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Is the Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor worth it, or should I buy a cheaper alternative?

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Answered by Roadie

The Boss NS-2 is worth considering if unwanted noise between phrases is a regular problem, but it isn’t an essential purchase for every pedalboard. At the supplied £99 best new price, it’s worth comparing with the £21 Behringer NR300.

Buy a noise suppressor to solve a problem you can actually hear. Before spending on the Boss NS-2, check your cables and power supply: suppressing noise isn’t the same as fixing its source.

The Behringer NR300 Noise Reduction Pedal is the cheaper alternative in this selection, at £21 versus £99 for the NS-2. That makes it worth investigating on a tight budget, though price alone doesn’t establish how either pedal will behave with your rig.

If possible, try both with your usual settings and listen to quiet notes and sustained chords as they fade. You want quieter gaps without cutting off notes you meant to keep. The best-value used guitar pedals list is also worth checking, although an NS-2 listing isn’t guaranteed.

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This answer is based on MyGear's own catalogue, price and list data on these pages:

  1. Behringer Behringer NR300 Noise Reduction Pedal — prices and offers
  2. Boss Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor Guitar Pedal — prices and offers
  3. Check out this gear: Best-value used guitar pedals

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