Broughton Studio One vs JHS Color Box v2

[Uncle Walt]

Has anyone else had a chance to shoot out these two console gain pedals?

I think I prefer the Colorbox, am I crazy?

The Broughton is super rare and has great collector and trade value for sure. I also love Josh and his stuff, and realize that Broughton has a much "better" reputation than JHS in the boutique pedal space. When I first got the Studio One, I thought it was a forever pedal in my arsenal. However, once I got my hands on the ColorBox, I was shocked by its performance. They both have that "everything is better" quality and both do a great job replicating the Neve 1073 gain stage. However, Color Box has way more control over the input and more gain stages. The Hi/Lo gain and step control on the CB lets you get into really dirty OD territory that the Studio One can't replicate. The ColorBox also has a fully parametric EQ, where the S1 is only parametric for the mids. The S1 has Hi and Lo pass filters where the CB only has a Hi-pass and I do like shaving off those freqs above 11k, so score one for the Broughton. Overall, the CB just seems more flexible.

I've only had the second version of the Color Box and I hear the v1 had some switch noise issues but I haven't had any of those types of problems. Price-wise the MSRP of Color Box is a lot more than the Broughton but good luck finding an S1 for MSRP. I've both bought and sold multiple S1s for more than $500 and you can pick up a used ColorBox v2 for under $400.

I currently have one of each and I'm seriously considering selling off the S1 and keeping only the Color Box. Is that an insane thing to do? If so, why?

 

[gh0st42]

Not crazy at all!

Everybody has different needs and use cases, and if the Color Box gets it done for you, then that's the right choice!

I actually prefer the Studio One because of it's simplicity while still packing a lot of features into a small enclosure.

Both HPF and LPF earns it major points for me, and I find the shelving EQ and single mid Parametric fits what I need.

I've been down the "ALL the paremetric eq bands!!" path, and personally found it overwhelming in a too many options and knobs to fiddle with kind of way. Too many parametric bands and you start getting into weird interactions between them if they overlap, that aren't always desirable.

Same with the single control for gain.

I like it to be quick and easy to dial in the tone I'm looking for, with the least amount of knobs possible, while still having the flexibility I want.

Studio One hits that sweet spot for me.

Just enough control to get the job done and be flexible, without overwhelming option anxiety.

 

[mikeGJ]

I’ve been using a Hudson Broadcast in this role. JHS Colourbox seemed “too much” for my needs.

May have to explore the JHS. Broadcast is good, though.

 

[never-enough]

I’ve had a v2 colorbox for a while, and I quite like it.

I really like that it has xlr input so that I can use it as a mic pre.
That’s really how I prefer to use it.
I use it in a rack or on a desk so the size doesn’t bother me.

the studio one appears to me to be a perfect pedalboard di solution, as I like a colorful di and high/lowpass filters at the end of my chain but don’t have much space left over.

the answer, like usual, is both.

 

[Luke the Fluke]

couple years on @Uncle Walt how is it getting on? I notice you're selling/sold a API transformer LX too so that must have been in the mix too.
I've a colourbox v2 and like it for clean end of chain DI - like the eq and even off the transformers do nice things to the tone... I didn't like the API when I tried it briefly. My ideal preamp is the Warwick Hellborg preamp I should never have sold - but it wasn't pedalboard friendly!!

 

[Krisfield]

There's a 10th anniversary Color Box v2, available until the end of the year. Got the 1073 aesthetic.