i used to have a metalzone and a ds-1.. but i like this distortion pedal a lot better.  the metalzone was too crunchy for my taste although you could adjust the sound much more than the ds-2.  the ds-1 was okay but the ds-2 is a big improvement over it.  all in all, it gives the type of distortion sound im looking for and you can't go wrong with boss pedals.