MXR Iso-Brick review

Let there be power!

  • £129
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MusicRadar Verdict

With plenty of options for a mixed range of power-hungry pedals that will cover most pedalboards' needs, the Iso-Brick offers great value for money.

Pros

  • +

    A great all-in-one solution.

Cons

  • -

    None.

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A pedalboard festooned with various wall-wart power adaptors for individual pedals isn't practical; the smart option is an all-in-one pedalboard power supply to power all the pedals that runs from a single mains outlet.

There are several factors to be taken into account when choosing one, not least that it can supply the correct voltages and current requirements for your pedals - especially if you have high-current ones.

Obviously, the more outlets it has, the better, but then there's the size... Yet MXR may have it sussed with the Iso-Brick, which offers 10 fully isolated outputs in a compact housing.

In Use

MXR has got around the size issue by powering the Iso Brick from its own 18-volt wall-wart rather than going the robust mains lead/toroidal transformer route of Voodoo Lab and Cioks, which some might prefer, but it's still quiet and ground loop-free.

You get two each of nine-volt outlets at 100mA, 300mA and 450mA plus two 18-volt outlets at 250mA. On top of that there are two more outlets at 250mA, which each have a knob to vary the voltage between six volts and 15 volts - great if you want to simulate a weak battery in a fuzz box or power a 12-volt pedal, for example.

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.