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Best Powered Pedal Boards For Guitar

by | Accessories | 2 comments

If you’re a serious guitarist, at some point you’ll want to make the change from powering your pedals with batteries to using a dedicated power supply.  To help you find the best powered pedal boards for guitar, I’ve reviewed the top choices available on the market today.

I’ve divided the reviews into the best affordable pedal boards (under $200) and the best pro-level powered pedal boards that include more features.  It’s a bit arbitrary to divide by price as there are great pedal boards under $200 that many pros use.

If this is your first time looking for a powered pedal board, be sure to check out the Things To Consider When Buying a Powered Pedal Board section after the reviews.

And if you only want to add a power supply to an existing pedal board, please see see this article on the best power supplies for pedal boards.

Best Affordable Powered Pedal Board (Under $200)

Best Pro-Level Powered Pedal Board ($200-$500)

Best Affordable Powered Pedal Boards (Under $200)

Behringer PB600 Powered Pedal Board Review

The Behringer PB600 is a small and lightweight powered pedal board with a built-in case.  It’s been a best-seller since 2009, and it’s an excellent value for any guitarist with a small number of effects pedals.

The PB600 can hold up to 6 standard-size effects pedals in a single row.  If you have lots of nano-size pedals you can probably fit 8-10 pedals.  And the good news is that the power supply can power up to 12 effects.

Its compact design gets you up and playing music quickly – just take off the lid and plug in.  The bottom of the case acts as the pedal board area.

Though pictures of the PB600 show it filled only with standard size pedals, this is not the case.  The foam inserts can be customized to fit any size pedals.  There is room for one larger-size pedal like a volume or wah pedal on the right side. 

As all cables can hide underneath the foam inserts, the PB600 is exceptionally clean and neat looking – you don’t see any cables at all.

Behringer’s cutout design eliminates the use of Velcro or cable ties, something some guitarists prefer as there’s no tape residue that can damage the pedal’s surface.

The PB6000 comes with a daisy chain cable connector that let you power all your pedals at once. A daisy chain cable means that it powered by a non-isolated power supply, which is not ideal.  Non-isolated power supplies are susceptible to picking up noise or hum.   The unit can also only power 9V pedals.

The PB6000 features a pair of ¼” From Effects jacks so you can connect stereo effects, and a pair of Output To Amp jacks let you send a right and left signal to your amp or amps.

PROS

  • Clean, tidy look – all cables are hidden from view
  • Great value for an all-in-one powered pedal board
  • Lightweight and compact for ease of use and carrying
  • Built-in hard plastic case is an upgrade from a soft case
  • Works with stereo effects
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CONS

  • The non-isolated power supply can only power 9V pedals and may cause some noise or hum
  • Some complaints that the latches on the case can easily break

Behringer PB600 Powered Pedal Board Specs:

Buy From Amazon:

  • Size: 26.1”: x 12.9” – Fits up to 6 standard-size pedals or up to 12 nano-size ones
  • Construction: Ultra-rigid plastic
  • Color: Black
  • Power Supply: 1.7A, 9V, up to 12 devices is possible
  • Case: Built-in heavy-duty plastic case
  • Comes with: one 6-outlet daisy chain cabling, ¼” patch cables
  • Warranty: 3 years

Behringer PB1000 Universal Effects Pedal Board Review

For a little more money (but still under $200), the Behringer PB1000 gives you about six more inches in height than the smaller PB600.

 So, where the PB600 can hold up to 6 standard-size pedals in a single row, the PB1000 can hold and power up to 12 standard-size pedals with two rows of 6 pedals each.

Except for the size, the rest of the PB1000 pedalboard – its power supply and rigid plastic case – is the same as the PB600. 

PROS

  • Very inexpensive isolated power supply
  • Tiny size will fit any pedalboard
  • Both 100mA and 200mA outputs
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CONS

  • 9V power output only

Behringer PB1000 Universal Effects Pedal Board Specs:

Buy From Amazon:

  • Size: 26.1”: x 19.8” – Fits and can power up to 12 standard-size pedals
  • Construction: Ultra-rigid plastic
  • Color: Black
  • Power Supply: Non-isolated, 1.7A, 9V, up to 12 devices are possible
  • Case: Built-in heavy-duty plastic case
  • Comes with: one 6-outlet daisy chain cabling, ¼” patch cables
  • Warranty: 3 years

Check out my complete series of pedal board articles:

Boss BCB-60 Deluxe Pedal Board Review

Boss has been a leader in effects pedals and pedal boards for many decades.  There’s probably no guitarist on earth who hasn’t owned at least one Boss pedal!

