Best STrymon Iridium Alternative
Two Notes ReVolt Guitar Amp Simulator
The ReVolt is the best Strymon Iridium alternative because it's tube-powered with a 12AX7 tube and three channels, including American clean, British crunch, and modern lead. It checks off all our boxes and even adds MIDI control to sweeten the deal.
The Strymon Iridium is a popular preamp pedal, but it's not our top recommendation. And while this article is addressing alternatives to the Iridium, it's also meant to highlight the Two Notes ReVolt, which is an absolutely fantastic pedal amp, and one of our top recommendations in this category.
We'll cover more of what we like about this pedal in the paragraphs below our comparison table, or you can check the summary box above. Below you can compare some Strymon Iridium alternatives, including the Iridium itself and the ReVolt. Note that the comparison table gives you live pricing and basic specs.
Compare the Best Strymon Iridium Alternatives
Pedal | Name | Rate | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Strymon Iridium | 92.9 | |
 | Walrus Audio ACS1 | 88.7 | |
| Two Notes Revolt | 94.3 | |
 | Boss IR-200 | 90.5 | |
 | ENGL Cabloader | 89.2 |
A large scale image of the Two Notes ReVolt guitar amp pedal.
Price Guide for Iridium Alternatives
Methodology
We make recommendations based on first-hand experience, thorough research, and decades worth of knowledge about the musical instrument market. We also look for very specific features based on the gear we're putting forward. Below, we'll cover more of those features that are specific to pedal-form amps and preamps.
Keep in mind that pricing is also a significant consideration in our recommendations, as we don't simply want to recommend the highest quality option. A better answer is when you get a happy meet up of lowest possible price and highest possible quality.
Since many of the pedal preamps and amp simulators are around a similar price point, it makes this article a little easier to write.
If you have questions about our process or methodology, please feel free to ask.
We want to be as transparent as possible.
Features of the Two Notes Revolt Guitar
We've already touched on some of the features we like about the ReVolt, but we'll summarize them here.
- Three channels
- Modern lead channel
- Tube-powered (one of the few I know of)
- MIDI control
- Analog cab sim
Fender, Marshall Plexi, and Soldano amp models are all included in the ReVolt.
This is a lot more flexible compared to the Iridium, yet priced the same. Note that pricing is subject to change, so check the price guides above to see if they're still at a similar price point.
Pros
- Tons of flexibility
- Three channels
- All analog/tube-driven signal path
- Simply better than other options in the same category, yet priced similarly
Cons
- None for the price
What to look for
There aren't a ton of pedal preamps and amp simulators on the market, at least not compared to other pedal types. So you'll be dealing with a lot of the same basic features like a couple channels (usually clean and gain), three-band EQ, and reverb. So if you can get more than that for a similar price, that's when we'd recommend pulling the trigger.
You should also pay attention to style, particularly when it comes to your onboard gain. For example, the Strymon Iridium and Walrus Audio ACS1 are a lot bluesier, with a much lighter gain profile.
The ReVolt and the Engle Cabloader are going to give you a more modern flavor.
And none of this is to say the Iridium is bad.
But there are alternatives that are worth considering.
Conclusion
A good Strymon Iridium alternative is in the eye of the beholder. We'd recommend comparing some additional options. The Orange Terror Stamp and Sans Amp pedals are worth checking out in addition to what we've covered here.
But if you have any additional questions about the Iridium, the ReVolt, or other pedals mentioned in this article, you can leave it in the comments section below.
We'll help out as much as possible.
More Strymon Iridium Material
Written by GC Editorial on Pedals & Pricing
Written by GC Editorial on Pedals & Comparisons
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