The cheaper pwr supply's, although quite good, have their limitations. I've been using a Mosky Iso-10, which is quite sturdy but also very affordable, and I've just bought 2 Strymon pedals, and one of my existing pedals won't power on through the Iso-10. It seems the high current draw of the Strymon pedals has meant only 9 of the 10 outlets are supplying power.
I've been using a couple of HB ISO-1 AC power supplies for a couple of years, and they've been outstanding - solid, compact, completely hum-free, and way more affordable than the Cioks/Voodoo/Strymon etc stuff. :-)
I've been using the Mosky ISO 10/Lekato power supply for my analogue and digital pedal-rich board. All but one output used, and no issues with enough power or excessive noise. Cost around 50 quid. Doesn't feel cheaply built either and it's quite similar to the Walrus.
@@standingbadger Same for me, Caline CP-206 for $55ish on Amazon…10 9v alongside a single 12v and 18v each with a variety of offered milliamps. I power about 7 pedals and haven’t had any issues with it…more expensive doesn’t always equal better.
Im using that mosky iso 10 supply For my board as well. I use all but one plug plus the USB port with no issues (wampler terraform, walrus pedals and the like on board). so much better a product (with way more power) than the tavsou thing for 31. I suggest everyone try the mosky supply before spending big unless price is no object.
Would like to see a follow up to this video with power supplies that are more comparable in price. As some people have noted, you’d have to be short-sighted to buy a couple thousand dollars/euros/pounds on high-quality pedals and then cheap out on the power supply/power conditioner and incur damage or ruin all of those pedals. Maybe you could do a bang-for-the-buck comparison in price ranges so that people can see what suits their needs and use cases. A $50 power supply might make sense if you only have a couple of pedals that are cheap to replace. Not so much if you‘re running expensive pedals or multi-FX units that you don’t want to risk frying. So, would like to see some comparisons between the Walrus, Voodoo, Cioks and others.
Good point, I have a few cheap power supplies because I don't have any real expensive pedals, and the medium expensive pedals I have cam with their own power supply. Also, I play only at home, and the power is pretty stable at my apartment, but it would be a problem if I played live and had who knows what powering things. For hobbies players, a wall wort with a daisy chain should work ok, but might be a little noisy with some pedals, but I remember the days when that set-up was all there was.
The MXR M238 Iso Brick also makes for a good comparison, including the fun puzzle of determining which Voodoo Labs adapter cables will be needed to make optimal use of the Iso Brick's array of voltage and current options; it only has two practical advantages over a similar Canvas Power product (other than the lack of an inline power brick): 1. Using a 12V output does not eliminate an 18V output. 2. 15V outputs are supported. Those benefits are definitely edge cases.
You can't beat the Harley Benton ISO10 or ISO12 for quality and value almost completely noiseless more than enough flexibility and about £100 each you could buy 4 of them for the price of the 22 canvas one😏🤘
@@MrGul I've been using two Harley Benton ISO10's for a few years now and they are pretty much silent I have almost 20 pedals on a huge board and a mix of digital and analogue all various milliamps and voltages and have never had a problem 👍🤘
@@markproctor3100 I have six HB power supplies myself and I know that they are reliable, but I don't have the means to test them against the Canvas Power ones, thus why I requested a shootout. Not looking for anecdotal "this works for me" stories.
@@MrGul it would have been more informative for people especially people who don't know how great the HB's are to have seen them up against the canvas one😏I think the HB's are quieter etc so why recommend the canvas ones if the HB"s are potentially just as good if not better 🙄🤘
I've been using a donner iso8 isolated power supply for years now. For me, a gigging guitarist, the unit works in keeping the signal clean with zero electrical interference
I got an ISpot, cheapo a few years ago. It is one of the plug in types. It does about six pedals on a daisy chain. I was absolutely amazed by how quiet it is. I can't hear any static, hum, or other noises when I use it. Mine may not be typical, but I don't know why it wouldn't be. Great video. I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive, yet quality gear. You do a great job of providing that information. Thanks!
