Death by Audio Reverberation Machine - versions, eras, variations?

[del]

I recently read reference to there being different versions/eras of the Reverberation Machine. With more recent models having some different tonal quality (less lo-fi muffled, maybe? less pre-delay?) than earlier models.

I can't find any formal confirmation about this - though I can hear lots of variation among the online demos out in the world (as much as online demos are reasonable representations at all of this sort of pedal).

It's a pedal I've really grown to like and I'm eager to learn any information/thoughts any of you might have!

[Pacafeliz]

I want a Rooms model oh so badly... but man i won't spend that kinda dough on an effect...

[beansfordays]

I can confirm there are at least two circuit versions. The original circuit seems to have been used for many years up until around 2021 - 2022. I believe the current version is "V5", which is completely different than the original circuit, and not in a good way. They basically killed the reverb and distortion and turned it into a bass boost machine that makes some slapback echo noises in the background (the newer ones really seem to be geared towards runaway noisy drones, rather than music). The easiest way to identify the crap new versions is by the power jack. The good ones used an enclosure-mounted power jack. The "V5" ones have a square-shaped pcb-mounted power jack with a round hole cut out of the enclosure to kind-of get to it. Some power plugs no doubt won't fit all the way in because the face of the jack is buried behind the thickness of the enclosure. Another mistake. The quality has really gone downhill. The power jack tends to get solder cracks and malfunction since it basically has no support anymore. The whole pcb has changed to garbage SMD components like so many manufactures who've gone cheap . My guess is that the new ones have PCBs that are made in China and then the final assembly is done in New York. If you're going to buy one, make sure to get a pre-2020 one when the Reverberation Machine was awesome. The easiest way is to look at the handwriting on the inside of the enclosure lid. If somebody won't let you see the manufacture date, or it's after 2020....hard pass.

[OffYourFace]

I want a Rooms model oh so badly... but man i won't spend that kinda dough on an effect...

i hear ya. I liked the one i had but i didn't like it thru my guitar amps. it was too... hifi? The boss RV-6 sounded much better with my JM and '70s Deluxe Reverb. But The Rooms sounds amazing in the FX loop of my '73 Fender Rhodes or with a synth. It doesn't work on a mixer aux send unfortunately, wrong impedance. It gets absolutely pummeled into distortion that way.