DSM & Humboldt Simplifier Deluxe VS Strymon Iridium (Which Do You Prefer?)

In this video, we did a shootout between the DSM & Humboldt Simplifier Deluxe and Strymon Iridium. Can the analog pedal take on the digital pedal? Will this be a Strymon Iridium killer?
Check out the tones in this video and do leave in the comments below which tones you prefer.
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Where to buy:

Guitar:
James Tyler Guitars Studio Elite

Pedal:
Xotic Super Sweet
Browne Amplification Protein OD
Strymon Iridium
DSM & Humboldt Simplifier Deluxe

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#SimplifierDlx #Iridium #guitargearreview

Quick Jam: 0:00
Intro 0:59
American VS Round 2:28
American VS Round + Protein Blue 5:24
American VS Round + Protein Green 7:35
AC Brit VS Chime 9:23
AC Brit VS Chime + Protein Blue 11:05
AC Brit VS Chime + Protein Green 12:05
MS Brit VS Punch 14:22
MS Brit VS Punch + Protein Green 16:25
Conclusion 18:07

[kikemarino]

Man... The Simplifier Deluxe sounds SO GOOD. So natural, so amp-like. And yet so underrated!! I'm definitely buying one soon.

[hellspark]

Coming in late to the party. The Iridium sounds glassier and more "optimal, " but seeing how the Simplifier reacts to pick attack takes the win for me. Being a little more mid-focused is a bonus. Right now I'm using overdrive pedals into a compressor into an IR loader for playing direct. It sounds pretty good, but not very natural. Not to mention, Simplifier is full stereo. So my chain will be Vox Big Bad Wah > EHX Black Finger > Source Audio LA Lady > Simplifier Pre > MS-70 CDR > Strymon Volante > Simplifier Return. Should sound massive.

Funny thing is I already bought a Simplifier DLX, it just hasn't arrived yet. I'm just here to get more hyped for it. lol

Edit: I got it, and it's exceeding my expectations! So glad I went with it.

[dsmhumboldt]

On the latest setting you’re experiencing clipping since the DLX is delivering more gain than the Iridium. Volume is way high on the latest setting.
Great video, many thanks!

[mofateam]

Both pedals are great, in the highgain region the Strymon Iridium sounds much clearer and more hifi, but overall the Simplifier Deluxe sounds warmer and more pleasing.

[SergeiVlassov]

Everyone is so excited about simplifier in the comments. They both sound great, but am I the only who hears that with pedal (green side) strymon sounds like a real amp, but simplifier sounds like DI signal with EQ, that tries to sound like an amp. People wrongly assume that strymon is more compressed because it is digital. I am almost sure that it is not the case. The real amp with real speaker also sounds more compressed compared to simplifier, speaker also contributes to this, and strymon emulates the whole chain. Simplifier has analog cab sim that just cannot replecate all nuances of real amp.

[joshuavega]

For me the Simplifier dlx definitely sounds better 😱👏🏼 Great comparison!

[waynefennimore]

To me the Simplifier sounds so alive...a good pedal for playing live, with lots of dynamics. The Iridium would be my choice for in the studio where dynamics need to be a little more in control. Both pedals have GREAT tone.

[cosmiciron]

I feel the issue with Marshall on Simplifier can be improved via the resonance control which can help tighten the bottom end or the other way around. Basically with some fine tuning and EQ, I feel you can get very comparable sounds out of both products. The Iridium, as with all other digital modelers, perhaps with the exception of Boss GT 1000, does sound more processed and compressed as you’ve noted in your review. The Simplifier also wins hands down in feel — it has tube like responses and dynamics which really need to be experienced to understand.

[samaitcheson]

Great comparison video! Thanks. I'd already decided on the DLX, mainly due to it being all analog, but your comparison highlights how more immediate and real sounding the DLX is. No mean feat as the Iridium is a very cool product.

[nutshell]

The fact that you can use the DLM live makes all the difference in the world - oh - it sounds better to my ears

[antipsychosoup]

I have both and find the sounds in both to be very good. I was underwhelmed with the Iridium initially, until I started experimenting with York Audio IRs. Those really brought it to life. However, I’m going to stick with the Simplifier DLX on my board because of the functionalities - stereo, line-in, effects loop, XLR outputs. I’m usually dialing in tones with headphones at home, usually while learning a song that I’m playing along with, and then translating those tones into a live setting thru a big PA in a church or with my band. Can’t beat the Simplifier’s functions for this application.

[mrblablablabla]

Great comparison, thanks for sharing! I got the DLX on a good deal, without doing a lot of research. I was wondering if the digital offerings would be better, as a lot of people complained about the OG Simplifier not being as good as newer digital amp/cab sim pedals. Seems like the DLX is still what I would get. To my ears it just sounds more 'alive' than the Iridium. It really sounds and feels great to play, very similar to playing through my Fender tube amp. Great for playing with headphones and recording!

[elvillegas]

Great comparison !
The Simplifier sounds definitely better to my ears.
I think the weird sound at the end with the Green Protein is because of the KT88 simulation, these tubes are known for their looser basses. It might sounds better with the EL34 simulation.

[Millennial_Mike]

Simplifier DLX is incredible. I used the classic Simplifier for a year and loved it, so decided to upgrade to the DLX... it doesn't just offer more live tonal options... it actually sounds better... more powerful.

I don't think videos can do it justice.

[BigMikeGuitar]

The Simplifier Deluxe has more character, meaning more harmonic complexity, a stronger midrange attitude, and is more amp-like. In comparison, the Strymon Iridium suffers from reproducing a one-dimensional digital snapshot. The strengths of the Strymon Iridium are that it is consistent, easy to use, and convincing, and could be embellished with tube conditioners, etc. Some may say the Simplifier imposes its global midrange characteristics to color-over and shade certain iconic amp tonalities, however, these still remain good useable sounds. My verdict is that the Simplifier Deluxe sounds fantastic, and has a plethora of features that enable increased utility, functionality, and applications.

[mphillipsmusic]

i own both these pedals and love them dearly. this video makes me feel affirmed in my decision to use the dlx for live shows though. the iridium translates super-well to recordings in my experience, but it doesn't give much in the way of dynamic range coming out of a monitor at a gig

[pjtardiveau]

The simplifier have a lot of routing option, chanel A + B in serie, Parallel, spread is huge... and it's full analog, I am a big fan of Strymon products but DSM win this challenge.

[TheFredster-dkbi]

Finally I see these two head to head! Thank you! You earned a subscriber!

[vladimirpavlovic]

There is something great in analog amp simulations, even cheaper ones, lik Joyo American, fo example. There is feel of immediacy, good response to pedals and playing with dynamics. No latency from ad/da converdion also helps. But, my problem is the analog cab sim part of them. They just do not cope as well with all the harsh frequencies of high gain distortions and fuzzes. With clean and low to mid driven sounds, they play rather nicely.
So, for me, the ultimate solution would be an analog amp sim like simplifier deluxe with the ability to load onboard ir's and manipulate with their own sound. Best of both worlds, without a need of more than one device to do the job.

As for comparison, honestly they both sound great. With a little more eq-ing, I feel like they could sound even closer.
I think that irs chosen for the Iridium match very well with it and make it sound better than stock.

In the end, Simplifier is more my cup of tea because of the ability to have different settings in stereo (Vox + Fender at the same time must sound very big and open and complex).

[ludovicthomere-shiatsu.]

Thanks for your video! We can here the difference between the two pedals! I prefer the simplifier and Vox and fender channels ! Thanks again, it's very clear, a short and effective video ! 🎶👍🙏