The Bixonic Expandora Squared is an analog drive pedal from Bixonic that covers overdrive, distortion and fuzz tones in one box. It is a fresh recreation of the original round Expandora, a pedal released in the mid-1990s by the Japanese builder Bixonic, rebuilt in a compact orange enclosure with enhancements to the original schematic for improved headroom1. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as the company's standard production line pedal, custom made in batches with all of the standard specs2.
What it does: overdrive, fuzz and distortion
The Squared carries the Expandora's core idea: one pedal that moves between drive characters. Delicious Audio's write-up describes it as producing Crunch, Overdrive, Distortion and Fuzz modes, selected by two toggle switches offering four combinations in the final version1. The original Expandora reached a wide array of tones through a series of dip switches, internal at first and external later, that let the pedal sound like a distortion, an overdrive, or a fuzz1. For a player, that means one pedal can stand in for several stages of gain on a board, from a pushed overdrive to a full fuzz.
From the original Expandora to the Squared
The original Expandora was released in the mid-1990s by Japanese builder Bixonic1. The Squared is a variant of that original round pedal, hosted in a compact orange enclosure1. Two changes set it apart from the vintage unit: enhancements to the original schematic for improved headroom, and the squared housing in place of the round one1.
"The Expandora Squared is a fresh recreation of the vintage round Expandora from decades ago."
Circuit and swapping chips
RockBoard's PedalPedia specifies an OP07 single op amp chipset that is socketed for easy swapping, so the chip can be changed without soldering2. Delicious Audio's 2021 description of the circuit called it faithful to the original design, employing two vintage NOS LM308 single op-amp chips and a RC4558 dual op-amp1. The two accounts name different chips, so a player who cares about the specific op amp should treat the specification as differing between the maker's current listing and the 2021 press coverage. The clipping stage uses original spec silicon clipping diodes, per Bixonic2.
Because the op amp accounts disagree (OP07 from the maker's current page versus LM308 and RC4558 from 2021 press coverage), the fitted chip may depend on when a unit was made.
Power and practical specs
The Squared runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 15mA, figures from Bixonic's product page2. That is a modest draw by pedalboard standards, well within what a standard isolated supply handles. No battery option or polarity exceptions are listed beyond the center negative requirement.
Videos
Ryan Kiesshauer
Expandora Pedals
Questions
What power supply does the Bixonic Expandora Squared need?
The Expandora Squared runs on a 9V DC, center negative supply, the same standard as most compact pedals, and draws 15mA according to Bixonic's product page. That low current draw means a standard isolated pedalboard supply should handle it without trouble.
Is the Expandora Squared analog or digital?
It is an analog pedal. Bixonic lists the circuit type as analog on the product page, and the Squared is described as the maker's standard production line pedal rather than a custom or digital design.
Can the op amp be swapped on the Expandora Squared?
Yes. Bixonic specifies an OP07 single op amp chipset that is socketed for easy swapping, so a player can change the chip without soldering. Note that Delicious Audio's 2021 write-up described the circuit as using two vintage NOS LM308 single op-amp chips plus a RC4558 dual op-amp, so the chip specification differs between accounts.
How is the Expandora Squared different from the original Expandora?
The Squared is a fresh recreation of the original round Expandora released in the mid-1990s by Japanese builder Bixonic. Enhancements were made to the original schematic for improved headroom, and the enclosure is compact and squared off rather than round. Bixonic also states it is custom made in batches with all of the standard specs.
What clipping diodes does the Expandora Squared use?
Bixonic lists original spec silicon clipping diodes in the Squared, matching the parts used in the original Expandora design.
Sources (2)
- Expandora Squared Overdrive/Distortion/Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2021-09-07
- Expandora Squared by Bixonic, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
