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USER GUIDE FOR POWER SUPPLIES

M2 Labs designs and manufactures 100% analog pedals. Because analog circuits are highly sensitive, it’s crucial to use a clean, well-regulated power source. Below, you’ll find essential information on choosing the right power supply—plus details on the Coda Music Technologies power supply included in the box.

WHY CLEAN POWER MATTERS

Any noise or fluctuations in your power source can be amplified by analog pedals, causing hum, buzz, or other unwanted sounds. A high-quality supply with noise filtering and/or isolated outputs ensures your pedal’s true tone remains pure and uncolored.

INCLUDED POWER SUPPLY FROM CODA MUSIC TECHNOLOGIES

With every M2 Labs pedal, we include a single-output power adapter manufactured by Coda Music Technologies. This power adapter is tailored to meet the needs of our all-analog designs and offers:

  1. Overload Protection

    • Prevents damage to both your pedal and the power supply by shutting down if the load exceeds safe limits.

  2. Noise & Hum Reduction (Magnetic Ring Solution)

    • Equipped with a built-in magnetic ring (ferrite choke) on the cable to filter out high-frequency noise and reduce hum.

  3. Reusable Velcro Cable Wrap

    • Simplifies cable management, keeping your power cable neatly organized on your pedalboard or in your gig bag.

Note: This Coda Music Technologies power supply is perfect for single-pedal use. If you only need to power one M2 Labs pedal, it provides a stable, noise-free source with built-in protective features.

POWERING A SINGLE M2 LABS PEDAL

If you need to power only one M2 Labs pedal:

  • Use the included Coda Music Technologies adapter:

    • It’s well-regulated, has built-in noise filtering, and includes overload protection.

    • The magnetic ring reduces high-frequency interference, and the reusable cable wrap keeps everything tidy.

  • Other Single Adapters (If you choose not to use the included one):

    • Truetone 1 Spot (basic single adapter)

    • Boss PSA-120 / PSA Series

    • Godlyke Power-All

All of these provide stable, regulated 9V DC (center-negative) and are suitable alternatives—though they may lack some of the additional protective and organizational features the Coda supply includes.

POWERING MULTIPLE M2 LABS PEDALS

For 2 or more pedals, it’s best to use a multi-output supply with robust filtering and true isolation between outputs. Recommended options include:

  1. Voodoo Lab Pedal Power Series

    • Pedal Power 2 Plus, 4x4, Mondo, Digital

    • Linear regulation, individually isolated outputs, excellent noise suppression.

  2. Cioks DC-Series

    • DC5, DC7, DC8, etc.

    • Compact form factors, multiple voltage options, high-quality isolation and filtering.

  3. Strymon Zuma / Ojai

    • Advanced switch-mode technology with isolation per output.

    • Very quiet operation for analog pedals.

  4. Truetone 1 Spot Pro Series

    • CS6, CS7, CS12

    • Fully isolated outputs, high current capacity, proven low-noise performance.

POWER SUPPLIES TO AVOID

  1. Daisy-Chain Wall-Wart Adapters

    • Minimal to no isolation or noise filtering.

    • Common culprits include a single adapter with a chain of multiple barrel connectors.

  2. “Budget Bricks” That Aren’t Truly Isolated

    • Older Joyo, Caline, Donner, or unbranded eBay/Amazon supplies that claim isolation but use simple splitting.

    • Often result in cross-pedal noise or ground loops.

  3. Unregulated Adapters

    • Supply fluctuating voltage that can damage your pedal or introduce excessive hum.

BEST PRACTICES FOR M2 LABS PEDALS

  1. Check Voltage & Polarity

    • M2 Labs pedals typically require 9V, center-negative polarity.

  2. Allow Enough Current

    • Ensure the power supply output meets or exceeds the pedal’s current rating.

    • Extra headroom (e.g., 50–100mA more than required) promotes cleaner operation.

  3. Use Isolated Outputs for Multiple Pedals

    • Prevents noise and ground-loop issues when chaining multiple analog pedals.

  4. Organize Your Cables

    • Keep power cables separate from audio cables.

    • Use the included Velcro cable wrap to prevent tangles and reduce interference.

  5. Troubleshoot Methodically

    • If you hear noise, test pedals one at a time to isolate the issue.

    • Swap outputs or cables if necessary.

CONCLUSION

  • Single M2 Labs Pedal: Use the Coda Music Technologies adapter included in the box for best results. It provides overload protection, magnetic noise suppression, and comes with a reusable Velcro wrap for neat organization.

  • Multiple M2 Labs Pedals: Invest in a high-quality, fully isolated power supply (e.g., Voodoo Lab, Cioks, Strymon, Truetone Pro) to maintain a noise-free signal chain.

Thank you for choosing M2 Labs. We take pride in building 100% analog pedals that deliver pure, inspiring tone. If you have questions about power requirements or setup, please contact our support team. Enjoy making music without the noise!

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