The Boss BCB-60 pedal board is a versatile option for guitarists looking for an on-the-go pedalboard for smaller rigs.

It’s an all-in-one pedal board with built-in molded resin case that can handle lots of impact and abuse. The lid detaches from the case.

The Boss BCB-60 features room for up to 7 pedals, and it can fit some larger pedals (a Dunlop Cry Baby, Boss PW-3 Wah, or Ernie Ball Jr. volume pedal will fit, but not the larger model Ernie Ball volume pedals).

The Boss BCB-60’s padded interior is customizable to your own needs.  It comes with two foam inserts pre-cut for Boss effects, and an additional foam insert that you can cut to fit any other size pedals.  The pedals sit in the foam cutouts and are not Velcroed or held down with ties.  This makes it easy to add/ remove pedals with a minimum of fuss (though make sure not to open the case upside down or they will all fall out!)

The upper part of the pedal board contains the power supply on the left, and space to fit a tuner on the right.

One nice feature is that any messy cable clutter is hidden under a plate (where the Boss logo and model are shown).  You’re left with a clean & neat looking pedalboard!

The Boss BCB-60 comes with a 1,000 mA non-isolated power supply that can provide 9v power for up to 7 devices.  The power supply is a PSC series so it will work with all Boss compact pedals, Boss Twin pedals, and Boss multi-effects, as well as other non-Boss pedals.

It also features Send and Return jacks for use with stereo effects pedals.

PROS

  • Top-selling powered pedal board with lots of satisfied users
  • Great value for the money
  • Solid durable case will protect your pedals from damage
  • Works with stereo effects
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CONS

  • Non-isolated power supply is 9v only and cannot power devices needing different voltages
  • Non-isolated power supplies can add noise and hum to your rig
  • Some users complain that the plastic latches are not very strong and break

Boss BCB-60 Deluxe Pedal Board Specs:

  • Size: 26.5” x 14.5”
  • Construction: Plastic
  • Color: Dark grey
  • Power Supply: 9V, 1,000 mA power supply for up to 7 devices
  • Case:  Durable plastic, removable lid
  • Comes with: three foam inserts (2 pre-cut for Boss products, one customizable), 8-pin parallel DC cord, 8 L-L cables (five short, three long)

Gator Cases Standard (GPT-BL-PWR) Review

The Gator Cases Standard model GPT-BL-PWR powered pedal board is another popular choice for a low-cost powered pedalboard.

The Standard is my top pick for an inexpensive powered pedal board because it has an isolated power supply, something not usually found in powered pedal boards under $200.

Gator’s pedal boards come in two sizes, Standard (16.5” x 12”) and Pro (30” x 16”).  I’m going to review the Standard size as many users found the larger Pro model too heavy and not easy to transport.

The Standard GPT-BL-PWR model is large enough to handle 6-8 standard size pedals in two rows.  It is also deep enough to accommodate larger wah and volume pedals.  It features an angled board for ease of stomping your back row pedals.

The Standard’s exterior is covered in heavy-duty Tolex.  On the board interior, the whole pedal board base has the “loop” side of Velcro pre-attached; you just need to attach the “hook” side of the Velcro material to your pedals.

It also comes with a tote case with one large pocket.  Gator Cases went the extra mile by including a carrying handle that can extend from the case.

The Standard includes Gator’s G-BUS-8 power supply that is mounted underneath the pedal board (but you can easily remove it if you wanted to use a different power supply). The G-BUS-8 is a quality isolated and regulated 1700 mA power supply. It can power up to 11 standard-size pedals that require 9V or 18v.  It also has built-in short-circuit protection to protect your pedals from damage.

The GPT-BL-PWR comes with eight 24” 9-volt power cables and one 24”18-volt cable.

