The BOSS RV-5 vs RV-6 vs RV-500 comparison is interesting because these three pedals are technically from the same family, but they do not feel like three versions of the exact same thing.
The RV-5 is the older compact pedal with one very famous trick. The RV-6 is the more modern compact version with more modes and a more practical feature set. Then there is the RV-500, which is less of a simple stompbox and more of a full reverb workstation.
So the question is not just which one is “best.”
That would be too easy, and guitar gear is not allowed to be easy.
The better question is: which one makes the most sense for the way you actually use reverb?
For this comparison, I tested the BOSS RV-5, BOSS RV-6 and BOSS RV-500 side by side, trying to match some of the shared sounds as closely as I could. The main focus was the famous Modulate sound, because that is where the RV-5 still has a serious reputation, but I also compared the shimmer sounds on the RV-6 and RV-500.
Disclaimer: Mikko lent me the RV-5 for this video, and Tampereen Musiikki provided the RV-500 for testing. The RV-6 was already part of my own setup.
Why Compare These Three BOSS Reverbs?
BOSS reverb pedals have been around for a long time, and these three units represent very different points in that story.
The RV-5 is now discontinued, but people still talk about it because of the Modulate mode. That one sound has become the reason many players still look for the pedal used, even though newer options exist.
The RV-6 is the obvious compact successor. It keeps the normal BOSS pedal format, adds more modern sounds, and feels like the most sensible everyday reverb pedal of the three.
The RV-500 is something else entirely. It has way more control, presets, MIDI, deep editing, dual reverb options and enough features to keep a person happily distracted for a very long time.
Or slightly overwhelmed.
Possibly both.
That is why this comparison is more interesting than just “old pedal vs new pedal.” These three pedals approach reverb from different angles.
The RV-5 has the vibe. The RV-6 has the practicality. The RV-500 has the power.
The Test Setup
For this BOSS RV-5 vs RV-6 vs RV-500 comparison, I kept the setup simple.
I used my Telecaster straight into the three BOSS reverbs. From there, the signal went into the clean channel of the Joyo Meteor. The amp then went into a Torpedo Reload, and I used the Wall of Sound plugin in Logic for cabinet simulation.
The idea was not to create the most perfect studio reverb sound ever recorded by mankind.
The point was to hear how these pedals behave in the same basic signal chain and how close I could get the similar sounds to each other. With pedals like these, especially when one of them is much deeper than the others, matching settings perfectly is not really possible.
So this is not a scientific test.
It is more of a practical guitar player test, which is usually the kind of test I care about more anyway.
BOSS RV-5: The Cult Classic With One Magic Mode
The BOSS RV-5 is the oldest pedal in this comparison, and in many ways it feels like it.
It is simple, compact and very much from that classic BOSS digital pedal era. You get the usual controls, a handful of reverb modes and stereo operation. Nothing about the format is complicated.
But the reason people still talk about the RV-5 is the Modulate mode.
That is the sound that seems to have made a lot of players fall in love with this pedal. It has a slightly bright, dreamy and detuned character that feels different from a normal hall or plate reverb. It is not just adding space around the note. It adds movement and a bit of texture.
There is also a certain graininess to it, at least compared to newer pedals. I do not mean that as a criticism. In fact, that might be part of the charm.
The RV-5 Modulate sound does not feel like a perfectly polished modern studio reverb. It has a bit of personality. It can get wet, bright and slightly strange in a way that makes the guitar feel more atmospheric without needing a huge pedalboard full of ambient machinery.
That is probably why it still has a following.
The RV-5 is not the most versatile pedal here. It does not have shimmer, deep editing, presets or modern conveniences. But if the Modulate mode is the thing you want, it still makes a strong case for itself.
Sometimes one great sound is enough to keep a pedal alive.
BOSS RV-6: The Practical Compact Upgrade
The BOSS RV-6 feels like the sensible upgrade.
It keeps the compact BOSS format, but gives you more modern reverb options. Alongside the standard room, hall, plate and spring-style sounds, you also get Modulate, Shimmer, Dynamic and Delay+Reverb modes.
That already makes it much more flexible than the RV-5.
The interesting thing is that the RV-6 also has a Modulate mode, but it does not feel exactly like the RV-5. To my ears, the RV-6 version is a bit more controlled and polished. It is still lush and musical, but it does not quite have the same slightly grainy cult-character as the RV-5.
That is not automatically a bad thing.
For many players, the RV-6 will probably be the better practical pedal. It is easier to recommend as an all-round reverb because it does more. You can use it for subtle room sounds, bigger halls, shimmer textures, dynamic reverb and delay-plus-reverb sounds without needing a larger unit.
It also feels like the pedal you would buy if you simply want one compact reverb that covers a lot of ground.
The RV-5 might win on one very specific sound. The RV-6 wins on overall usefulness.
That is a very BOSS kind of victory.
BOSS RV-500: The Big Reverb Workstation
The BOSS RV-500 is the most powerful pedal in this comparison by a large margin.
It is also the least immediate.
That is not really a criticism. It just means the RV-500 is trying to do a different job. Where the RV-5 and RV-6 are compact pedals with mode knobs, the RV-500 is a full reverb workstation with presets, deep editing, MIDI, dual reverb possibilities and a lot more control over what is happening.
