The AMT O2 is a preamp and effects pedal from AMT Electronics, part of the LA2 line, which the maker introduces as "the next generation of the Legend Amp series of pedals." It is an analog preamp aimed at players who want a moderate-gain, Orange-style amp sound in a pedal: AMT says moderate-gain amps such as Orange are favored by fans of "velvet and sparkling sound," the character it set out to reproduce. The pedal is available now.1
What it does
The O2 works as a two-channel preamp, switching between a clean and an overdriven channel by means of a footswitch. The preamp itself is analog and offers Clean, Low gain and High gain modes, so the same pedal covers everything from an untouched clean voice to the pushed edge of an Orange-style crunch.13
"velvet and sparkling sound"
The controls and features a player works with are few and direct:
| Control or feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Clean / Low gain / High gain modes | Selects the preamp's operating character, from untouched clean to Orange-style crunch3 |
| Footswitch | Switches between the clean and overdriven channels1 |
| OD LEVEL | Adjusts the overall loudness of the pedal output1 |
| Noise Gate | Global gate setting, applied across the pedal2 |
| IR cab sim | One impulse response loaded for both L/R channels per preset2 |
An OD LEVEL control adjusts the overall loudness of the pedal output, which matters when the O2 is feeding a power amp or an amp's effects return and you need its level to sit against the rest of the board.1
A global Noise Gate setting is also on board.2
Outputs and cab simulation
The O2 carries three outputs, each with its own role in a rig1:
- CAB SIM OUT: a cab-simulated signal, which can go straight to an interface or full-range rig1
- PREAMP OUT: a preamp-level signal, for feeding a power amp1
- DRIVE OUT: a drive signal, for going into the front of a conventional amp1
Each preset stores one IR (impulse response) for both the left and right channels, so the speaker simulation travels with the preset rather than being a separate always-on block.2
The O2 is not true bypass. AMT states that when in effect mode the series uses "partial" active bypass, which retains the original sound when the effect is off and reduces the need to minimize the length of the cable used after the pedal.1
Power
The pedal runs on 9-12v DC with a negative center pin, from an adapter or a battery, and AMT describes its power consumption as low.1 For players building a board, that means a standard center-negative supply or even a battery will run it.
Where it sits in the Legend Amp series
The O2 is one of a family of Legend Amp preamp pedals, each named for a style of amp it evokes. AMT's media center has published comparison videos that place the O2 among its siblings: one comparing the Legend amps V1, O2, C2 and B2 at medium-low gain, and another comparing the F1, V1 and O2 at light crunch.2 Players weighing the O2 against higher-gain siblings can look at the AMT P2 or the AMT R2, or at the AMT Preamp Switching System (V1, O2, P2, WH-1), which shares the same analog preamp with Clean, Low gain and High gain options.4
Videos
Brett Kingman
Mike Knight
Mike Knight
Questions
Does the AMT O2 run on a battery?
Yes. AMT specifies 9-12v DC power, negative center, from an adapter or a battery, so the O2 can be powered either way. The maker also describes the pedal as having low power consumption, which helps when running it from a battery or a shared supply with other pedals.
What voltage does the AMT O2 need?
AMT rates the O2 for 9-12v DC with a negative center pin. That means a standard 9V center-negative pedal supply works, and the pedal also accepts 12V. A battery is supported as well, so the O2 does not require an external adapter to run.
Is the AMT O2 true bypass?
No. AMT says the LA2 series uses partial active bypass when in effect mode. According to the maker, this retains the original sound when the effect is off and reduces the need to minimize the length of the cable used after the pedal.
What are the three outputs on the AMT O2 for?
The O2 has three outputs: CAB SIM OUT, PREAMP OUT and DRIVE OUT. That lets you send a cab-simulated signal, a preamp-level signal and a drive signal to different destinations, for example straight to a power amp or recording interface, to a separate cab sim, or into the front of another amp.
Does the AMT O2 have a cab simulator?
Yes. The O2 loads one impulse response (IR) for both the left and right channels per preset, so a speaker simulation can be stored with each preset and used at the CAB SIM OUT.
Where does the O2 fit in the AMT Legend Amp series?
The O2 belongs to the LA2 line, described by AMT as the next generation of the Legend Amp series of preamp pedals. Within the series it sits at the moderate-gain, Orange-style end: AMT has published comparison videos pairing the O2 with the V1, C2 and B2 at medium-low gain, and with the F1 and V1 at light crunch.
Sources (4)
- AMT O2 | AMT Electronics official website, AMT Electronics, 2026
- AMT O2 - Media center of AMT Electronics, Media center of AMT Electronics, 2016-03-28
- AMT Electronics : O2 Preamp & Effects Pedal, Media center of AMT Electronics
- AMT Preamp Switching System (V1, O2, P2, WH-1), Media center of AMT Electronics