PROS

  • Best buy for a pro-quality pedal board and power supply combo
  • Isolated power supply
  • Angled pedalboard for ease of use
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CONS

  • Some users note that the pedalboard construction (plywood and Tolex) was a little sloppy

Gator Cases Standard (GPT-BL-PWR) Specs:

  • Available in: Small (15.75″ x 7″ Pedal Surface), Pro (30” x 16”). 
  • Construction: Tolex-covered plywood
  • Color: Black
  • Power Supply: Isolated and regulated G-BUS-8 power supply
  • Case: Carrying tote case that includes a large front pocket for cables, music, etc.
  • Includes: Eight 24” 9-volt power cables and one 24”18-volt cable, Velcro, 600-Denier nylon carry bag with shoulder strap

 

Best Pro-Level Powered Pedal Boards – ($200- $500)

Pedaltrain NOVO 24 + Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Combo Review

Note: Although there are very few reviews of this pedal board with power supply combo, the Nova 24 itself has many satisfied users, and the power supply is many guitarist’s favorite.

The Pedaltrain NOVO 24 powered pedal board combines the popular Novo 24 pedalboard with a premium Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus power supply and a soft case.  It’s an excellent choice for anyone wanting a pro-quality guitar pedal rig.

The Pedaltrain Novo 24 is a five-rail pedalboard that’s angled for ease of accessibility to your pedals.  The five rails provide plenty of space and flexibility in arranging pedals as you like them.  It’s pretty big – I’ve seen some guitarists mount with over 15 effects on it!

But though it’s quite large, it’s lightweight and can easily be transported.  It comes with a soft case.

Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus Power Supply

The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus Power Supply is a high-quality isolated power supply. Each pedal receives completely isolated, filtered and regulated DC power that substantially reduces ground loops, noise and hum.

Multiple 9V, 12V, 18V, or 24V Options

The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus has multiple voltage options. All eight isolated outlets default to 9V, but there are more options:

  • The first four offer standard 9V and 12V Boss ACA output.
  • Outputs 5-6 offer high current 250mA 9V and 12V outputs, necessary for newer high-powered effects such as Boss Twin, Line 6 modelers, and TC Electronic Nova pedals.  
  • Outputs 7 and 8 have SAG (battery voltage variance) switches that allow you to vary the voltage between 4V to 9V, useful for recreating that tubelike sound when a carbon battery is dying. Turn off the SAG switches when using digital effects.
  • By using different cabling (using an optional voltage doubler cable), you can power 18V and 24V effects

The Novo 24 + Voodoo Lab power supply combo brings two excellent products together, creating a premium pedal board you’ll enjoy for many years.

PROS

  • Versatile pedal board gives you lots of flexibility
  • Both the pedal board and power supply are user favorites
  • Pro-quality isolated power supply has numerous voltage options
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CONS

  • Soft case does not have pockets

Pedaltrain NOVO 24 + Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Combo Specs:

  • Size: 24” x 14.5”
  • Construction: Featherweight aircraft-grade aluminum
  • Color: Black
  • Power Supply: Isolated Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus Power Supply
  • Comes with: Soft case with shoulder strap, 10’ of Velcro-style hook-and-loop tape, assorted zip ties

 

Voodoo Lab Dingbat Medium Pedalboard with Pedal Power 2 PLUS Review

The Voodoo Lab Dingbat Medium Pedalboard/ Voodoo Pedal Power 2 PLUS combo combines a very popular pedalboard with a premium quality power supply.  It’s a pro-quality choice that’s a great value for the money!

The Dingbat combo is also available in:

  • Small (18” x 7.75”)
  • Medium PX (22″ x 16″) with PX-8 PLUS True Bypass Pedal Switcher
  • Large (25.75″ x 15.75″)

The Dingbat Medium pedalboard measures 22” x 13.5” and can comfortably fit up to 10 standard size pedals (but know that the power supply can only power up to 8 units). 

Made of aircraft-quality aluminum, it’s lightweight yet very strong to withstand years of heavy foot stomping. 

Pedals are attached using hook-and-loop tape. There are plenty of slots in the pedalboard for running cables, and cable ties and mounts are included to secure the cables underneath the pedalboard.

Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 PLUS Power Supply

The Voodoo Pedal Power 2 PLUS is the same power supply I just reviewed for the Pedaltrain Novo 24.

Again, it’s a top-notch isolated power supply with lots of voltage options.

Got Lots of Pedals?

If needed, there’s room under the pedalboard to install an additional power supply (with optional mounting brackets sold separately).

