Best pedalboard power supplies 2024: juice your ‘board with our recommendations

We get it, researching the best pedalboard power supply for your stompboxes may not be the most exhilarating part of assembling your dream guitar rig. But much like finding the perfect pair of socks, choosing wisely makes everything more enjoyable regardless of how unglamorous it is. Plus it'll go a long way toward helping you achieve an out-of-this-world guitar tone.

The more pedals you amass, the more you'll come to realize that a quality power supply is absolutely essential. Of course, by increasing the number of stompboxes on your 'board, you open up the sonic possibilities of your rig, but you also increase the likelihood of the dreaded buzzsaw hum that can ruin your carefully crafted tone.

A good pedal power supply – particularly a supply with isolated outputs – results in noise-reduction in your signal chain and a cleaner, more intuitive pedalboard operation overall. And we’re pretty sure if you’re reading this, that’s exactly what you’re aiming for with your setup.

Right now, there are a lot of options vying for your hard-earned cash, delivering a range of outputs and configurations at wide-ranging price points. From well-respected brands like Strymon and Ernie Ball, to lesser-known gems, there's a range of options ready to energize your pedalboard. We've explored the market to compile this guide to the best pedalboard power supplies available today. 

Right now, our top recommendation is the Truetone 1 Spot Pro CS12 for its sheer versatility – no matter the types of pedals you use and whether they’re modern, or more vintage, you should have no problem powering them with this supply. 

We’ve also clarified the technical aspects of pedalboard power supplies – like voltage, current, and other jargon – in a helpful buying advice section at the bottom of this page.

The quick list

Best overall

We have to say, we were mighty impressed with the Truetone 1 Spot Pro. This true powerhouse supply boasts 12 fully isolated outputs – six 9V outputs from 100mA - 250mA, one 4-9V variable output, two high-draw 9V outputs, and two 18V outputs. Additionally, there’s a 9V AC output, which in our testing, we used to power older Whammy and DigiTech pedals. 

Furthermore, outlets three through six are switchable between 9-volt and 12-volt operation, and individual toggle switches on the bottom of the power brick allow the user to set up any combination of power values.

You also get a variety of cables in lengths from 21” to 26,” three adapters for pedals with reversed polarity or different jack types and a 9-volt battery adapter cable. A pedal power supply that should cover all your needs.

Best budget

There is nothing more important than extra space on your pedalboard, and the thought of giving up that prime real estate to an oversized power supply can drive some guitar players crazy. Luckily Ernie Ball has a solution – the Volt power supply. 

Measuring in at just 90 x 59 x 23mm - smaller than a pack of Super Slinkys - the Volt will happily fit on the smallest of 'boards. This pocket-size pedal power unit includes five 9/18V isolated DC outputs - at 300mA - and if that isn’t enough, you can also daisy chain units together to expand the number of pedals you can power. 

The inclusion of LED status indicators for each input and output is a nice touch – allowing you to see the status of each outlet on a dark stage.

Best portable

The Strymon Ojai is a powerful, compact box offering five high-current outputs that offer a massive 500mA on each output. The five outputs are also individually isolated, ultra-low-noise and have their own dedicated regulators and custom transformers. And if five isn’t enough, additional Ojai units can be added on via a 24V Thru jack, without the need to plug into a wall outlet.

There’s also two stages of isolation, eliminating ground loop and AC line noise issues, as well as automatic worldwide power compatibility for ease of use on stages anywhere in the world. What’s more, the Ojai comes in a low-profile R30 version for smaller boards, as well as a larger, nine-output Zuma model (the Zuma, meanwhile, also comes in its own low-profile iteration, the R300).

Best isolated

The Iso-Brick boasts 10 outputs, making it possible to run a wide range of pedals with noise-free DC power. The outputs are fully isolated and we found them to be extremely quiet, accommodating a variety of voltage and current requirements, too.

Featuring two 9V outputs at 100mA, two 9V outputs at 300mA, two 9V outputs at 450mA, two 18V outputs at 250mA and two 6-15V variable voltage outputs that can emulate voltage “sag”, this really is a "do it all" power supply.

Beyond just doing its job – and rather well, we discovered – the Iso-Brick offers additional thoughtful touches, including a recessed, right-angled power cable for easy pedalboard placement and glowing LED indicators on each output to keep the user up to speed on the status of the connected pedal.

