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Daisy-chaining pedals off one power strip is what causes hum, ground loops and noisy digital pedals – the fix is a dedicated isolated power supply with a separate, filtered output for each pedal. These 9 real supplies range from budget bricks to the higher-current units modern digital multi-effects pedals actually need.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus | $170-$200 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Voodoo Lab Pedal Power X8 | $200-$230 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Truetone 1 SPOT PRO CS7 | $90-$110 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Strymon Zuma | $220-$260 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Strymon Ojai | $100-$130 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | MXR M238 Iso-Brick | $100-$120 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | MXR M239 Mini Iso-Brick | $70-$90 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Cioks DC7 | $180-$220 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | T-Rex Fuel Tank Chameleon | $150-$180 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus
The long-running gold standard isolated power supply, with 8 fully isolated outputs sized for a full-size pedalboard of analog and digital pedals.
- 8 fully isolated outputs
- Multiple voltage taps (9V, 12V, 18V) across outputs
- Extremely low noise floor
- Decades-long reputation as the pedalboard power standard
- Rock-solid, whisper-quiet power that professional boards have relied on for years
- Enough voltage variety to run oddball pedals without extra adapters
- No USB output for wireless units/tuners
- Bulkier than newer compact supplies
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power X8
Voodoo Lab’s modern, higher-current supply with 8 isolated outputs delivering up to 500mA each, built for power-hungry digital pedals like multi-effects and reverbs.
- 8 isolated outputs at up to 500mA each
- Digital-pedal-ready current headroom
- Same low-noise isolated-output design as Pedal Power 2 Plus
- Compact enclosure
- Enough current per output for modern digital/multi-effects pedals that overwhelm older supplies
- Same trusted brand reliability
- Premium price versus simpler bricks
- Still no built-in USB output
Truetone 1 SPOT PRO CS7
A widely used mid-price isolated supply with 7 outputs, offering an 18V line for high-current pedals alongside standard 9V/12V taps.
- 7 isolated outputs
- 6 standard 9V outputs (4 switchable to 12V)
- Dedicated 18V high-current output
- Compact, pedalboard-friendly size
- One of the more affordable true isolated supplies from a respected brand
- 18V output covers pedals that need extra headroom
- Fewer total outputs than the 8-10 output boards above
- No USB output
Strymon Zuma
A 9-output, high-current isolated supply built around Strymon’s own multistage filtering, designed to cleanly power an entire board of power-hungry digital pedals.
- 9 fully isolated outputs at 500mA each (48W total)
- Optically isolated feedback, multistage filtering
- Expandable via a connected Ojai/Ojai R30
- Strymon’s own dual-stage regulation design
- Very low noise even with several digital pedals drawing current simultaneously
- Expandable if the board grows
- Premium price
- Larger footprint than a compact brick
Strymon Ojai
A smaller, standalone version of Zuma’s isolated-output design, sized for compact pedalboards or as an expansion unit for a Zuma.
- 5 isolated outputs at 500mA each
- Same multistage filtering/isolation tech as Zuma
- Compact standalone unit
- Can expand a Zuma via 24V link
- Good fit for smaller boards that don’t need Zuma’s full 9 outputs
- Same clean, low-noise Strymon design
- Fewer outputs limits it on larger boards
- Costs more per output than budget bricks
MXR M238 Iso-Brick
A 10-output isolated brick with a wide mix of voltages and current ratings, a popular do-it-all option for mixed analog/digital boards.
- 10 isolated outputs across multiple voltage/current combinations
- Two variable 6-15V outputs for oddball pedals
- Compact metal brick enclosure
- Well-regarded value pick
- Voltage variety covers almost any pedal without extra adapters
- Strong reputation as a safer upgrade from daisy-chaining
- Doesn’t carry the same prestige as Voodoo Lab/Strymon among pros
- No expansion capability
MXR M239 Mini Iso-Brick
A smaller-footprint version of the Iso-Brick for boards where space under the pedals is tight.
- Multiple isolated outputs at up to 300mA
- Compact mini enclosure sized for small-to-medium boards
- Same MXR isolated-output design family as the M238
- Multiple voltage taps
- Frees up board space versus the full-size Iso-Brick
- Still fully isolated, not a daisy chain
- Fewer/lower-current outputs than the full M238
- Less headroom for hungry digital pedals
Cioks DC7
A slim, 1-inch-profile European-made supply with 7 isolated outlets plus USB and 24V auxiliary outputs, built to expand as a board grows.
- 7 isolated DC outlets, 4 selectable voltages each
- Slim 1-inch profile
- Built-in 5V USB output and 24V auxiliary out
- Expandable with Cioks 4/Cioks 8 add-on units
- USB output covers wireless units and tuners without a separate adapter
- Expansion system scales with the board over time
- Premium European pricing
- Requires the separate expander units to grow past 7 outlets
T-Rex Fuel Tank Chameleon
A compact 6-output supply with switchable voltages per output, from Danish pedal maker T-Rex, aimed at boards mixing 9V, 12V and 18V pedals.
- 6 isolated outputs
- Per-output voltage selection: 9V, 12V, 18V DC, or 12V AC
- Compact footprint
- Reputable boutique pedal-gear brand
- Per-output AC/DC and voltage selection covers unusual vintage-style pedals
- Compact size fits smaller boards
- Fewer total outputs than the Voodoo Lab/MXR bricks
- Mid-tier current handling versus the highest-output options
Buying tips
- Never daisy-chain more than 2-3 low-current analog pedals off one output; digital pedals (delay, reverb, multi-effects) need their own isolated output or they’ll introduce hum and ground loop noise into the whole chain.
- Check each pedal’s actual current draw (mA) before buying – a supply with plenty of outputs can still fall short if several of your pedals are high-draw digital units sharing outputs rated for pedal-level current.
- If any pedal needs 12V or 18V (many overdrives and some modulation pedals do), confirm the supply has a matching voltage tap rather than relying on a step-up adapter, which adds noise.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.