The Universal Audio OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator is a compact pedal that provides speaker, cabinet, mic and room emulation with studio effects, announced on 26 September 2023 as the 14th pedal release in the company's UAFX range12. Universal Audio describes it as giving "amp-in-a-box" modelers "a packed pro studio full of authentic-sounding gui[tar]" tones, and positions its Dynamic Speaker Modeling as the feature that "convincingly emulates speaker breakup, drive, and cone cry"1. It is the pedal version of the company's OX Amp Top Box: the attenuation and load box functions of the OX Box are dropped, and the line-level-only OX Stomp focuses on speaker, mic and room emulation at the end of the signal chain2.
What it does for a player
The OX Stomp sits at the end of a pedalboard and turns an amp-like signal into the sound of a miked guitar speaker in a room. Where the larger OX Amp Top Box also handles attenuation and speaker loading for a real amp, the OX Stomp is line level only, so it is aimed at players using amp emulation pedals, amp modelers, or an amp's line out rather than a speaker output2.
Guitar World's reviewer described the result as "dazzlingly authentic speaker and miked room tones", saying UA's Dynamic Speaker Emulation "truly lives up to its name"3. On That Pedal Show and elsewhere the pedal has been covered as part of the wider UAFX line; MusicRadar's Rob Laing, writing at announcement, suggested the 14th UAFX pedal "has the potential to be UA's most universally appealing piece of guitar hardware" for pedalboards2.
Controls and setup
The unit carries Room, Speaker and two Mic level controls, alongside five selectable Rig preset slots on the pedal itself2. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio highlighted "a Speaker Drive knob that allows you to simulate the sound of the input of the cabinet breaking up", the control behind the pedal's dynamic speaker behavior4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speaker Drive | Simulates the sound of the input of the cabinet breaking up4 |
| Room level | Sets the room portion of the emulation2 |
| Speaker level | Sets the speaker portion of the emulation2 |
| Mic levels (two) | Set the two microphone signals2 |
| Rig presets | Five selectable preset slots on the unit itself2 |
The OX Stomp requires a 400mA isolated power supply, which is sold separately2. That draw rules out most daisy-chain supplies and standard low-current outputs, so plan the board's power around it.
How it differs from the alternatives
The OX Stomp is one of several speaker simulation pedals in pedal format, alongside units like the Strymon Iridium, the Two Notes Torpedo C.A.B. and the NUX Solid Studio. Its distinguishing feature, per Universal Audio, is Dynamic Speaker Modeling of speaker breakup, drive and cone cry, plus built-in studio effects and room emulation in one stereo pedal12.
Guitar World's review notes the pedal format lets users configure a pedalboard fly rig with an amp emulation pedal like the UAFX Lion '68 or Dream '65 Reverb-Amp, or with an amp head and reactive load box, an amp's line out with speaker load, or amp modeling hardware and software3.
What reviewers said
- MusicRadar's Rob Laing, at announcement, called it potentially "UA's most universally appealing piece of guitar hardware" for pedalboards2.
- Guitar World's reviewer found the speaker and miked room tones "dazzlingly authentic" and true to the product's name3.
- Pedal of the Day, reviewing in January 2024, wrote: "We've loved every single UAFX pedal that has come through our shop these last few years, and the OX Stomp Dynamic Speake[r]" continued that streak with ease5.
MusicRadar's full review also weighs in on the OX Stomp's overall standing, finding that the pedal, the company's 14th release, "has the potential to be UA's most universally appealing piece of guitar hardware" for pedalboards2.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Sweetwater
Universal Audio
Sources (5)
- OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator Pedal, Universal Audio
- The missing piece for your ultimate pedalboard rig? Universal Audio announces the OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator pedal, MusicRadar, 2023-09-26
- UAFX OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator review, Guitar World, 2024-01-31
- UAFX Universal Audio OX Stomp, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-04
- Universal Audio OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator, Pedal of the Day, 2024-01-25
