Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100 [2023 Review]

Having a good guitar effect pedal has become a necessity for guitar players who perform regularly and want to create the best sound they can. With an effect pedal, you can add different effects and amp models to the original sound of your guitar. This really allows you to create your own sound and let out your creativity.

The Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100 are two choices to consider if you are looking for a reliable guitar effects pedal. Both of them can offer a lot of power and features and both Zoom and Boss are well-known brands in the market. They are very famous and their products are well-known and getting positive reviews all the time.

Plus, you will be able to keep up with new genres or adapt to old ones. There are a variety of guitar effects pedals available . From basic ones to more complex ones, you can find whether it fits your taste and needs. There are plenty of choices in the market after all.

However, some of you might wonder which one is better than the other so we will try to find that out in this Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100 review. If you are interested in these models, keep reading our Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100 review for more information below.

We will be exploring their features to help you out if you cannot decide between Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100.

Zoom G5N Guitar Multi-Effects Processor Review

Features: The G5N is Zoom’s one of the best pedalboards and it has been getting regularly updated. It is included with lots of effects for some fun times for guitar players. It has a headphone output, onboard drum rhythms, an 80-second looper, and an aux input for a music player.

All of these features make it a good fit for home use . In addition to that, it can also be used on the stage. While using it on stage, you can plug this floor pedal right into a PA and get the best amp and speaker sims. Or, if you prefer, you can use this as a full pedalboard right in front of your amp.

You can run up to nine simultaneous effects per patch. Zoom G5N comes with 200 memory locations spread across 50 banks of four, so you will have lots of space for yourself.

Zoom claims that G5N will be regularly updated with regular updates to add new amps and effects models. You can use this floor pedal in live situations since it comes with a well-thought-out switching setup.

One of the switches also provides tuner control, tap tempo, and a scrolling feature. You can use that to your advantage and adjust your own settings. The effects area has all overdrive and distortion effects you could need, and all of them are pretty fun to experiment with.

Boss GT 100

Features: Boss GT 100’s manual mode is exceptional with fuller fx and more natural sounds. It is switched on by hitting two pedals together so you do not need to move for that. Also, you can use a tuner in the same way.

Boss added Overdrive/Distortion to the FX section of GT 100, so now you can have two different OD/DS sounds in manual mode. In addition to that, you can use a looper in this mode, and this only requires 1 pedal.

Boss GT 100 comes with a dual-screen that makes everything a lot easier. GT100 operates in -10db only, for plugging into an amp, but in the input-output menu, you can switch that to +4db.

Overall, we can say that Boss GT 100 is for people who are looking for a small floor pedal.

The GT 100’s basic concept is to make it much simpler for users. It has been released after the GT 10 and it is supposed to be a better version.  As we have mentioned before, it has two screens. It has the latest COSM processor and new vintage sounds which we really liked.

This unit includes a looper and a USB port for connecting to your computer, which sounds efficient and convenient. Unfortunately, it has limited memory so you need to make the most of what you have. The build quality of Boss GT 100 is of high quality and looks like it can last a long time.

Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100 Comparison

The Zoom G5N might feel a little lighter than Boss GT 100. This might make you think that Zoom is worse than Boss GT 100 since it is lighter but that is totally not the case. If you think Zoom G5N is inferior to Boss GT 100, you should keep reading and find out why it is not.

The Boss GT 100 has a total of eight footswitches on the board, so you can spend your time having fun and exploring. You have a lot of room to let your creativity out there. A pair of display screens are located in the middle, and you will have no problems reading it from a distance.

A row of control knobs can be found underneath the display panel. The housing has a tough and solid feel to it.

The Zoom G5N, on the other hand, has nine footswitches. The four dedicated LCD displays are what we have liked the most about this pedal. Each screen has its own set of controls. Thanks to that, you can easily adjust and control different settings. The only problem is, the screen is a little small so reading the font is a little difficult.

Both standard guitar tunings, including open and drop tunings, are supported by the onboard chromatic tuner on the Zoom G5N. The tuner has a frequency range of 435 to 445 Hz. There is also a dedicated footswitch for Tap Tempo.

You can find 68 built-in rhythm patterns that can be used with the looper and the looper has an 80-second recording capacity.

The Zoom G5N cannot be controlled by batteries and must be run on the AC adapter, while you can make Boss GT 100 work with batteries.

The Boss GT 100 has a looper built-in as well, but it can only record for 38 seconds. The looper can allow for limitless overdubs with this pedal and a chromatic tuner and metronome are included with the price.

There are 78 built-in effects on the Zoom G5N, including 68 DSP effects, 5-amp models, and 5 cabinet models. If you want, you can order up to nine effects with this pedal and use 200 memory slots as you wish. The Boss GT 100, on the other hand, has 44 built-in effects.

Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100 Dimensions and Size

The Boss GT 100’s width, depth, and height are 542 mm, 271 mm, and 80 mm, and it weighs about 4.8 kg. The Boss GT 100 would not be your first choice to travel with due to its bulky and heavy properties.

Zoom G5N, on the other hand, is 454 mm wide, 225 mm deep, and 75 mm tall. It weighs approximately 3.4 kg. Of course, we are not saying that it is the smallest and the most lightweight option available, but it would be a great choice for the ones looking for a lightweight pro pedalboard.

No matter what, Zoom G5N wins the debate by being the lighter option between these two.

Winner of Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100: Zoom G5N

Zoom’s features are generally superior to Boss’s. The sound quality of Zoom is more realistic and it can give you a less compressed sound.  We are not saying that Boss’s effects are all bad, they are just not as good as Zoom’s.

We recommend buying Zoom G5N because of the output of the effects if you cannot decide between Zoom G5N vs Boss. In addition to that, it is more lightweight and has USB ports.

If you need to create custom effects or additional connectors, the Boss GT 100 is might be the one to buy, though. However, if you will be doing some live performances, Zoom G5N is ideal thanks to the fact that the built-in looper can record longer.

Conclusion: Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100 [2023 Review]

Both the Zoom G5N and the Boss GT 100 are advanced guitar effects pedals with numerous buttons. They might look quite big but that is natural for the features they have in them, you will be surprised how much they contain in these little boxes.

Overall, we recommend both of them for various reasons, but if you cannot decide between these two, we recommend buying the Zoom G5N since it is a better buy than Boss GT 100. We hope you liked our Zoom G5N vs Boss GT 100 review and it was helpful.