The 7 Best Pedalboard Power Supplies (2024)
Pedalboard power supplies are essentially power transformers that use one power input and then split for use with multiple pedals. There are lots of different power supplies available across a variety of budgets. This article should help you determine the best one for you.
When you start building a pedalboard, you can quickly notice that it can be a problem to find a power source for all those guitar pedals. In this article, I’m going to present to you the best 7 pedalboard power supplies currently on the market.
My top recommended pedalboard power supply is the Truetone 1 SPOT PRO CS12. This is a popular 12-outlet power supply suitable for professional use and large pedalboards.
My second recommended pedalboard power supply is the Donner DP-1. This is an affordable power supply with 10 outlets that will get the job done for a very modest price.
Check out our guide on how to setup a guitar pedalboard.
Contents
- The 7 Best Pedalboard Power Supplies (2024)
- 1. Truetone 1 SPOT PRO CS12
- 2. Donner DP-1
- 3. Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus
- 4. MXR DC Brick Power Supply
- 5. Eventide PowerMAX
- 6. Strymon Zuma
- 7. T-Rex Fuel Tank Junior
- What to look for in a pedalboard power supply when buying?
- Where to position power supply on the pedalboard?
- What about the battery-powered route?
- Conclusion
The 7 Best Pedalboard Power Supplies (2024)
Let’s compare these in more detail.
1. Truetone 1 SPOT PRO CS12
Starting this list is a bigger model for professional users. The Truetone 1 SPOT PRO CS12 is a large power supply that has 12 power outlets. In contrast to some of the power supplies in this price range, CS12 comes with variable power outlets, giving you a wider range of choices when matching pedals with different outputs.
It comes with ten 9V outlets, of which four can be 12V also, two 18V outlets, and one 4-9V and one 9V AC outlet. This is sure to cover anything you might have on your pedalboard.
The casing is quite big and heavy, so have that in mind and check if it can pack in your pedalboard. Also, you should have in mind that, because of its weight, you should think of a safe way to keep it in place once you put it on a pedalboard.
All in all, this is a nice, midrange professional model that has a nice variety of options and offers excellent value for money.
The Donner DP-1 is one of the most popular budget power supplies out there.
Different from most of the other power supplies in this price range, the DP-1 has isolated power supply outputs. This means that even if you have short-circuited in one output, others will continue to work as if nothing has happened.
It comes with eight 9V outputs as well as one of 12V and 18V. This should cover your bases for any medium-sized pedalboard, but also, if you wish to expand, you can easily fit one more power supply as it’s really lightweight and compact.
If you’re a beginner or just don’t want to spend much money, this might be the right pick for you. The 10-output device will get the job done.
3. Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus
Voodoo Lab has several power supplies in their Pedal Power range, so you’re free to check them out to see which one fits your needs the best, but for now, I’m going to focus on the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.
This item comes with 8 power outlets, all of which work on 9V, but can be switched to get a maximum of six 12V and two 4-9V outlets.
Pedals Power 2 Plus is a great, high-quality power supply, made out of high-quality materials and will give you the quality you need for a perfect performance when playing with it. It is a sturdy, reliable case that is easy to use.
The Pedals Power 2 Plus comes with all-isolated power outputs, so you don’t have to worry about the noise. A great intermediate-to-pro power supply.
4. MXR DC Brick Power Supply
One of the most beautiful power supplies on this list, the MXR DC Brick is a no-nonsense power supply that comes with 8x9V outputs and 2x18V ones.
It’s a rugged, reliable model that maybe doesn’t have much variety as some of the others, but it is sure to give you top quality of what it does offer.
In this package, you will also get all of the power cables and plugs you might need, so there’s no need to go shopping after you get this item. It’s an affordable item and because it’s so small, you can easily fit another one if need be.
The sound quality coming out of this is really great, especially if you consider the price. The MXR DC Brick, also known as the Iso-Brick (isolated) is a popular choice for a reason.
5. Eventide PowerMAX
Most of the digital pedals will work with 9V 100mA outlets, but some of the pedals need a bigger power supply to keep them running. Eventide PowerMAX offers that power. This is a high-end, quality item made for professionals that will know how to utilize all of the options this item has.
It comes with a total of seven 9V, and 660 mA outputs which all can be set to work at the 9, 12, 15, or even for 18V outputs and different power strengths.
