Line 6 Echo Pro alternative for TC2290?

The 2290 is a legendary effect and it's signature "ducking" sounds are hard to replicate.  There are lots of rack delays out there that are awesome and affordable.  The Chandler SDE echo units are very desirable and supposedly mimic a tape echo very well for around $250 used.  A lot of guys like their Eventide stuff so perhaps a used Eclipse would be a good option?  For the money that a 2290 runs, you could get an Eclipse which offers tons more effects.

In my opinion (and I choose the words carefully) this is like comparing driving a Porsche 911 to driving a Porsche 911 on a Grand Tourismo game.

The TC 2290 is, rightly, one of the best (if not THE best) delays going- as Justin says the ducking being one of the reasons (the clarity and lack of colouration, delay lengths, versitility, tape head simulation and so on being others). It will still command a grand sterling on eBay and rightly so. Look at the number of people who use or have used the TC as their primary delay- Summers, Gilmour, The Edge, Vai and many many more....it is totally silent, warm even when digital, the delay tails are so detailed......

Continuing the analogy, it's true that with the Line6 you have a lot more options should you want to use them (like you can swap cars in Grand Tourismo!), but it's still modelling and you can still hear the difference - it's cold, slightly muddy (esp with the Analog modelling), and you will experience vol drops and hums.

The TC does a few things brilliantly, the Line6 a lot of thing averagely.

You need to ask what you want here- bedroom versatility or less versatility and live pro sound?

If you want to spend less and get a stunning rack delay, wait until you see an 80's MXR System II Delay on eBay- that thing is a monster of a machine and it's no coincidence that Gilmour still has his as one of the primary delays in his rig after 25 years. Alternatively, for similar money, the Empress SuperDelay Stomp box will eat the Line6 for breakfast tonally and is simply sensational, IMO. The Boss half rack DD is also great since it's effectively a DD2/3 in a rack unit. Same EPROM chips. (or spend $150 and get a DD2 or 3- which is still one of the delay benchmarks for my money)

I just got the Nova Repeater ($148 on Amazon). It has tap tempo, spillover and kill dry features from the Nova Delay plus the time division feature so you can set it for a dotted eighth (and other signatures) and get the triplet repeat that is so common and still just tap 4/4. It also has some modulation features to add chorus or vibrato to the delay sound. Pretty cool for the money.

Blessings,
Larry

Thanks everyone for great comments!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKp47EGJBBw&fmt=18

That video does it for me - the TC2290 slays the others. I'm not a big U2 fan...but that makes me want to shell out a grand for one. Smooth, clean, tight.

Eventide TF...wow, muddy...

Some are harsh

Boss hollows out the sound.

This may be only youtube, but I think that demonstrates very well.