@@lonesomedove2024 When it comes to that type of power supplies, the 1Spot (not ISpot, unless you've bought a knock-off product) is as good as it gets. However, "but I don't know why it wouldn't be" is where your logic falters. There are many factors to consider when combining pedals through a daisy-chain power supply, because not all pedals play nice with eachother when receiving "shared" power. If you have all-analog pedals in your setup, then you're less likely (but not 100%) to have noise. But if you combine analog and high mA-draw digital pedals, then there's an increased risk of noise, especially the high-pitched type. It all depends on the combination of pedals used, and can be borderline impossible to guess before actually trying it out. If your setup works for you, that's great, but it doesn't mean that everyone else's setups will also work with the same daisy-chain power supply.
Same here, I had the same experience with the ISpot. I also have a Donner with the daisy chain, and an inline one, which also are pretty quiet. I play single coils, so most noise I get is from the pickups anyhow.
I got the Fender Engine Room level 5 for my birthday. 5x500mA isolated for less than 100ukp. Reeeaaaly quiet. Very happy. Thanks for this Andy. My last psu was the same as your "second best". It worked but was a bit noisy.
I've got a Fender Engine Room and two Ernie Ball Volts which plug into the Fender to expand it. All 3 fit nicely under my board and power up to 16 pedals. It ended up costing a lot for all 3, and probably less than just the Canvas would have. They work great for me. However, if I needed to replace them, the Canvas would be more compact and practical. And the kicker is that everything I've ever gotten from Walrus has been absolutely top quality, so I wouldn't hesitate to get their products again. Lastly, I love that they make utility tools for musicians. It's great to have an option that's made in the USA (domestic to me) and that you know has been made with an attention to detail and quality. Do I sound like a Walrus fanboy? guilty.
The Pedaltrain Volto used to be such an option, and I would prefer an outboard backup like that to charging a pedal like a smartphone (e.g. Red Witch's Seven Sisters Ivy Distortion). Aside from busking, raves, or far-flung outdoor gigs, I prefer to avoid batteries wherever possible.
Just like in self built computers, never cheap out on the PSU. Have the Cioks DC7 + Crux powering my QC (don't get me started on it's shit wallwart) and pedals. Rather spend extra to make sure the more expensive things on my board don't die.
I'm very happy I watched this. I've recently bought a Strymon Sunset and Dig, and one of my other pedals wasn't powering on from my existing pwr supply. I thought the port must've been damaged, but I've now realised that the 2 Strymon pedals must've increased the total current draw past my pwr supply's maximum. I've been thinking of upgrading, and this video has given me the incentive I need. Thank you, Andy. ✌️🇦🇺
I recently replaced my MXR M238 Iso Brick with a Walrus Audio Canvas Power 22, as my board must be able to support any pedals which manufacturers will hopefully ask me to review in the future (My personal configuration uses both of the adjustable outputs and 11 of the 9V outputs.).
If you want to combine digital and analog, daisy chaining is out of the question. Only isolated supplies will prevent digital noise being fed into the other pedals. The inductive HF filter ring is between the mains and the daisy chain, so it will not do anything about inter-pedal noise
I was not going to watch this video because why would I watch 30 minutes on power supplies?!?! I even have 2! (Truetone CS7 & CS12). But ok... I'm a massive nerd so I sat down, watched it, and it's quite a comprehensive overview so I'm happy I did 🙂
Andy, Thanks! There is very interesting. I'd be interested in comparing with other serious power supplies like 1-Spot Pro. I've got a CS12 which is working fine. It's only $197, which is just a few dollars more than the Walrus Canvas CS5 and cheaper than all the other Walrus supplies! The power supply itself is included in the same box as the outlets. The only drawback is size, although it fits find under my Pedaltrain Classic 2 just fine. Of course I couldn't use this on a Metro or similar sized board.
