The advantage of using Power Power-type power instead of 1Spot-type with daisy chain?

[Kummeli]

I've been using Visual Sound 1Spot to power my board for many years now. But I've seen many people use Voodoo Labs Pedal Power or something similar to power theirs. So I'm asking you guys: what is the advantage of using those instead of 1Spot with daisy chain? Or is there really any advantages? Sorry if this has already been asked..

Cheers!

[Mr Boggie]

my power pedal doesnt buzz. my one spot does.

[screamingduck]

I made the mistake of buying not one but two DC Bricks early on in my pedalquest. After putting up with all kinds of annoying sounds, I finally bought at PP2. The best way to explain is that when using a One Spot or DC Brick you tend to pick up much more noise. My Analogman MiniBiComp sounded like a motorboat when the band stopped playing while with the PP2 it is completely quiet. Now I don't get those funny looks from my bandmates as to WTF that sound was.

[dirk_benedict]

The power bricks with isolated outputs seem to be a little less susceptible to radio interference and other types of nuisances from venue to venue. More immune to weird noises between pedals as well. Plus, your whole board won't fry (in theory) if something goes wrong with it.

I used a one-spot for a while, had generally good results but every once in a while it got noisy. Moved to a BBE Supacharger and have been perfectly happy ever since. I keep the one-spot on hand for redundancy purposes.

If you plan on gigging a lot, in different types of venues, and pedals are a big component of your sound, I'd highly recommend either the Voodoo Lab or the BBE (or something similar, with isolated outputs). If you plan on having something for home/jam use a 1-spot will probably be sufficient.

[guitarz1972]

First, sound (or lack thereof lol). If you play around outlets used for stage lighting, bad electric wiring in the house, etc., the daisy chains can (and eventually will) pick up noise and put that into your system. With the Pedal Power-type sources, that can STILL happen I guess but it's much less likely to occur. So it really lessens the chances of getting noise from a lot of electrical mishaps.

Second, just more reliable. I've had two One Spots over the course of three years; the first one I used for about a year and a half and it crapped out during a sound check (fortunately it was plenty of time pre-gig so I was able to run to GC and get another one). Never had a problem with my Pedal Power 2+ failing and I've not heard a story from anyone who has (now watch, someone'll post about one of theirs crapping out lol).

Third and finally, more options. The Pedal Power 2+ will power pedals at 9 volts, or you can flip DIP switches and do 12 volts (i.e. T-Rex pedals; keep in mind though it's unregulated voltage!). Also you can use Y couplers to combine two outlets so you can run a pedal at 18 volts (i.e. Fulltone stuff); you can't do the coupler thing with a One-Spot (or at least you shouldn't). You can also "sag" pedals to get under 9 volts in case you want that dying-battery kind of sound for your overdrives, etc.

So there ya go: peace of mind that you won't get noise in your chain, reliability, and more options for running pedals at various voltage levels.

[Godspeed64]

Yes there are differences. As someone who converted from a One Spot (which died halfway through a studio session) to a Fuel Tank Jr to finally a CIOKS, I noticed the difference. Likewise, my bandmate changed his adaptor to a BBE Supacharger recently and the difference was night and day.

Biggest difference is (if it is isolated and regulated) is the lack of noise. Sometimes we say that the One Spot is dead quiet, and stand by that claim until we purchase a proper pedal power supply. You'd notice noise that you never knew was there that is now gone. Think of it like the Turbo Tuner. You never knew you how out of tune being "in-tune" can be with another tuner.

Second, you get reliability. If a One Spot dies, shit can happen and your pedals can pay the price by frying. If a CIOKS encounters problem, the internal circuit actually protects your pedal on an individual basis (eg. only output 3 affected while other outputs remain the same). Plus for CIOKS there are LED indicators to show whether each output is working.

Third, you get a myriad of options depending on WHAT power supply you have. It is interesting to try some pedals (check if they are compatible first) at 18V, some at 12V and sag to a 4V for a fuzz or something. You have more choices on how to power each individual pedal. Also, isolated power supplies means you need not worry about sensitive fuzz pedals that could actually malfunction (not get damaged though) when daisy-chained.

Fourth, there IS a difference in tone. I was frankly surprised (I made the change 3 years back and I cannot really remember) when my bandmate changed his 2 months back, his pedals responded and reacted differently. Perhaps because the current was regulated and constant, so the pedals got the correct amperage without fluctuation. His Danelectro Transparent Overdrive went from something that was slightly 'fake' sounding (but still good nonetheless) to something that sounded damn boutique (I told him that tone is worth $200 at least). This may seem surprising but it happened and I am inclined to believe that this will apply to everyone.

Hope this helps. If you make the change, go for something tried and tested like Voodoo Labs and CIOKS. I love T-Rex but their PSUs aren't regulated as claimed (check out what P.Cioks has to say about their marketing which in statistical terms was impossible to deliver unlike what T-Rex advertised).

[Blues Lyne]

One of the big differences is that each outlet on a Pedal Power or Supa Charger is isolated from the others. When you daisy chain pedals you are susceptible to ground loops, which cause noise. This is because there is a ground connection between the pedals through the patch cables and through the power supply. With isolated outputs there is no ground connection between pedals from the power supply. But, not all brick type power supplies have isolated outputs. Many are really no different than daisy chaining all of your pedals.

Some people use a One-Spot type PS with no problems, however. I had one for a while and at first it seemed to work fine, but after about a year or so, it got incredibly noisy. I switched to a Supa Charger and the noise is gone.

[tdk8709]

Isolated power, constant appropriate current to each pedal, can be installed neatly on many boards, and a courtesy outlet!

[jb4674]

Two words: Isolated Ouputs.

[CodeMonk]

I used to have a 1 Spot (Gave it to a friend), now I use the Pedal Power.

Some pedals don't do well with daisy chained power.

[chervokas]

In addition to the ground loop hum that you can have when daisy chaining (and which, in my experience, you will run into at some point if you're daisy chaining), the 1-Spot is also a switching power supply which -- even if it's well regulated in terms of ripple on the line to the pedals -- will generate a more problematic EMF radiation field of its own compared with a linear power supply with toroidal transformers so you'll have to be more careful with placement. You need to keep those switching power supplies as far as possible from any signal carrying cables as well as from pickups and of course the pedals themselves. And without sufficient regulation a switching power supply will generate plenty of line noise of it's own.

[fr8_trane]

Soon as they come out with a $30 pedal power I'm all over it.

I've had 2 one spots for over 5 years and had exactly zero issues.

[tander04]

Originally Posted by fr8_trane

Soon as they come out with a $30 pedal power I'm all over it.

I've had 2 one spots for over 5 years and had exactly zero issues.

I completely agree, I have never had an issue with noise from my onespot. I guess it just depends on your setup, if a onespot doesn't affect your tone I would keep using it

[charless]

I plug my 1Spot into my Furman SPB-8 AC outlet ... I suppose that is why I never hear any noise? The power its receiving is conditioned power?

Anybody else plugging their 1Spot into a Furman Power Conditioner and noticing NO noise issues?

[sub rosa]

7 years and counting! Never a problem with the trusty ol' Pedal Power 2!