that make this pedal perfect for recordings and looping. If you are doing live shows and recordings with the same stompbox, the DD-7 can be a great investment. The modulation and increase in outputs make this ideal for both types of performance.
For a more in-depth look at the Boss DD-7 including sound tests, check out this video review.
As with the Boss DD-3, the DD-7 does not come with a power adaptor. While most any sturdy 9V power adaptor will work, Boss recommends using its PSA series adaptor. This adaptor can help maintain proper power levels throughout your system.
Verdict
The Boss DD-3 and DD-7 delay pedals may seem similar, but they have some important differences. The DD-3 is best-suited to beginners and simple live gig performers, whereas the DD-7 offers features that are best suited for recording. The DD-3 offers a more natural 80s guitar sound, whereas the DD-7 is more modern and offers a longer delay.
If you’re just getting started, the DD-3 is the best model for you. However, more seasoned players may enjoy the additional features and functionality of the DD-7.
