Pedalboard Power SupplyBuying Guide

Choose the best power supply for your pedalboard from these top brands.

I’m sure most of you are familiar with the agonizing pop and acrid smoke of a tube amp gone wrong, or the familiar buzz and cut of a battery-powered pedal gasping for its last breath. Or perhaps you're familiar with the incessant white noise tinnitus of a dollar-store daisy chain, or that strange shortwave radio station that comes through your vintage compressor if you tap the cable just right.

All of these things are a product of power, and most of our pedals run on a form of power called DC, or direct current. The power that comes from our walls is AC, or alternating current. When we get a wall wart for a pedal (or anything electronic for that matter), within that box there is a transformer that transforms the voltage (110 or 220, depending on where you live), into a set DC voltage and amperage, like, for example, 9 volts.

There are those that may ask, “Why do I need to spend $170 USD on an ‘isolated’ power supply (whatever that means…), when I can get this $30 power supply that does the same thing? It’s all the same 9 volts."

While it is true that 9 volts is 9 volts on paper—pedals, stages, venues, and building wiring are all variables you have to consider. You could have shoddy wiring in your venue that’ll send your gear all out of whack. You could have light fixtures, Wi-Fi signals, and 60 cycle hum from AC mains that all contribute to hum, buzz, interference, and, of course, radio stations.

An isolated power supply protects your pedals from all of those variables to some degree, by “cleaning" the power from the wall mains and isolating each output independently, so your vintage Fuzz Faces won’t be smattered with digital interference from your digital delays and reverbs.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy a Power Supply

There are a number of variables you have to take into account when shopping for a pedalboard power supply, depending on the power requirements of your chosen rig. Ask yourself these questions before you purchase a power supply:

  • What is your budget?
  • How many pedals do you have?
  • Do you have pedals that require something other than 9v? 12v, 18v, or 24v?
  • Do you have pedals that require higher amperage than 100mA?
  • Do you need a courtesy outlet for AC-powered effects?
  • Can the supply fit and/or be mounted on your board?
  • Do I need international switching for other countries?

We have broken down the power supplies below by number of outputs, the different power permutations, bare price per output, and any other special factors that you should consider before making the plunge.

Voodoo Lab

The classic isolated power supply. One of the first on the market and one of the most trusted brands in power. These units feature courtesy outlets (for AC effects or charging your phone), and, from my personal experience, they are dead silent.

Cioks

If you’re looking for a super versatile power supply with a pretty tiny footprint, check out the offerings from Cioks, a Denmark-based company that excels with slim power supplies.

Truetone

Creator of the 1 Spot supply for single pedals and simple daisy-chaining, Truetone also creates affordable, isolated power supplies that pack plenty of spec for the price.

Strymon

A sort of newcomer to the power game, Strymon has brought their offerings into a more modular format. They offer two tiers of power supply with the ability to add on more “expansions," as needed, in the form of the Ojai units. Both units feature international mains voltage switching, which is essential for world touring.

MXR

MXR's Brick series of power supplies provide a nice budget option that is as light on space requirements as it is on your wallet.

Walrus Audio

Mostly known for their forward-thinking pedal designs, Walrus Audio has applied their knowledge of sound and circuits to their power supplies, resulting in a concise and easy-to-maneuver product that molds itself to any rig.

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Editorial content by Yoel Kreisler

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