Arena 2000

I was looking for a multi-effects pedal when I came across this one. I have a lot of Donner products and have been quite pleased with their products. This pedal really outdoes some of the others available. The screen is easy to read, and after taking time to learn how to control things, it is quite intuitive. The sounds are really good as well. I do wish they made a list available of all the built-in effects. This pedal is almost perfect for those looking for a budget-friendly unit.Compared to some of the other pedals I researched, there were some really good advantages to this one:* The display makes it easy to see all of the settings.* Clicking on the selected button enters stomp mode where you can turn on/off two effects. Those effects are listed on the display so you know what you are controlling.* The expression pedal can switch between two actions (switch off for volume, switch on for wah, vibrato, or whatever effect you have assigned - you can set both on and off effects).* Balanced XRL and unbalanced TRS outputs.* Separate volume controls for XRL, TRS, and headphones!* Hold the active button down to switch to the tuner, which is very easy to read.* Settings to adjust the input levels.* Cab modes can be enabled/disabled per output option.* Easy to change the chain order.* Five dials to adjust effect controls.* Mobile and desktop apps to control the device (mobile apps via Bluetooth as well!)!* Ability to add 50 IRs.The only quirk I had to get used to was the touch buttons. The screen isn't a touchscreen, but the mod category buttons are. You have to be aware of where they are when using the dials. If you finger rubs the screen, you can end up either changing to a different effect, or turning one on/off. The input port is closer to the right side of the unit, which is definitely not like most pedals, but not really an issue.The only thing I wish they did was make a bass model, or had an option for bass effects via firmware. I keep looking for a similar bass version, and there are very few in this budget category. The controls are so easy to use for guitar. I have a separate pedal for bass effects - it's just not as intuitive as the Arena 2000. If they ever came out with a bass model, I'll be adding that as well!

I own tons of boutique gear. This pedal is cheap, but tons of features. It is so simple that rather than striving to emulate real life, it instead gives you a sandbox. This enables true creativity and unbounded by traditional rational setups and is the #1 reason I bought this pedal after substantial research and YouTube videos.Pros: unlimited flexibility with pedal fx order, smart phone control is simple and painless and significantly adds to the value of the device, can run dual expression pedals and assign to ANY parameter allowing for unique forms of expression and sounds, some pedal fx are absolutely stellar and nearly identical to my boutique counterparts including distortions, lightweight and reasonable durable with exception to attached expression pedal.Cons: Must have external power, remember to lock Bluetooth if playing live to prevent someone else taking control of your unit, only serial signal chains not parallel ability or amp “effects loop”.Overall incredible value that fulfills its niche application almost perfectly and is a welcome addition to my permanent soundboard worth several thousand $$$$

** Update #2: The folks at Donner reached out to me after my initial review and really made it a point to work with me by respectfully asking for a chance to make things right. They sent me another device – and this one sounds and performs much better. I retract my earlier statement about the FVACM technology – although it doesn’t provide a complete tube like feel, it does a great job making the digital platform more organic and warm sounding than one would expect. Also completely remedied is the XLR output issue I experienced. In fact, I got a great acoustic tone with an acoustic amp selection and going XLR direct to a PA. Still very impressed with the smartphone app to modify settings. This really is a great value and I will be gigging with this again very soon.** Update: I did use this on a gig tonight after being encouraged using the Arena 2000 with a different amp of mine. And I feel I had great results. It really cut through the mix and delivered enough grit and bite to cut through the mix and make me satisfied overall. This was previously at a 2/5 rating, but it’s now up to 3/5 after tonight’s success....but I'm a primarily roots rock/blues rock player.I'll give Donner this – they really seem to know how to target prospective buyers. This showed up in my social media feeds and web searches for days – I'm not complaining; that's the world we live in now. And one high profile guitar magazine gave this a 4.0/5.0 rating – and that was enough to get me to start giving this serious consideration. Although the device is digital, it's advertised FVACM technology to reduce the "plastic taste" intrigued me. After all, my amps are analog solid state and technology is advancing in capturing warmer, responsive tones without the need for tubes and such.— Before I go further, allow to share that I purchased this *with my own money*. I went through an affiliate link on a YouTube review of this and used a coupon that was available but I have not been in contact with anyone from Donner.First of all, the footprint of this is ideal. My primary multi effect pedal is probably 2.5x the size as the Arena 2000 – maybe more. And the construction is solid.The interface is impressive and intuitive; while the display may appear a little dated, I didn't have much of a learning curve at all in navigating, changing the order of effects, saving and making presets. The companion smartphone app is also a huge plus; it connects to the unit via Bluetooth and simultaneously adjusts levels, settings, names and more. With my primary rig, I usually have to get on the floor to trust knobs and save patches. It's too bad there's not something like this for my rig; my back and knees would really appreciate it.Well, you've probably already figured out... this has not replaced my primary rig. Although there are some usable tones, it lacks warmth and depth. The advertised FVACM technology doesn't seem to have much impact.The day that I received this, I scored a "pick up" gig that night with my blues rock band and thought it would be a great opportunity to try this in a live setting. The intuitiveness of this device made it a breeze to dial in a tone that I felt was definitely useable. But it wasn't totally convincing. I left the possibility open that maybe I was being too critical.Another big plus of this: Instrument cable in, instrument cable out, power it on and you're ready to go. Although I pointed it out earlier, it bears mentioning that this can feasibly go in a gig bag.Back to the gig: Everything about it is going well, and the tone is fine but lacking warmth and depth. Midway through, I turn to our front man and point out the new Arena 2000 and ask his thoughts on the tone. His response: "It sounds cold." Unfortunately, I had to agree.I've since worked with it more, but just can't get it to go with my style of playing. Those into heavy rock, metal, and even emo, R&B, Funk, and Hip-Hop might find this to be very useable. But to me, the effects their models are based on sound like distant cousins twice removed.Another point, and this is in it's favor: there's practically every kind of connection type available: 1/4", 1/8", XLR, USB, MIDI. However, I encountered a disappointing drawback to this which hopefully may be isolated to this particular unit I received. I ran two XLR cables to my PA and worked with an acoustic-electric. I was getting to the point where I was getting a tone that was encouraging enough to take this on an acoustic duo gig. Unfortunately, a loud 'pop' occurred and a very significant drop in volume came as a result. I thought this might have been a fluke so I went back to this process a couple of days later and... very same result. That really bummed me out because my partner in my acoustic duo will occasion kick in a low overdrive and even a wah and I was hoping to have a similar result.This is also powered by a simple 9V – meaning your pedal power supply is sufficient and doesn't need anything proprietary. (Thank you Donner for this!)More plusses: it's tuner is easy to read and accurate. Adding additional effects to presets on the fly again is very simple – I really did enjoy having my base tone and assigning two of the foot button controls to tremolo, boost, chorus, etc. My multi effects unit isn't this user friendly. Furthermore, the multi-function treadle for wah, volume, parameters is really responsive, practical, and can be engaged without hard pressing – small size notwithstanding.I have used the drum beats that are included – and they are fine, although nothing that made me want to go further or return back to them on a regular basis. The looper I found to be user friendly.At the end of the day, I just can't get around the rather one-dimensional tones for my style of playing. Everything else about this though is smartly designed and efficient – Donner really took a great approach here but the tones and the XLR issue described above have had this largely residing in my gear storage.