DOD FX25-B Envelope Filter

The DOD FX25B version of an envelope filter is quirky and peculiar. This is the so called "updated" version of DOD's FX25, with three controls: BLEND, SENSITIVITY and RANGE (the FX25 didn't have the BLEND control).



The controls do work, but not in ways you'd immediately expect - The BLEND is suppose to mix the original signal with the effect, but I only found it useful when almost fully cranked. RANGE does change the frequency, but it only seemed to change it from one irritating sound to another. SENSITIVITY almost worked as expected, except that I had to have it cranked just to get it to start working. They need to put one more control on it, but I'm not sure what that control would be, maybe "Tone" or "Boost" or perhaps the elusive "quality"... read on...

I used the FX25B as a guitar effect, and the first thing I noticed was an obvious drop in signal level. It dramatically thinned out the sound of all my guitars (a Fender Telecaster, a Carvin DC200 and an Epiphone Casino into a Mesa/Boogie Rect-O-Verb). I suppose you could boost the sound or improve the tone with an EQ or run it through an effects loop, etc, but who wants to go through that much trouble? I already have a dozen other things to consider when I'm performing.



As far as the "effect" goes, it did work well once I got the settings right, but I was left very UNimpressed with the "quality" of the sound I was hearing. It's my own fault, I read all the unfavorable reviews on the older FX25, but thought that the BLEND control was somehow the ticket to getting a good sound out of it... on the contrary, it was the ticket to "No-Wheres-Ville" man.



What made things worse was the fact that I could still hear the effect even when turned off. Less than a week after getting it I traded it, along with a couple other crappy effects, for something REALLY good, (a Carvin Quad X-Amp!) so I finally found a purpose for it afterall!

It worked for the few days I had it!

Still waitng for the to update their online "MANUALS" database.

I own two other DOD pedals; the FX84 "MilkBox" compressor and FX40B graphic EQ, and really I love them both a lot. Since they've always worked well and have been very reliable, I decided to give the FX25B the benefit of the doubt and purchased it (via mail order). Well, my respect for DOD has definitely dropped a notch or two. I don't fault them for putting out a bad product, as much as, putting out an updated version of that product with no discernable improvement.



I hesitate to call it a total failure, after all it does work as an envelope filter, but I consider it a major disappointment and I find it hard to recommend the FX25B to anybody for any reason. Sorry DOD, I tried!