Mooer Audio Reveals the Portable GE150
September 17, 2019 · 10 sources
Mooer Audio announced the GE150, a new compact floor amp modeling and multi-effects unit, due out on September 17, 2019. The Chinese maker, best known for its mini pedals, positioned the GE150 as a portable all-in-one for players who want amp models, effects and a looper in one multi-effects box that sits on the floor rather than on a pedalboard of separate units1.
The unit's amp side draws on the company's existing work: Guitar World's review noted that players get 55 amp models, derived from Mooer's best-selling Micro Preamp series, alongside 200 onboard presets2. MusicRadar reported that the GE150 succeeds Mooer Audio's GE1003. The maker's product page classifies it simply as a multi-effects unit4.
At launch, the announced feature set included:
- An onboard expression pedal, described by Mooer as controlling multiple values by one touch, plus tap tempo for setting effect parameters1
- Support for third-party impulse response files, for players who want the dynamics and feel of a real tube amp through their own cab simulations1
- An auxiliary audio input and built-in tuner56
- A headphone output for silent practice57
"Support for third-party impulse response files to get the same dynamics and feel of a real tube amp."
Controls and connections
The two footswitches and their functions, as described in Guitar World's review2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Left footswitch | Cycles through presets; hold to activate the built-in tuner |
| Right footswitch | Cycles through presets; keep a foot on it to engage the 80-second looper |
| Expression pedal | Controls multiple values by one touch, per Mooer1 |
| Tap tempo | Sets effect parameters1 |
Guitar.com described the headphone and aux connections in detail: an eighth-inch headphone jack for silent practicing and an eighth-inch aux input for playing music back through the unit7. Gearnews summed up the package as "not bad for a compact floor pedal unit"1.
The sockets, as listed in Guitar World's review2:
| Connection | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Input | Guitar in |
| 2x output | Stereo or dual output |
| USB | Computer connection |
| Headphones | Silent practice |
| Micro-USB | Computer connection |
| Aux in | Playback of music through the unit |
| Power | 9V supply, included |
The GE150 uses a buffered bypass rather than true bypass2, so the signal path is always active when the unit is in the chain, unlike pedals that hard-wire around the circuit.
Price and what reviewers said
At the announcement, Gearnews reported that the GE150 had yet to receive an official price1. Guitar World's later review listed it at $2002.
One point Guitar World's reviewer raised about editing depth: each effect offers only three or four parameters, which limits choice when it comes to modulations2. The same review's verdict on the amp side was blunt and positive:
"Best amp modeling in its price class."
The GE150 line since launch
Mooer Audio has since expanded the GE150 line, with the GE150 Plus, GE150 Pro and GE150 Max appearing on the maker's site8910.
| Version | Status |
|---|---|
| GE150 | Original 2019 unit1 |
| GE150 Plus | Later addition to the line4 |
| GE150 Pro | Later addition to the line4 |
| GE150 Max | Later addition to the line4 |
Sources (10)
- Mooer Audio GE150 amp modelling and multi-effects unit, gearnews.com, 2019-09-17
- Mooer Audio GE150 review, Guitar World, 2020-02-06
- Mooer GE150 amp modeller and multi-FX review, MusicRadar, 2020-01-08
- GE150_MOOER Audio, MOOER Audio
- Mooer Unveils the GE150, Premier Guitar, 2019-10-10
- Introducing the MOOER GE150!, MusicPlayers.com, 2019-09-17
- Mooer announces the GE150, Guitar.com, 2019-09-20
- GE150 Plus/GE150 Plus Li_MOOER Audio, MOOER Audio
- GE150 Pro/GE150 Pro Li_MOOER Audio, MOOER Audio
- GE150 Max/GE150 Max Li_MOOER Audio, MOOER Audio