My most noisy pedal is a Blaxx 5 band EQ, as long as I run it on a battery and the battery dongle I can run everything else on a cheap supply and the noise is acceptable it’s not quiet enough for everyone but it is for me at home. The most expensive pedal I have is an OCD then a TC Polytune, then a Boss SD1. I’d hate to fry my OCD but it’s not exactly expensive in terms of pedal prices now days. I might get or make a double 9v battery dongle for it because I do like it a little bit better running 18v .
G'day Andy, Thanks for your video. I'm one of those with dozens of guitar pedals, but only 1 power supply. I do have a dozen 9v batteries & battery clips wired up to power jacks, but I use them for testing pedals. One of these days, I'll pull my finger out, & fix that situation. Keep up the good work Andrew
I have 4 pedals on my board, started off with a wallwart with daisy chain, bloody awful. Bought a Donner DP1 which was supposed to be good, not for me it wasn't, just as rubbish as the wallwart. Finished up with a 9v rechargable with the daisy chain from the wallwart, silence is golden! It will last for a few hours between recharges, it works for me :) I only bit and bob about having a bit of fun so cannot justify spending mega bucks.
The 24V link will also work with the Strymon power supplies too. I've been running an Ojai for 3 years now and it's the best investment I've made into my gear
Great video, would be interesting to see how this compares to similar power supplies that are a little cheaper like the true tone cs7 or the fender engine room. Since those are all in one unit but are isolated power supplies.
I used to have something like the Tavsou for a little bit a few years ago. Then I got a One Spot CS7, and I've never looked back. But the game really changed for me after I started using Cioks. That thing is monstrously powerful. The Canvas feels like a step in the right direction but that laptop charger thing-y isn't the best thing IMO. But yes, as you said, a couple of zip ties on the board will secure it quite well.
Been himming & hawing a Canvas 15 upgrade (from a CS12) for a while. Weirdly the biggest thing holding me back (besides money) is length. I appreciate how slim Walrus made the Canvas, even engineering slimmer cable ends, but the 15 & 22 are properly long. And if you are someone utilising a tiered board it's liable to be too long for the board despite being perfect for the pedal count. Kind of which the 15 was just a double stuff oreo version of the 8. Then it would be smaller in all dimensions to the CS12 I have & more powerful & have more outlets & fit under everything excluding a flat board. Which typically don't have 15 pedals on them, unless they're homemade.
I know you tested this towards the cheaper and noiser pedals on purpose. But since you had the Cioks laying around, it would have been interesting to see how it was different from the Walrus? For most of us I think we already have at some point bought a Cioks, Strymon, Fender Engine Room or other similar unit, and would have wanted to check if this actually was better than the powersupplies we bought as the best available when we shopped around for this? I'm still on the fence for this one, and would maybe have bought it IF my current powersupply got broken. However, IF the Walrus actually is better than the one I'm currently using, I would be quite tempted to further upgrade what I already own!
I disagree, when I put out a question, most people said they would spend around 50 bucks on a power supply. The comparison of that vs something more expensive is far more useful to more people
I use £30 Caline units, like the Tavsou, but they're isolated and produce little to no noise... using classic pedals helps, as does Boss pedals at start and end (buffer)... but what about being in the UK and the AC power supply, does that help? Always wonder if I should upgrade when I don't seem to have a problem. You can't really try before you buy power supplies. edit: Can't borrow one either - my friends and I are all tight, we buy cheap gear to make noise with... so really hum is part of the fun
Perfectly fine to compare this to cheap junk for fun, but to leave out any true competitors makes it all an exercise in futility. How does the Power8 stack up to the CS7 that's $100 cheaper?
This nerdiest video of yours may be my favorite that you have ever done, and not just for your "boom" face. It can be easy to appear to be a gear snob or generally condescending when discussing a more-expensive option such as pretty much any isolated pedal power supply, and I sincerely hope that your effort to show other options in a neutral setting will prevent such accusations; for good and ill, those of us in the USA may be able to finance an isolated pedal power supply with little to no interest: my Canvas Power 22 costs US$12 per month for three years.
Hey Andy, have you ever tried the "One Spot" Power supply? I have one of them myself and daisy chain all 8 pedals with them and it works pretty well for me! I was curious if you had heard of it, or used it before or not.
