The Bright Onion Pedals Stereo AB Output Switch v2 is a utility pedal for players who need to send one stereo signal to either of two stereo destinations. A single stereo input feeds the pedal, and a heavy duty footswitch selects which of the two stereo outputs it is routed to. Typical uses include choosing between two stereo amplifiers or rigs, or between a live setup and a recording feed, without repatching cables mid-gig1.
It is version 2 of Bright Onion Pedals' original Stereo AB pedal, and the maker describes the update plainly: "This is version 2 of or original Stereo AB pedal with added status LEDs and the signal switching done via gold plated re[lays]"1. So the two changes over the first version are status LEDs showing which output is active, and relay-based signal switching in place of the original's 4PDT footswitch contact arrangement12.
What it does and how it is controlled
The pedal is a passive-signal routing tool rather than an effect: it does not process your tone, it moves it. One stereo input (a single TRS connection carrying left and right) enters the pedal, and the heavy duty footswitch flips the signal between output A and output B, both stereo. The status LEDs added in v2 show at a glance which output is live, which the original pedal could not do. Bright Onion Pedals notes of the original that "due to the single switch function of this pedal it is not possible to have a status LED," which is exactly the limitation version 2 was built to remove2.
All connections are Neutrik plug sockets, and the whole thing sits in an aluminum enclosure measuring 110 x 60 x 31mm, small enough for a tight board1.
Power
The pedal runs on a 2.1mm center negative 9V DC socket and draws 60mA1. Bright Onion Pedals' instruction is specific: "If the pedal is powered, use only a 9v DC Centre Negative 2.1mm barrel power supply"1.
There is no battery option. Bright Onion Pedals states "Our products contain no batteries or lead," so the pedal needs a free 9V output on your pedalboard power supply1.
How it differs from the related Bright Onion switches
Bright Onion Pedals makes several pedals in this family, and the differences come down to direction and features:
| Pedal | Routing | Status LEDs | Switching | Power draw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stereo AB Output Switch v2 | One stereo input to two stereo outputs | Yes | Gold plated relays | 60mA1 |
| Stereo AB Output Switch (v1) | One stereo input to two stereo outputs | No | 4PDT heavy duty footswitch | 2 |
| Stereo AB Input Switch v2 | Two stereo inputs to one stereo output | Yes | Gold plated relays | 60mA3 |
| Stereo AB Input Switch (v1) | Two stereo inputs to one stereo output | No | 4PDT heavy duty footswitch | 4 |
| Dual AB Switch v2 | Yes | 70mA5 |
The closest sibling is the Stereo AB Input Switch, which does the same job in the opposite direction: it selects between two stereo inputs and routes the chosen one to a single stereo output, useful for choosing between two instruments or two stereo sources into one rig4. The v2 of that pedal carries the same upgrades as this one, status LEDs and gold plated relay switching, at the same 60mA draw3.
The original Stereo AB Output Switch remains listed by the maker, which points v1 buyers needing LEDs to this v2 pedal: "If you need status LEDs check out our [Stereo AB Output v2 Switch]"2. The Dual AB Switch v2 adds status LEDs of its own but draws 70mA, slightly more than this pedal's 60mA, and was listed as sold out at the time of writing51.
Where it sits on a pedalboard
Because it is a switching utility rather than a tone-shaping effect, the pedal draws only 60mA, so it earns its space by solving a routing problem rather than adding a sound1. The relay switching in v2 is the practical upgrade for players who switch outputs mid-song: relays avoid running the audio through the footswitch contacts themselves, and the LEDs remove any guesswork about which output is live on a dark stage1.
Questions
What is the difference between the Stereo AB Output Switch and the Stereo AB Input Switch?
The Output Switch takes a single stereo input and lets you select which of two stereo outputs it goes to, for example choosing between two stereo destinations. The Input Switch does the reverse: it selects between two stereo inputs and routes the chosen one to a single stereo output. Both are made by Bright Onion Pedals and share the same enclosure size and power requirements.
Does the Stereo AB Output Switch v2 use relays?
Yes. Bright Onion Pedals states that in version 2 the signal switching is done via gold plated relays. This is an upgrade over the original Stereo AB Output Switch, which used a 4PDT heavy duty footswitch for the switching.
Does the Stereo AB Output Switch v2 have status LEDs?
Yes. Status LEDs are the main addition in version 2 over the original pedal, so you can see which of the two stereo outputs is active on a dark stage. The original Stereo AB Output Switch had no status LED at all, because its single switch function made one impossible.
Can the Stereo AB Output Switch v2 run on batteries?
No. Bright Onion Pedals states its products contain no batteries or lead. The pedal needs a 9V DC centre negative 2.1mm barrel power supply, drawing 60mA, so plan for a spot on a pedalboard power supply.
What size is the Stereo AB Output Switch v2?
The enclosure measures 110 x 60 x 31mm, the same footprint as the rest of Bright Onion Pedals' stereo AB line, including the Stereo AB Input Switch. It is an aluminium enclosure, so it is light and small enough to tuck into a corner of a pedalboard.
Sources (5)
- Stereo AB Output Switch v2, Bright Onion Pedals
- Stereo AB Output Switch, Bright Onion Pedals
- Stereo AB Input Switch v2, Bright Onion Pedals
- Stereo AB Input Switch, Bright Onion Pedals
- Dual AB Switch v2, Bright Onion Pedals