It can do normal reverb types, big ambient sounds, shimmer, special effects, Space Echo-style sounds and much more. You can shape things in a way that simply is not possible on the smaller pedals.
But there is one funny thing in this specific comparison.
The RV-500 does not have a simple mode called “Modulate” in the same way the RV-5 and RV-6 do. So when I wanted to compare the famous Modulate sound, I had to browse through the presets, find something in the same general direction, and then add modulation and adjust things from there.
That says a lot about the RV-500.
It can probably get you closer to almost anything if you are willing to edit. But it does not always give you that instant “turn the knob and there it is” experience.
The RV-500 is the most capable unit here. No question. But capability and immediacy are not always the same thing.
Comparing the Modulate Sounds
The Modulate comparison is probably the most important part of this whole test.
That is because the RV-5 has such a strong reputation in this area. People do not usually buy an RV-5 because it is the most modern or most flexible reverb pedal available. They buy it because they want that Modulate sound.
And I understand why.
The RV-5 Modulate mode has a slightly older digital character that works really well for dreamy clean guitar. It feels wide, bright and animated. There is a bit of movement in the tail, but it does not feel like a chorus pedal slapped on top of the whole signal.
The RV-6 Modulate mode is cleaner and more controlled. It still sounds good, and in some situations it may actually be easier to use because it feels a bit less wild. If you want a smoother modulated reverb in a compact pedal, the RV-6 does a great job.
The RV-500 can be shaped into a similar world, but it takes more effort. You have to build the sound instead of simply selecting a mode called Modulate. That gives you more control, but it also removes some of the instant charm.
So if I had to describe them quickly, I would say this:
The RV-5 has the most character. The RV-6 is the most practical compact version. The RV-500 is the most adjustable.
None of those are bad things.
They just serve different players.
Comparing the Shimmer Sounds
The RV-5 does not have a shimmer mode, so this part of the comparison is really between the RV-6 and RV-500.
The RV-6 shimmer is easy to use and very immediate. You turn to the Shimmer mode, adjust the controls, and you are in that bright, spacious, octave-wash world pretty quickly.
It can be beautiful, but as with all shimmer sounds, restraint helps.
A little shimmer can make a clean part feel wide and emotional. Too much shimmer can make it sound like the guitar is being pulled into heaven without consent.
The RV-500 shimmer gives you more control. That is the big advantage. You can shape the sound more deeply, adjust the way it sits, and make it more specific to the part.
But again, you have to be willing to edit.
For players who want a quick shimmer sound in a normal compact pedal, the RV-6 is probably the easier choice. For players who want to fine-tune shimmer as part of a preset-based ambient setup, the RV-500 makes more sense.
Which One Sounds Best?
This is where I have to give the annoying answer.
It depends.
The RV-5 might be the most charming. There is something about that Modulate sound that still works. It is not the most modern, and it is not the most flexible, but it has a vibe.
The RV-6 is probably the best compact all-rounder. It gives you the most useful mix of simplicity, sound quality and mode selection in the normal BOSS stompbox format.
The RV-500 is obviously the most powerful. If you want presets, MIDI, deeper editing and big ambient possibilities, it is the strongest option here by far.
But if you only need one reverb sound for a simple pedalboard, the RV-500 might be overkill.
That is the real lesson here.
The biggest pedal is not always the right pedal.
Which BOSS Reverb Should You Choose?
Choose the BOSS RV-5 if you specifically want that older Modulate sound.
That is the reason to buy it. If you find one used and the price makes sense, the RV-5 still has a certain magic. I would not buy it because it is the most complete reverb pedal. I would buy it because it does that one thing in a way people still care about.
Choose the BOSS RV-6 if you want the easiest compact recommendation.
For most players, this is probably the sensible choice. It is small, reliable, flexible and simple. It gives you enough modern sounds without turning reverb into homework.
Choose the BOSS RV-500 if you want the big workstation.
If you use presets, MIDI, multiple reverb sounds, deep editing or ambient sound design, the RV-500 makes the most sense. It is not as immediate as the compact pedals, but it gives you far more control.
That is the whole comparison in a nutshell.
RV-5 for vibe. RV-6 for practicality. RV-500 for power.
Final Thoughts on BOSS RV-5 vs RV-6 vs RV-500
After comparing the BOSS RV-5 vs RV-6 vs RV-500, I do not think there is a clear universal winner.
And that is probably a good thing.
The RV-5 still has a reason to exist because of the Modulate mode. It is older, simpler and less versatile, but that one sound has personality.
The RV-6 is the compact pedal I would recommend to most people. It gives you a strong set of sounds in a normal BOSS enclosure and does not ask too much from you.
The RV-500 is the serious option. It is deeper, more powerful and much more flexible. But it also asks you to spend more time with it.
So the choice really comes down to how you use reverb.
If you want one inspiring modulated sound, the RV-5 still makes sense.
If you want a compact reverb that covers a lot of ground, the RV-6 is probably the best pick.
If reverb is a major part of your sound and you want full control, the RV-500 is the obvious choice.
Personally, I like that all three have a different personality. The RV-5 has the charm, the RV-6 has the everyday usefulness, and the RV-500 has the “I could spend the entire evening editing this patch” energy.
Which may or may not be a healthy lifestyle.
Either way, it is a very BOSS way to solve the same problem three different ways.
And yes, ending the test with a majestic G chord through all three reverbs at once was probably the correct scientific method.
Yay.
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