Walrus Audio Vanguard Dual Phase

Walrus Audio’s Vanguard puts a new twist on an old idea, with an emphasis on the word “twist.” The old idea is combining two independent phase shifters in one box. But the Vanguard’s tones and features are quite distinct from such analog precedents as the 1970s Mu-Tron Bi-Phase, the rare but revered Lovetone Doppelganger from the ’90s, and MXR’s simple but effective Phase 99. Instead, Vanguard is an unapologetically digital effect. It doesn’t replicate the cushy, immersive sound of a good analog phaser, but has an edgier modern character. And it offers an array of options you won’t find on most analog phasers, including true stereo operation, remote and expression controls, and fresh-sounding bi-phased colors.