Daisy-chaining pedals has a lot of different factors to take into consideration. Some people can run 10 pedals if they only have analog pedals with low mA draw, whereas some people can't even run 2 pedals because one of them is analog and the other one is digital (that combination VERY rarely plays nice when daisy-chaining) and gives off a whole lot of high frequency hiss. It all comes down to what the combination of pedals are.
@ 6:35 try a 6 volt or two motorcycle batteries? Or 9 volt uninterruptible power supply? Plus! What power supply units are used in recording studios? pps: there is a job for someone there: a 9 volt ups suitable for stage performance use?
@@Robstafarian UPS = Uninterruptible Power Supply. Some are based on motorcycle batteries and increasingly on lithium ones I believe originally intended for mains operated devices but now for 9 volts DC as well- they may require a daisy chain but should be a little quieter than step down and rectify type devices. Who can tell? Not I.
@@Alan-zf2tt I know what a UPS is, hence my question. The 9VDC "UPS" I saw prior to commenting looked like a glorified Pedaltrain Volto rather than a UPS.
The USB power strip is 100% dependent on the quality of the power from your USB supply. If you're using a crappy $5.00 USB power supply you can't really blame the unit for supplying crappy power. As you said your tests were unscientific just a video you wanted to make.... Hell I watched the whole thing and I don't even own one pedal!😂😂😂 I'm just an electronics nerd with a 40 year old EE degree...
I totally agree on that. I went for the option that most people buying the usb strip will go for - a usb power plug that they already have hanging around the house
@@TheGuitarGeek I loved that, because with the average pedal being in the $100 and up range, you just know someone is going to use the cheapest USB adapter they've got in a drawer somewhere.
@@Robstafarian Bode plots were the bane of my education. I remember trying to understand them in my Controls systems class in 1982. Fortunately in the 42 years since them, I never had to use them in life.
@@TheSkarocker56 It all depends on which pedals you have in your signal chain. Is one of the pedals a noise gate? That can get rid of noise. How many of your pedals are high mA-draw digital pedals? There are MANY factors to consider when using a daisy-chain power supply, and what works for one person's pedalboard may not work for another one's. If it's working for your unique combination of pedals, then good for you, but your single experience isn't the one and only truth in this matter. Personally, I tried hooking up a low mA-draw analog distortion pedal and a high mA-draw digital multi-delay, and it gave shitloads of hiss when using a daisy-chain power supply, but was dead quiet when using a properly isolated multi-outlet power supply.
@@MrGul No noise gate and nothing digital, Don't like digital. Just fuzz, distortion, overdrive, delay, reverb, tremolo, phaser, wah, looper, tuner & signal split. Old school analogue stuff with a vintage tube amp and jack cables 🤘
@@TheSkarocker56 Well, that's your answer right there. You have a bunch of pedals that play nicely with eachother when it comes to sharing power. Consider yourself lucky!
@@TheSkarocker56 What makes your situation work so well are three factors: 1. All of your pedals use the same voltage. 2. None of your pedals requires significant current. 3. None of your pedals is digital. Isolated power supplies become important with the third factor, whereas the size and cost of a power supply generally increase with the first two factors. Low-cost, digital pedals (e.g. the Zoom MS-70CDR) have existed long enough that isolated power may be needed by someone on a tight budget.
Was it a power supply shoot-out? Its more about power distribution than power supply.... Canvas calls the true power supply a power brick, wonder why? Also why would a pedal so called power supply cost more than a lab or a PC power supply? Why not just using a modular PC power supply, or even a laptop power brick. Sounds like a waste of money, honestly.
@@MrGulCheck 23:52 where you comment "grow up". Now I wholeheartedly agree that a quality piece of equipment ought to be used. I suppose for one or two pedals at home the smaller Donner would be okay. Sorry if I shocked you by not adding context.
@@judih.8754 It was the lack of quotation marks for "Grow up" that confused me. It was in no way clear that it was a quote followed by your own comment to that quote. It just read as if you said the entire thing yourself without any context.