For a combo of top-quality products, the Voodoo Lab Dingbat Medium Pedalboard with Pedal Power 2 PLUS is both a user favorite and my top pick!

PROS

  • High-quality pedal board and power supply combo
  • Reviews from users are across the board excellent
  • Isolated pro-quality power supply reduces hum and noise
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CONS

  • None

Voodoo Lab Dingbat Medium Pedalboard with Pedal Power 2 PLUS Specs:

  • Size: 22” x 13.5”
  • Available in: Small (15.75″ x 7″ Pedal Surface), Large (23.75″ x 10.66″ Pedal Surface), Extra Large (32″ x 17″ Pedal Surface)
  • Construction: Aircraft-grade aluminum
  • Color: Black
  • Power Supply: Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus Power Supply
  • Comes with: Hook-and-loop fasteners, cable ties, tie mounts, plus a gig bag with shoulder and backpack strap.

 

Things To Consider When Buying a Powered Pedal Board

Note: for a refresher on the basics of choosing the pedal board itself (sizes, types, considerations, etc.), please see my detailed article here.

Effects Pedal Power Supplies

A quality power supply doesn’t just power your pedals.  It can also fix some of the most common issues with having an effects pedals rig, including:

  • Noise
  • Hum
  • Pedals dying at the worst possible time because you forgot to change the batteries

Not all power supplies are the same.  Very inexpensive power supplies may save you some money but usually skimp on performance and power quality.   A good power supply is noise-free, consistently reliable and provides uninterrupted performance.

So, don’t get the cheapest one you find!

Q: Are All Pedals Compatible With A Power Supply?

The answer is yes; almost all battery-powered pedals can also operate with a power supply.  Most pedals operate at 9V, which all power supplies output.  And pedals that don’t have a power jack can use a 9V battery clip adaptor to connect to a power supply.

And as some pedals require 12, 16, 18, or 24 volts, they are already using a power supply.

Number of Outputs

Smaller power supply models will have outputs to power 2-4 pedals; larger ones can power up to 12 pedals.

Make sure to think ahead and get a power supply that will be able to power any additional pedals you may add to your board in the future.

Choosing An Isolated Power Supply vs. Non-Isolated Power Supply

Probably the most important consideration is the type of power supply you use in your pedalboard.  There are two types: isolated and non-isolated power supplies.

Non-isolated Power Supplies

Non-isolated power supplies provide a single power source to all your pedals.  This is most commonly done with a daisy chain cable that runs from pedal to pedal.  

Non-isolated power supplies are the least expensive, but they are also a major cause of hum and noise. 

By having a single power supply powering all pedals, it acts as a magnet to pick up noise from improper grounding, fluorescent lights, dimmers, etc. Any noise gets sent along to each pedal in turn through the chain, potentially magnifying the problem as it passes from one pedal to the next.

Also, each pedal using non-isolated power adds to your pedals’ capacitive load, which is NOT a good thing!  This load can result in noisier operation of all the pedals in your rig.

Non-isolated power supplies are most frequently found in lower-priced powered pedal boards.  If you are using your board mostly at home, you probably can avoid noise issues with a non-isolated power supply by strategically placing it away from noise sources like lights, other power supplies, etc.  But using one on gigs or in the studio will likely give you problems.

Isolated Power Supplies

Isolated power supplies have each output completely isolated from each other.  For example, a 4-output isolated power supply is like having four separate power supplies. Each output is filtered and regulated to provide clean, stable power to each pedal. 

These power supplies are more expensive given the higher degree of engineering, but they are worth it.

Isolated Power Supplies Reduce Noise Problems

Isolated power supplies by design reduce or eliminate hum and noise, and also reduce capacitance.

There’s nothing not to like about an isolated power supply except that it costs more than non-isolated power supply. 

So, it’s highly recommended to see this article, especially if you have more than a few pedals.

Power Supply Buyer’s Checklist

Before you buy, be sure to check:

  • The voltages it outputs to make sure your pedals will work with it
  • Is it non-isolated or isolated?
  • The total number of outputs it has so it can power all your current effects and any future effects you decide to add later.
  • Can it me mounted underneath your pedalboard?. Some smaller models do not have room to fit one underneath, so you’ll lose valuable pedal real estate if it has to be mounted on top.

Check out my complete series of pedal board articles: