The Arkham Sound Oracle v2 is a single-channel vacuum tube preamp that also works as a DI and booster, built in a pedalboard-sized chassis. Arkham describes it as inspired by the iconic Portaflex bass amps of the 1960s, and at its center is a single 12AX7 tube, selected for low noise and good tone. The circuit is analog throughout1.
A tube preamp in a pedalboard-sized chassis
The Oracle began as a way to put the tone of Arkham Sound's amps on a pedalboard. Bass Musician Magazine's Jake Wolf, reviewing the original Oracle in May 2020, described it as "a high-voltage vacuum tube preamplifier, featuring Arkham's signature EQ and tone stack," and credited Arkham's Micah Smaldone with creating it from customer requests for that amp tone in a pedalboard-friendly package2.
The v2 carries the same idea forward as a combined DI, preamp and booster. The tube runs hot: the pedal is fed by an internal 300VDC power supply, which Wolf called part of the Oracle's magic12. On controls, the review describes an Input Gain and Master Volume, plus boost switches for Hi, Mid and Low2.
Wolf's verdict on the original's sound:
"The Arkham immediately felt more 3D and rich, with a wide dynamic range and lots of punch."
He placed it against a popular 9V-powered pedalboard bass preamp and found the Oracle richer and more dynamic, with its DNA rooted in tubey, vintage tone and voicing while still covering a wide tonal range2. He also praised the build: a beautifully designed, silk-screened, heavy-duty chassis with top-shelf components2.
Power and connections
The Oracle v2 runs from a 9V DC center-negative supply but draws 1500mA, so it needs a supply output that can deliver that current; a standard daisy chain or a low-current output will not do1.
At 1500mA, the Oracle v2 draws more current than most pedalboard power supply outputs provide. Plan for a dedicated high-current output.
Connections and outputs:
- Buffered 1/4" output, which RockBoard's PedalPedia says provides ample gain to feed a modern power amp or the line input of a recording interface1
- Two 1/4" outputs on the reviewed original2
- No balanced XLR DI output: Wolf noted that players who want one have to step up to Arkham's flagship Zephyr preamp2
Oracle v1 and v2
The v2 is a brand new version of the original Oracle. Arkham listed the v1 as a preamp, buffer, equalizer and booster, while the v2 presents itself as a DI, preamp and booster1. Both share the single-channel tube preamp concept and the pedalboard-sized chassis12.
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Questions
What tube does the Arkham Sound Oracle v2 use?
The heart of the Oracle v2 is a single 12AX7 tube, selected for low noise and good tone according to the maker. The tube runs at high voltage inside the pedal, fed by an internal 300VDC power supply, which is part of what gives the preamp its headroom and dynamic response compared with lower-voltage tube designs.
Does the Arkham Sound Oracle have an XLR DI output?
No. Reviewer Jake Wolf of Bass Musician Magazine noted that the Oracle does not have a balanced XLR DI output, and that players who need one have to step up to Arkham Sound's flagship Zephyr preamp. The Oracle does provide a buffered 1/4-inch output that can feed a power amp or the line input of a recording interface.
Can the Oracle v2 run on a 9V pedal power supply?
It runs from a 9V DC center-negative supply, but it draws 1500mA, which is far more than most pedal power supply outputs provide. In practice it needs its own dedicated supply output rather than a shared daisy chain, and many multi-output supplies cannot feed it at all.
What is the difference between Oracle v1 and v2?
The v2 is a brand new version of the original Oracle, which Arkham Sound listed as a preamp, buffer, equalizer and booster. The v2 keeps the single-channel tube preamp concept and its signature EQ and tone stack, presented as a combined DI, preamp and booster in one pedalboard-friendly chassis.
Who designed the Arkham Sound Oracle?
According to Bass Musician Magazine, Arkham's Micah Smaldone created the Oracle based on feedback from customers who wanted the tone of Arkham's amps in a pedalboard-friendly package. The review was published in May 2020.
Sources (2)
- Oracle v2 by Arkham Sound, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Arkham Sound Oracle Preamp Review, Bass Musician Magazine, 2020-05-04