The Behringer Zentara is a transparent overdrive pedal from Behringer, announced in October 2026 in four versions: a full size Zentara and a smaller Zentara Mini, each offered in gold and silver finishes1. All four are available now, with most stockists selling them for $75.90 apiece1.
Under the hood, the Zentara is a Klon Centaur clone. Guitar World describes it as carrying the same circuitry as its predecessor, the Centara Overdrive, with no tonal differences between the two pedals1. Behringer positions it as a "Legendary Transparent Boost Overdrive with Huge Dynamic Range, Gain on Tap and Soft Clipping Germanium Diodes"2.
What it does: a transparent Klon-style overdrive
The Zentara belongs to the family of pedals built around the Klon Centaur circuit. The original Centaur, designed by Bill Finnegan, was intended to improve on the Tube Screamer's transient response and its midrange and bass behavior, creating a big, open sound with a hint of tube clipping, the approach that came to be called transparent overdrive4. Analysis of the ungooped schematic showed the Klon was not a slightly modified Tube Screamer but a sophisticated design that effectively created the transparent overdrive category5. Original Centaurs now sell for thousands used6.
Behringer's version follows that template. The company says the Zentara's transparent circuit preserves the character of your guitar and amp, and that it responds well to picking dynamics: you can play lightly for a cleaner tone or dig in to make the guitar and amp roar2. Replicating the transparency of the original was a key goal, according to Guitar World1.
The pedal works three ways, as Behringer describes it782:
- Clean boost: gain dialed back, useful for lifting a solo
- Pushing an amp: in front of an amp at the edge of breakup, gain around 60% with the other controls at noon
- Full overdrive: gain turned up for saturation
Guitar World also notes the pedals can be stacked together for even more output1.
The controls
The Zentara carries the control set of the circuit it is based on: Gain, Treble and an output level control, as on the original1. The gain control is the heart of the design.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | A dual potentiometer, described by Behringer as an improved version of the original concentric gain control. Dial in a completely clean signal, or more overdrive mixed in as the knob turns up97. Guitar World characterizes its range as subtle touches of grit to full blown overdrive bite1. |
| Treble | Sets the high end, as on the original circuit1. |
| Output | Sets the level feeding your amp1. |
Because the gain control reaches a completely clean signal, the Zentara can sit at the front of a board as a pure level boost and still be available for drive when needed978.
Where it came from
The Zentara is the latest name for Behringer's long-running Klon copy. The pedal began as the Behringer Centaur, was renamed and redesigned as the Centara Overdrive, and now ships as the Zentara and Zentara Mini. Guitar World calls it a controversial pedal that remains the same under the hood through these changes1. The earlier full size version was listed at $66.00 when it sold under its previous name5.
The Zentara Mini is a smaller version of the same pedal. Guitar World reports the Mini uses the same circuitry as the full size Zentara, with no tonal differences between them1. Behringer describes the Mini as bringing transparent boost and expressive overdrive to a compact pedal3.
If you already own a Centara, there is no sound reason to swap it for a Zentara: the circuitry is the same and there are no tonal differences between the two, per Guitar World1.
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Questions
Is the Behringer Zentara the same as the Centara?
In circuit terms, yes. Guitar World reports the Zentara uses the same circuitry as its predecessor, the Centara, with no tonal differences between the two. The Zentara line adds gold and silver finishes and a smaller Zentara Mini, but the sound is unchanged from the earlier pedal.
Is the Zentara a Klon Centaur clone?
Yes. Guitar World describes the Zentara as a Klon Centaur clone that remains the same under the hood as Behringer's earlier version. Behringer itself calls it a transparent boost overdrive with soft clipping germanium diodes, the clipping approach associated with the original Klon circuit.
How much does the Behringer Zentara cost?
Guitar World reported in October 2026 that most stockists sell all four Zentara pedals, the full size and Mini in gold and silver, for $75.90 apiece. An earlier gearnews article listed the full size pedal at $66.00 when it shipped under the previous name.
Can the Zentara be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Behringer says to dial back the gain for a clean boost, ideal for kicking on during a solo, or to run it in front of an amp at the edge of breakup with gain around 60% and the other controls at noon. Turning the gain up full gives saturated overdrive.
Does the Zentara use germanium diodes?
Yes. Behringer's product pages describe the Zentara as a transparent boost overdrive with huge dynamic range, gain on tap and soft clipping germanium diodes. Germanium clipping is part of what ties the circuit to the Klon Centaur design it is based on.
Can you stack two Zentara pedals?
Yes. Guitar World notes that the Zentara pedals can be stacked together for even more gain and push. Because the gain control runs from a completely clean signal to full overdrive, one unit can be set low as a boost while a second carries the drive.
Sources (9)
- Behringer revives Klon Centaur clone as Zentara after lawsuit, Guitar World, 2026-10-08
- ZENTARA OVERDRIVE SILVER, Behringer
- ZENTARA MINI-SR, Behringer
- Klon Centaur Analysis, GuitarPCB
- The Myth in the Box: Inside the Klon Centaur Phenomenon, gearnews.com, 2026-07-04
- Klon™ Centaur™ Clone Kit: Build a Klon Overdrive for $61, generalguitargadgets.com, 2014-09-11
- ZENTARA OVERDRIVE, Behringer
- ZENTARA OVERDRIVE SILVER, Behringer
- ZENTARA OVERDRIVE, Behringer
