Donner DP-2 Power Supply Review: Budget-Friendly or Just Trouble?
The Donner DP-2 power supply has been making waves as one of the most affordable multi-output options on the market. But is it really a reliable choice for your pedalboard, or does the low price come with high risks? Let’s break it down.
Marcelo Dominguez
4/6/20252 min read
Tech Specs
– What Does the Donner DP-2 Offer?
The Donner DP-2 features 10 supposedly isolated outputs:
Outputs 1 to 6: 9V DC, 100mA each
Outputs 7 & 8: 9V DC, 500mA each
Output 9: 12V DC, 500mA
Output 10: 18V DC, 500mA
It comes with an included 18V adapter, which theoretically should provide more headroom than a standard 9V one.
Real-World Test – 10 Pedals, One Power Supply
We tested the Donner DP-2 with ten pedals, including:
A tuner (running off the volume pedal’s output)
Overdrive, compression, analog delay, modulation (high current draw)
Reverberator (over 250mA)
Golden Boy Overdrive, Wampler Plexi Drive, and the notorious “Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay & Looper Pedal”, which acted up during the test.
Pedals were connected according to their voltage and current requirements.
Issues Detected – Noise, Whines & Interference
Once powered up, we immediately noticed:
A high-pitched whine (even without touching the guitar)
Minor interference noises when engaging multiple pedals
Unstable behavior: one pedal (the Canyon) turned on by itself and blinked erratically
Even though the outputs are labeled “isolated,” these noise issues suggest otherwise. True isolation should eliminate such interference—especially with high-draw digital pedals like reverb and delay.
Sound Quality – No Headroom Benefit
We expected increased headroom from the 12V and 18V outputs. However:
No noticeable tone improvement at 18V (compared to other units)
No gain in clarity or dynamics, especially for compressors or overdrives
Compared to the One Spot Truetone CS12 or CS7, the DP-2 falls short
Final Thoughts – Not Worth the Trouble
While the price is attractive, the Donner DP-2 did not deliver reliable performance in our tests. Compared to a One Spot Truetone daisy chain, we saw similar or even worse results with the Donner DP-2. And that’s disappointing.
Our Verdict: Skip it. Unless Donner improves isolation and consistency, this power brick creates more problems than it solves.
Better Alternatives?
Yes! Check out our full review of the Caline CP-207, another affordable power supply that performs significantly better under stress.
Watch the Full Video
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