Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus

(Originally written by drapeau_rouge/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Vintage analog chorus effect: Maxon CS 550. One input and two outputs. When both outputs are used channel A delivers the effect signal and channel B the dry source signal.

9-volt input with negative center, which allows you to easily power the pedal (I personally use my Cioks Big John so I don't use the PSU provided...). The pedal has a low power consumption (12 or 13 mA), which is convenient!

The pedal size is less convenient: it's very bulky for my pedal board! It has almost the same dimensions as a Big Muff Pi... Luckily, the inputs and outputs are placed on the sides of the housing...

Four controls: Delay time, depth, speed and a very small control on the top of the pedal to adjust the wet/dry balance... Comprehensive!

I give it an 8 because of the size.

UTILIZATION

Plug'n'play effect: just turn the controls and listen to the sound... In the worst case, read the user's manual to understand the controls and get nice setting ideas!

The small control on the top of the housing is not easy to use... But it's a minor detail...

The device looks great, the silk screen print is very nice... This pedal looks beautiful!

No switching noises, sturdy switch... No complaints!! And to top it off, the effect on/off LED also displays the battery status...

10 / 10.

SOUND QUALITY

It produces the nicest chorus I've ever heard on my CDs and my guitar.

I already owned a Voodoo Lab Chorus ('76 Boss CE1 reissue), I tested some EH Nano Clone and Small Clone and a Boss Chorus...

They all sounded artificial! With this one, the sound is... WONDERFUL, very WARM and vintage... It produces a terrific sound. It even sounds good for Metallica!!!

With distortion it also provides a extremely good sound. It's a delight!

From a filtered sound to a light chorus effect and strong and/or fast chorus, a sort of tremolo, vibrato and unique effects... Everything is possible.

The main advantage of this pedal is its delay time, which influences the frequency response of the effect... It's great!!!! 10 / 10, I love it.

OVERALL OPINION

It has some small cons (size and price) but overall it's a great product!

The price is somewhat high for a chorus pedal but.. You won't regret having bought it! I don't regret my purchase!

I just found the chorus I'll use my whole life... Test it and look at the review on Youtube...

The CS 550 is a really questionable color effects pedal "Chorus", although I had the AD-999 delay and there was really vomit ... It is part of the series "Vintage" from Maxon. The CS 550 is equipped with two Panasonic MN3207 BBD processors rather known in the world of audiophiles because they have equipped many effects pedals, including the famous Boss CE-1 released in 1976.
CS 550, without being ultra high energy (58 mA), can not accommodate 9V battery in it. Fortunately, Maxon provides a transformer to feed this big baby blue sky that holds a good place in the pedalboard (it's not the size of a Big Muff U.S. but rather respectable).
The settings are not very complicated. A speed knob that adjusts the speed of the effect, a "Depht" for the depth of the effect, a "Delay-Time" which mixes the quaver of the two processors together to produce something completely crazy found and disjointed, and finally a "M-Level" on the front that allows dosing the original signal (unaffected) and effect.
So we have a full chorus without being overly complex and that will allow to generate the full effects "choruses".
Finally, note the true-bypass switch a presence and a second outlet in order to use two amps in stereo.

UTILIZATION

The use is fairly easy and starting with the settings to zero, the sound sculpting without too much difficulty. If you want simple, you have to play with "speed" and "depht" already allow for a broad sound palette. If you want to make a striped chorus really must bring "Delay Time" in dance. If after that you're not satisfied, you can always get a chorus effect this by using the "M-Level" to increase the presence of the effect in your sound.
The manual provides examples of settings quite nice to see a few seconds the possibilities of the pedal ...

SOUND QUALITY

... And the possibilities are enormous! Chorus light, big chorus, chorus, tremolo, flanger faux Effect Leslie, close anything that chorus goes very far into delirium with little background noise.
The grain is beautiful, vintage and hot desire. The settings take you very far and you can get a huge anything when everything is thoroughly. Whether you are a fan arpeggios like "Metallica", plans chorus style "Police" or "Nirvana" (the intro to Come As You Are), anything goes.

OVERALL OPINION

I have long owned a Voodoo Lab Analog Chorus, replica Boss CE-1 of 1976, which used the same processors. It was really excellent but I reproached lack of amplitude settings that led me to play with two potentiometers in the last quarter of the race.
I finally found the chorus of my life and it will never leave my pedalboard.
The SC 550 meets all my criteria in addition to a truly beautiful sound: capacity settings, ease, reliability, and technical characteristics (true-bypass, stereo).
I never had the opportunity to listen to the chorus of the other brand apart on Youtube ... The closest is the CS-9 Pro which I personally found a bit bland, modern and with a neutral grain.
The main shortcoming of the Maxon CS550 is its price ... However, I would do this choice 1000 times.

1 Input Jack right
2 Output jack (for stereo) to the left

On top
A knob "Speed" (Speed)
A knob "Depth" (Depth)
A knob "D. Time (Delay)
A Switch On / Off

A small button "blend" on the rear edge of the pedal to mix the sound changed - a real plus.
Comes with 9V DC transformer yet classic in classic ... But the competition is selling "cheap" but without transfo ... I appreciate.

Anyway I have not chosen for the look or size too big for this pedal. I do not like his style or color ... matter of taste ... Finally we do not care ... what matters is the sound, right?

UTILIZATION

There are only three buttons to adjust ... but the extent of the settings for each volume pot is such that we can create a variety of effects "chorus / tremolo" really superb.

So just "manually" but requires patience to find the desired sound, the sound must be for a particular piece ... Music is really, what!

All background is "unworkable", but at least it proves that there really is an amplitude sound interesting.

I insist on the small button that adjusts the percentage between the direct sound and the sound changed ... It allows you to add "volume" or not, to "boost" the sound or otherwise reduce the ... A tiny knob that should be on any bike ... You agree that music is a matter of balance and volume control ... Faultless, what!

SOUND QUALITY

I mainly play a Takamine + micro rosette. The chorus really gives a fantastic sound.

So far I have never liked the "chorus" ... But so far I had chorus in multi-effects I am more and more of that and I substituted the pedals as simple as possible and better. It has nothing to do finance standpoint, but the purchase of the Maxon CS-550 is really a kind of additional instrument ... you can really add sound to his guitar, and set the pile of ass around with the songs we play ...

It may very well create a slight tremolo sound of a deep and resonant chorus at will, as a slight modulation perfect for thickening a bit of a rhythm ... So it's a creative tool subtle but easy to address.

OVERALL OPINION

I have not tried that evening ...

But I found the Chorus! It really came out as if my guitar sound weird ... AC did not "like a chorus I glue" that alters the original sound ... NOT a fart breath! That guitar sound that is modulated through the 3 settings ..

Well, yes! It's € 235! Chorus There are cheaper or even multiple effects pedals armored ... but not be fooled! It will never have the same quality as a dedicated pedal.

Come on, I would say that perhaps a lack of EQ settings, as MXR Stereo Chorus on ... but the salesman steered me to the Maxon ... and I can only trust him since he tried and he has chosen each pedal in the store ...

In short, if you are looking for quality simplissime ... Maxon choose ... you will not be disappointed