Boss has recently launched the Katana:GO, a compact headphone amplifier that incorporates the renowned Katana tones from its best-selling amplifier series into a small, easily portable jack unit.
Introduced in 2016, the original Katana series was Boss’s foray into amplifier manufacturing, quickly gaining popularity for the quality of its tones. The Katana series has not only become a preferred choice for practice amps but has also seen a rise in its use on stage by various guitarists.
The Katana:GO is designed to be incredibly portable, fitting easily into a gig bag or even a headphone case, without compromising on space. It offers a range of 10 amp models, including clean, crunch, and the high-gain brown type inspired by EVH, as well as dedicated bass amp models. In addition to these, the Katana:GO features a comprehensive effects library from Boss, covering delay, reverb, modulation, and pitch effects. Users also have the option to customize their experience further using the Boss Tone Studio app.
A unique feature of the Katana:GO is the incorporation of Boss’s spatial technology, previously experienced in the Waza-Air headphones. This technology offers three ‘stage feel’ options—Studio, Stage, and Custom—to create an immersive audio experience by adjusting the positioning of the ‘amp’ and backing tracks within the stereo field.
The Boss Tone Studio app enhances the Katana:GO’s functionality by enabling users to stream YouTube clips through the app for headphone playback, along with their guitar audio. The app also provides features such as slowing down, looping, and timestamping tracks for practice purposes.
The Katana:GO distinguishes itself from competitors like the Fender Mustang Micro and Positive Grid Spark GO by offering significant control directly on the unit itself. It includes a built-in tuner, stage feel control, three memory bank buttons, and a patch browsing flick-switch, alongside the main dial, complete with a display. This design ensures that practice sessions can continue even without a phone.
The unit is USB-C rechargeable, promising five hours of playtime, and doubles as a portable audio interface. Initial impressions suggest that the spatial audio feature of the Katana:GO enhances the headphone practice experience by providing a more natural sense of movement from the amp models.
The Katana:GO is priced at $119. Further information is available on the Boss website.