Best for touring

The Macro Power S8 boasts a combination of eight isolated and non-isolated outputs – one switchable 9V, 12V, 15V and 18V at 200mA, three independent 9Vs at 200mA and four parallel 9Vs that share a total of 400mA. 

While the non-isolated 400mA isn’t a huge amount, we found it substantial enough to handle most digital pedals. If not, there’s a handy LED that switches off when a pedal requires more power than the output has available. There’s also overcurrent protection and voltage switching for worldwide use, making the Macro Power a versatile and extremely handy unit – especially at its price point. 

As for build quality, the Macro Power S8 is as sturdy and durable as they come. If you're planning to take it on a worldwide tour, we're confident it will stand up to the rigors. While there are smaller options out there, the Macro Power S8 is compact enough to fit in without crowding your other pricey pedals.

Best low noise

There are a dozen isolated outputs on this baby, and every one of them is rated up to 500mA. That may sound like overkill, but we like to think of it as future proofing. 

Ten of the outputs are 9V/500mA, while the remaining two are switchable 9V/12V and 200mA/500mA. With the right voltage doubler, it can serve 18V and 24V pedals too. The Pedal Power 3 PLUS’ transformer also benefits from an ultra-smooth, 80 nanosecond polarity reversal, which is so quiet there’s virtually no noise whatsoever.

Now, with all these fantastic attributes, it’s no surprise that it’s a bit pricey, and beginners might still need some convincing. But if you’re a pedal addict looking for a power supply that quietly does its job while letting your pedals shine, accept no substitutes.

Best compact

A small and simple power solution, the Fuel Tank Junior (the most compact of T-Rex’s four Fuel Tank units) boasts five isolated 9V DC outputs, with all necessary cables included. 

Each output puts out up to 120mA, and you can also use two of the outputs to power an 18V pedal - or even power five pedals from one output - with a max of 24mA each. There’s also switchable 115V/230V operation for international use.

Overall, a great - and affordable - unit, especially if don’t need to power more than a few pedals at once. If those pedals are high-current pedals, however - this might not be the best buy.

Best battery powered

Mission Engineering’s 529i lets you power a pedalboard via battery power. Yup, that’s right – the 529i can power up to six pedals at 300mA each and two higher-current pedals at 500mA each on a single battery charge, with no treacherous power cable in sight. The internal battery lasts 4 hours on a single charge, and handy LED indicators let you know its current state.

What’s more, if you’re anxious about battery life during a gig, the 529i can also run off a USB battery pack via the micro USB input. Additionally, the 5V USB output is a handy feature for charging mobile phones or tablets, perfect if you use devices on stage for backing tracks or other stage antics.

As for performance, the eight outputs on the 529i are all isolated, providing incredibly quiet power. Unlike Mission Engineering’s smaller 529 model, which can struggle with power-hungry digital effects, the 529i’s internal 8,000mA capacity means it is powerful enough to supply effects that draw a large amount of current. It truly is the modern pedalboard power supply for the effects-obsessed guitarist.

Best rugged option

Clearly taking its design cues from Fender’s principal line of effects pedals, the playfully named Engine Room is a bit of a looker. Its clean, brushed aluminium casing, with those softly curved edges, looks too good to Velcro to the underside of a pedalboard!

Despite its modest price tag, the LVL8’s spec is up there with the best. It boasts eight ground-isolated outlets of which six can deliver 9Vdc at 500mA. The remaining pair provide switchable voltages of 9V, 12V or 18V via two three-way toggle switches.

Two-color LEDs let you know which outlets are providing power by glowing green and there are 5v USB-A and USB-C sockets for charging tablets and mobiles. A very useful touch should you want to integrate tablet apps into your performances.

Buying advice

Why do I need a pedalboard power supply?

So the big question is 'why'? What are the benefits of a dedicated power supply? In a nutshell, a good-quality power supply for your pedalboard can significantly improve your setup. It ensures that each pedal receives the precise power it needs to function properly, which can result in better tone.

That said, the real magic of a dedicated power supply lies in its ability to cut down on unwanted noise and interference – a common headache with cheaper daisy-chain-style supplies. With a dedicated supply, you can enjoy cleaner and more reliable performance from your beloved stompboxes.

Oh, and let's not forget the convenience factor-with a dedicated power supply – you can say goodbye to the hassle of carrying around a stack of batteries for your pedals!

How we choose products

Here at Guitar World, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything guitar related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.

When choosing what we believe to be the best pedalboard power supplies available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are guitarists, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best pedalboard power supplies on the market right now.

Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly how we test each product.

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