HeadRush MX5

The HeadRush MX5 is a compact floorboard guitar FX and amp modeling processor from HeadRush, a unit that puts amp models, cabinet simulations and effects into a single road-ready box small enough for a desktop, a studio or a pedalboard-side spot on stage¹. It runs on a custom-designed DSP system with multi-core processing, and HeadRush describes its models as simulations of sought-after vintage and modern gear with what the maker calls "unrivalled accuracy and authentic dynamic response"¹.

Launched on 17 August 2021 at a US retail price of $399², the MX5 arrived as the smallest member of HeadRush's floorboard line, below the larger Pedalboard. MusicRadar notes it retails for under half the price of its larger sibling³. It remains in the maker's current lineup.

What the MX5 does

The MX5 is a multi-effects unit that combines three jobs in one floorboard: amplifier modeling, cabinet and microphone simulation, and a large effects library. HeadRush's product page lists 52 amplifier models, 15 cabinets with 10 microphone emulations, 300 impulse responses and more than 74 effects¹. Published reviews count the library slightly differently: MusicRadar counted 50 guitar and bass amps, 15 speaker cabinet models and 66 effects models³, while Guitar World's review listed 50 amp models, 15 cab models, 10 virtual mics, 300 IRs and 65 effects⁶. The differences are in how each outlet grouped the models, not in the unit itself.

The effects cover the usual ground for a modeler of this kind, including overdrive, distortion, delay, reverb, chorus and wah, plus HeadRush originals such as a Detune modulation and a Stereo Doubler delay/reverb¹. MusicRadar also notes that the unit offers presets for the effects themselves as well as combined presets, with gapless switching between them³.

A built-in looper rounds out the feature set. Each loop has a maximum length of 5 minutes¹.

Touchscreen, footswitches and expression pedal

The MX5's interface centers on a 4-inch color touchscreen that serves as the main tool for creating and modifying patches, with drag-and-drop operation of the virtual rig components⁷. MusicRadar notes that the only other manual controls are an output volume knob and a rotary encoder dial³.

Three footswitches with RGB LED indicators handle switching duties⁵. The unit offers three footswitch modes, which HeadRush calls Stomp, Rig and Hybrid¹:

• Stomp mode: switches individual effects on and off, pedalboard-style
• Rig mode: switches between full presets
• Hybrid mode: mixes the two approaches

Holding footswitch 1 opens a menu where you select the footswitch mode, setlists, hands-free mode and display lock¹.

The built-in expression pedal has a toe switch that toggles between two banks, Expression Pedal A or B¹. How those banks behave depends on the mode you choose:

• In Classic mode, only one of the two assigned pedals is active at a time. HeadRush's example: assign a wah to Pedal A and a volume pedal to Pedal B, and only one is engaged at any moment¹.
• In Advanced mode, up to four parameters can be assigned to each expression pedal, A and B¹.

There is also a 1/4-inch TRS input for connecting an external expression pedal if you want more control surface than the built-in pedal provides¹.

Power and connections

The MX5 runs on a 12V DC power supply, which is included in the box⁵. That voltage is higher than what most compact pedals take, so the MX5 is not a candidate for a typical pedalboard daisy chain.

On the connection side, the unit offers¹⁵:

• 1 x 1/4" guitar input (stereo via a single jack)
• 2 x 1/4" TRS outputs, switchable between amp or line level
• 1 x 1/4" FX return (stereo via a single jack, switchable between rack and stomp level)
• MIDI In and Out/Thru, via included 1/8" to 5-pin adapters
• A 1/4" TRS input for an external expression pedal

The USB connection handles preset editing, guitar recording and reamping at up to 24-bit 96kHz, which means the MX5 doubles as a recording interface straight into a DAW³.

Amp models and the circuits behind them

The amplifier library spans vintage and modern circuits, and it includes bass amps alongside guitar amps. HeadRush's product page names several of the modeled circuits¹:

The bass models mean the MX5 works for bass players as well as guitarists, with the Ampeg-derived 66 FLIP BASS and the JCM800 bass mod giving dedicated starting points rather than repurposed guitar models¹.

Cab simulation can be done two ways: with the 15 modeled cabinets and 10 mic emulations, or with impulse responses. The unit ships with 300 IRs and supports virtually unlimited user IR storage at 1024 and 2048 sample lengths¹, so players who prefer third-party cabinet captures can load their own.

What reviewers said

MusicRadar's review was positive on the whole, praising the form factor, the workflow and the amp emulations³:

The same review carried a reservation: not all of the MX5's effects were, in MusicRadar's view, as inspiring as the ones found in competitor units from Boss or Line 6³. Guitar World's review, by Alex Lynham, listed the feature set at 50 amp models, 15 cab models, 10 virtual mics, 300 IRs and 65 effects, priced at $/£399⁶.

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