Best Guitar Pedal Power Supplies (11 reviewed)

Voodoo Lab pioneered the pedalboard power supply industry back in the late 1980s and they're still one of the most recognizable and reputable brand names in electronics for professional musicians. They're the gold standard when it comes to power supplies. The Pedal Power 2 PLUS is their Hallmark product and the most popular of the bunch, having graced countless professional and amateur pedalboards since its inception. There are a total of eight power outputs, all of which are completely isolated to eliminate ground paths which reduces hum and excess noise. There's also an auxiliary AC output on the supply's back panel. It's the "anti-daisy chain."

Keep in mind, you can use each output as a traditional 9V power source, though the DIP switch provides plenty of additional functionality, should you need higher voltage outputs or a different current. This allows for the use of Line 6 modeler pedals (like the DL4), EHX and larger Boss pedals.

Both in terms of the brand reputation and the individual product, there's simply nothing that beats Voodoo Lab's offering. Even the details that are difficult to notice and non-aesthetic, like the type of transformer, have been given a tremendous amount of thought and attention. If Voodoo Lab took any shortcuts with the PP2 PLUS, I can't find them. It's one of the best guitar pedal power supply options on the market.

The TrueTone 1 SPOT CS12 is designed to power 9, 12 and 18V pedals (with an AC power output as well) and is ideal for those who might have a wide variance in voltage and milliamp requirements in their effects chain.

The CS12 provides 12 total power sources with five switchable outputs (three thru seven in the diagram below). Four of these outputs (3 thru 6) can power a 9 or 12V pedal while the seventh can jump between 4 and 9V. The first two outputs are 18V and 100mA, while the last five are a variance of 9V with 250 to 800mA with the 12th being a 9V AC option. With the diagram below (screen grab from the user manual) you can easily match up your pedal voltage list with the CS12 capability.

Even for simpler rigs, the price of the CS7 isn't much higher than the Fuel Tank Junior. Particularly if you have some of the pedals mentioned in the notes section, the 1 SPOT is worthy of serious consideration.

The MXR ISO Brick picks up a lot of the slack that was dropped by the M237. Not only are all the outputs now isolated, but you still have 10 to work with, including the same arrangement of eight 9V and two 18V sources. There's also a much wider variety of voltage and milliamp ratings. These are all the variances you'll have available:

• Two 9V outputs at 100mA
• Two 9V outputs at 300mA
• Two 9V outputs at 450mA
• Two 18V outputs at 250mA
• Two variable output adjustments from 6V to 15V at 250mA

This echoes the versatility of the Truetone 1 SPOT and gets you the isolated power missing in the M237. Here's a closer look at all the outputs on the front panel.

A blue LED for each power source is also a nice touch.

The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power ISO-5 is essentially a more compact and space-friendly version of the Pedal Power 2 PLUS, with only five outputs instead of eight. This is the power supply I use for my smaller pedalboard. For a small number of pedals, it's a good option to cut into the cost of the more expensive 2 PLUS, though it does have to be a small pedalboard.

The Chameleon is T-REX Engineering's larger and more versatile power supply, though it's more easily compared to the ISO-5.

T-REX Engineering's assertion that it is "built for players with a large number of diverse pedals" is one that I would only partially agree with. The "diverse" aspect, is true, as the Chameleon offers a wide range of voltage and milliamp settings that we'll get into shortly. The "large number" claim I would tend to disagree with, for the simple fact that the Chameleon has a total of only six ports, two of which cannot be used at the same time.

This gives you five total at any point. This is a number I would recommend to smaller boards, plain and simple. 

For its price (typically south of $99) the BBE Supa Charger is a remarkable value. It follows the pattern established by the Pedal Power 2 PLUS, with eight isolated outputs and wrapped Toroidal transformers for each one. In this particular unit, the input is switchable between 110 and 220 volts, depending on which country you're in. Fuse protection and a five year manufacturer warranty are also included. It also comes with the following cables:

• 8-2.1mm (Boss-type) black cables
• 2-2.5mm red cables reversed polarity (Line 6 type)
• Supports 9, 12 and 16 (18) volt connections

The BBE Supa Charger is too good of a value to split hairs over voltage ratings. And if BBE is saying it supports 18V pedals, I believe them. Besides, it still provides eight 9V power outputs, which is likely all you'll need. Even if you have a couple high voltage pedals, the DIP switch makes it easy to include them. There's plenty here to like for most situations and scenarios.

Accel Audio's FX Power Source 8 turned heads at the 2016 NAMM show taking home a "Best in Show" and "Gotta Stock It" award. Eight ports are provided, where all eight can be used as 9V DC power sources, if necessary. Alternatively, there are two ports (the first and second) that can have voltage adjusted. The first port can be adjusted anywhere between 9 and 18V. The second can simulate low power or the "dying battery" effect, going down to 5V and back to 9. The next four outputs, rated for 100mA each, are selectable between either 9 and 12V, via an individual switch allotted for each port.

The NAMM recognition this unit received was well-deserved, both for the device itself and for the culture of the company (at least what little exposure I've had to it). With plenty of voltage and current variety, the FX 8 puts up a fight when measured against the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 PLUS. Whether Accel Audio uses individual transformers for each power source is unclear, and it's tough to decipher the quality of electronic components.

But, it does come to you for a slightly better price, with all the features and versatility you'd get from power supplies in much higher tax brackets.

The Walrus Audio Phoenix 15 is not only the largest power supply we've looked at so far, but it's also the most expensive hovering around $280 retail.

The challenge for a pedalboard power supply encroaching $300 is to justify the hefty investment beyond simply providing more power sources. To this point in our list, it does hold the title of having the most ports, while the next closest is the Truetone 1 SPOT with 12.

However, the 1 SPOT can be had for $100 less. That's a big number and a tough sell for just three more power sources. The key in determining the Phoenix 15's value to you is firmly based in whether or not you'll actually need/use all these power sources. Answering that question will determine whether or not the price tag is justified. You've got a total of 15 isolated power ports on the Phoenix 15 with two internal "wound" toroidal transformers, giving you an electronics spec sheet that's similar to what Voodoo Lab offers.

I would say that if you need to extra ports or you plan to expand your pedal chain, it's a solid and reliable option that doesn't have a lot of parallels. However, for most pedalboards, it's going to be overkill and perhaps more expensive than what you're wanting to pay.

The Voodoo Lab 4x4 is a contextual power supply that is essentially split in half with four outputs for high current pedals (Strymon, Line 6, etc.) and four for normal current pedals (100mA max). All the other features you would expect from Voodoo Lab are also there: Isolated power, toroidal transformers, and a five-year warranty.

Despite being specifically tailored for a more narrow lineup of pedals (equal parts high and low milliamp rated stompboxes) it still has some versatility to it, as you can go exclusively 9V DC if needed. It's a bit on the pricey side at $190 retail, though for folks with three or four high current pedals, it's one of the most ideal power suitors you're going to find.

No complaints here.

The Mondo is Voodoo Lab's largest power supply and is essentially a combination of the Voodoo Lab Digital and the 2 PLUS. On the left side you've got six high-current outputs, while the right side houses eight 9V DC outputs that have the same features as the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 PLUS. This gives you a total of 12 power sources on the Mondo, all of which can be used as typical 9V ports.

While it certainly isn't "cheap," it's an extremely good deal for someone who needs all the outputs. Because you can't buy the 4x4 and 2 PLUS for $250 (together they'd easily exceed $300 retail). Thus, you can think of the Mondo as a kind of discounted "bulk" product. For larger pedal chains there's nothing better.

The CAE Power System is the MXR (Jim Dunlop) version of the Voodoo Lab Mondo. And it actually outruns the Mondo in terms of raw outputs with 16 total, all of which are isolated and run of Toroidal transformers, meeting our threshold for high-end electronic components. What makes it a little less flexible than the Mondo is that it has four dedicated 18V power sources, which can't be downgraded to 9V ports. This means the CAE Power System is a better fit for someone who must have at least some of the additional 18V options.

Power Supply Value

This graph that plots our retail with the approximate retail cost of each power supply is a helpful visual for identifying where the most value can be found.

What is an isolated power supply?

The single, most important feature in a pedalboard power supply is whether or not it provides isolated power. This basically simulates having a 9V battery on each individual pedal, meaning they get their own circuit of "clean" power and don't have to share it with any other pedals. In fact, you might even say that a daisy chain power supply is a step down in quality from individual 9V batteries.

Isolated Power Sources

As you can see from the diagram, a "daisy-chain" type of power supply simply shares the same circuit across multiple pedals, each consuming the same amount of power. This is problematic because it can often be noisy. At the same time, 9V batteries are inconvenient and don't last very long before needing replaced. Isolated power supplies solve both of these problems.

Can I plug a 9V pedal into an 18V power supply?

In simple terms, don't do it. When it comes to voltage, I do not recommend deviating from what the manufacturer suggests for the pedal. If that's 9V, make sure it's a 9V power source. If you do plug a 9V pedal into a power source that exceeds that rating, one of two things are almost certain to happen.

1. You'll trip a protective mechanism in the pedal that will shut it off.
2. You'll "fry" the capacitors and permanently damage the pedal.

The reason this happens is because voltage in electrical devices behaves very much the same as water flowing through different containers. For example, I have a downspout on the side of my house where rainwater is drained from the gutters into a pipe that runs underneath the ground and away from my house. That pipe is sized to handle a certain amount of water from the downspout. However, if that amount were to double, the pipe would either spill over or crack.

Concluding Thoughts & Your Questions

There's a lot of information here and I understand that there are questions that arise when dealing with a topic that's so heavy on nuanced electrical issues. If you have questions, feel free to drop them in the comments section below. I'll answer what I can, and send my buddy Peter Driver over to handle those that go over my head.

Just don't buy a pedalboard power supply without at least knowing the basics about voltages and milliamp ratings. I've invested in powering my pedals first without and then with that knowledge and I was absolutely better off the second time around.

My advice to you is to know your own pedal roster and the electrical requirements thereof before you go swiping the credit card.

If you do that, you have a better shot at getting the best guitar pedal power supply for your unique situation.

Further Reading

• The Isolated Power Supply - A Tutorial: A look into some of the more nuanced electrical aspects of isolated power.
  
• How to Mount a Power Supply to a Pedaltrain Pedalboard: A great thread on Seymour Duncan's website that shows you in pictures how to mount a power supply to a Pedaltrain pedalboard.
• Setting Up Your Effects Chain: An article by Strymon (customer support dude named Hugo) on how to order (arrange) guitar pedals in your signal chain.