It also comes with a USB jack, so you can power your mobile device on the same supply, which is really great if you’re a gigging musician looking to keep your luggage as small as possible. It’s also light and compact, making it easy to fit into any pedalboard and keeping the total weight of your gear down.
The price on this item is high, but if you’re looking for a high-end, high-quality product that will give you all the power you might need and keep your sound quality at the top level, this is the item to go for.
6. Strymon Zuma
Strymon has long been a respectable manufacturer in the music game, particularly for pedals. Their higher-end product list has some essential gear for guitarists that are after a professional sound.
The Strymon Zuma is a pro-grade power supply with 9 outlets and offers high current while minimizing noise. While most power supplies on this list have isolated outputs, the Zuma has dual-isolated outputs, hence the low noise.
The Zuma has seven 9V outputs and two switchable outputs with 9V, 12V, and 18V pedal options. While all this cements the value of the product, it’s also quite sturdy and provides excellent longevity for the traveling musician.
Overall, the Strymon Zuma is a professional-grade power supply with sufficient and dual isolated outputs that will provide quality for long use.
7. T-Rex Fuel Tank Junior
The T-Rex Fuel Tank Junior is a great mid-range power supply that is very compact and offers noise-free use for a small-to-medium pedalboard.
This power supply has 5 isolated outputs and delivers a clear signal, resulting in quality sound. All five outputs support 9V -powered pedals. With the switchable operation (115V to 230V), this modest pedalboard addition is superb, to say the least.
In addition to the small size suitable for most small pedalboards, the weight of this power supply is just one 1 pound, making it even more travel-friendly.
All in all, the T-Rex Fuel Tank Junior is an aesthetically pleasing 5-output power supply that will get the job done without issue.
What to look for in a pedalboard power supply when buying?
When you’re set to going out and buying a power supply, you can get overwhelmed by the information being thrown at you that you don’t necessarily understand. To help you with picking the right item for yourself, I’ve made a list of things you should consider when buying a power supply.
Outlet power strength
Different pedals (reverb, delay, fuzz pedals, etc.) work with different outlet powers. As you probably noticed, most of the outlets have their power output voltage (9-volt, 12-volt, 18-volt, etc.). This is because the current in the power socket is AC and pedals work with DC power.
Most pedals transfer the AC current to the stable DC current. You should check what current your pedals use before buying anything to be sure that you can power them properly.
Isolated outputs
Isolated outputs mean that every output in the power supply essentially works as a separate power unit. So, if one of them dies, others will keep on working. Also, this means that your pedals won’t pick up any additional hum from the generated electricity, giving you a clean sound when performing.
For more detailed info you can check out PMTVUK’s YouTube video explaining everything you need to know about pedal power supply including power requirements, adapters, polarity, daisy chain, and more.
Where to position power supply on the pedalboard?
The signal chain is the most common topic when talking about pedalboards. Since a power supply is in charge of powering all the pedals, positioning is crucial so as to not tangle up the cables and leave as much headroom as possible.
The pedalboard is almost always custom for everyone, the rig is set up in a way that benefits the individual musician. While the placement of the power supply is usually on the top of the pedalboard in the corners, there is a more beneficial placement which is – taped on the back of the rig.
This solution is often the most beneficial because it provides headroom and the wires go on the other side, making your pedalboard look neater. Plus, it’s a one-time setup tactic that takes care of unnecessary tweaking each time.
What about the battery-powered route?
While power supplies are the ultimate and most used tool for any musician, most pedals can be powered by batteries. Analog pedals can usually be sustained on just the battery, however, for higher voltages, it’s better to have a power supply around.
The best-recommended route would be to combine both a power supply and batteries with your pedals. If there is any circuit malfunction (although most have short circuit protection), the battery can carry the workload until you sort it out and prevent any detrimental damage from occurring. Plus, with this setup, you get maximum output power, hence a stronger signal.
Conclusion
I hope that we’ve helped you with choosing your power supply. There are tons of different supplies out there, so be careful to choose the one that matches your needs.
My top pedalboard power supply pick is the Truetone 1 SPOT PRO CS12, a popular 12-outlet power supply for professionals, and suitable for mid-to-large pedalboards.
My budget pedalboard power supply pick is the Donner DP-1, an affordable and decent power supply that will not disappoint, especially considering the price.
