EVENTIDE PowerMax

104
GUITARIST NOVEMBER 2020
PowerMax
Eventide revamps its pedalboard power options in style
MA NUFACTUR ER
EVENTIDE
MODEL
POWERMAX REV2 (& POWERMINI)
CONTACT
SOURCE DISTRIBUTION 020 8962 5080 WWW.EVENTIDEAUDIO.COM
PRICE
£255 (& £119/£139)
PEDALBOARD
PROS Compact size; seven high-current
outlets; choice of voltages; expandable system
CONS Eventide branding creates a price
disparity with the equivalent Cioks’ version
Words Trevor Curwen Photography Phil Barker
O
ne thing that’s crucial to keeping
a neat and efficient pedalboard is
a power unit that can distribute
power to all or most of the pedals on the
’board negating – or at least minimising –
the need for any bulky adaptors while
keeping power cabling tidy. With many
guitarists now using high-current digital
pedals from the likes of Strymon and so on,
power distributors have had to evolve to
cater for that need by offering a number of
high-current outputs.
Eventide is a company that pioneered
higher-current pedals starting with its
’Factor series and moving on to the likes
of the H9, and has consequently offered
compatible power solutions. The latest is a
new (rev2) version of the PowerMax with
a dedicated 24-volt aux power output that
can be used via a single cable to power the
PowerMini expander (£119), adding four
more high-current power outlets to the
PowerMax’s seven.
Created with Danish specialist power-
supply manufacturer Cioks – and closely
related to its DC7 – the 25mm (one-inch)
thick PowerMax is nicely compact
for pedalboard placement. It features
three nine-volt outlets plus four outputs
switchable between nine, 12, 15 and
18 volts DC, which are ideal for pedals
working on a specific voltage other than
nine volts, or for nine-volt pedals that can
run at higher voltages for more headroom.
Every output can put out up to 660mA of
current at nine volts, so there’s more than
enough for Strymon pedals and Boss 200
and 500 series units, as well as Eventide’s
own. There’s also a USB output so you can
keep your phone charged at the same time!
All of the PowerMax outputs are isolated
and everything works as it should with no
noise issues. Seven outlets may be enough
for most compact pedalboards, but if you
need more then connecting a PowerMini
expander is a doddle with its included
60cm cable. The PowerMini is also
available at £139 with its own low-profile
inline external AC power adaptor if you
want a standalone unit with four outlets.
VERDICT
Ready to use with a wide variety of
DC pedals, Eventide’s PowerMax or
PowerMini may cover your present needs
but they are also part of a power system
that can expand as your pedalboard creeps
across the floor.
Voodoo Lab’s Pedal Power range with its various
models has been extremely popular. Its most
powerful unit is this Mondo, featuring 12 isolated
outputs, six of which are high-current. It also has a
‘sag’ feature to simulate low batteries.
Cioks has its own direct equivalents to the new
Eventide units but for monster ’boards look to the
Ciokolate with 16 outputs. Besides DC-powered
pedals at various voltages, it can also power a
couple of pedals that run on AC.
Ciokolate £ 315
Complementing the company’s range of high-
current pedals, the Zuma offers seven nine-volt
outlets with 500mA plus two switchable between
nine, 12 and 18 volts. It can be expanded by five more
outlets with the Ojai (£119) or Ojai R30 (£139).
Zuma £249
ALSO TRY...
Pedal Power Mondo £239
switchable between nine, 12, 15 and
60cm cable. The PowerMini is also
60cm cable. The PowerMini is also
EVENTIDE
STRYMON VOODOO LAB CIOKS
GIT465.peds_eventide.indd 104 01/10/2020 12:15