The Caline CP-81 10 Band EQ is a simple and very affordable graphic EQ stompbox, with what Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio calls an overdrive "twist". It gives you ten sliders covering 31.25Hz to 16kHz, plus a volume channel that its predecessor, the Caline CP-24, did not have. At a list price of just over $50 USD as of January 2023, it sits in the same budget territory as the CP-24, which Griffin Jennings' buying guide for Delicious Audio noted offers a similar 10-band solution for under $4012.
The ten bands
A graphic EQ splits the audio spectrum into fixed bands, each with its own slider, so you can cut or boost a specific part of your tone: tame low-end boom, pull back harsh upper mids, or add top-end sparkle. The CP-81 covers a wide range for a pedal at this price, with sliders at1:
| Band | Center frequency |
|---|---|
| 1 | 31.25Hz |
| 2 | 62.5Hz |
| 3 | 125Hz |
| 4 | 250Hz |
| 5 | 500Hz |
| 6 | 1k Hz |
| 7 | 2k Hz |
| 8 | 4k Hz |
| 9 | 8k Hz |
| 10 | 16k Hz |
Delicious Audio's product page describes the range as letting you "sculpt frequencies" across those ten points1, and the site's later buying guide, by Griffin Jennings, called it "an impressively wide frequency range from 30hz to 16khz" for an affordable 10-band EQ2. The lowest band reaches well below a guitar's low E, which is part of why the same review notes the pedal "works well also with bass"1.
Power and bypass
The CP-81 runs on 9V DC center negative and draws 300mA, and no power supply is included in the box1. That current draw is worth noting: it is higher than many compact pedals need, so a low-current daisy-chain output may not be enough. A dedicated 9V adapter or a pedalboard power supply output rated for 300mA is the practical choice.
The CP-81's 300mA current draw rules out most battery-style assumptions: the published specification lists only 9V DC center negative power, with no supply included1.
The pedal is true bypass, so when it is off it does not affect your tone1. Its aluminum alloy casing matches the standard housing used across Caline's budget pedal range1.
CP-81 versus CP-24
The CP-81 is a direct update of Caline's earlier 10-band pedal. Delicious Audio's product page states that "The new 10 Band EQ is based on our CP-24 10 Band EQ, now with an added volume channel"1. The two share the same ten EQ band frequencies and both are true bypass13. The CP-24 was described by the same publication as "silent durable and easy to use"3. If you do not need the volume control, the Caline 10 Band EQ line and the smaller Caline CP-71 6 Band EQ cover similar ground at lower band counts.
For a look at where a graphic EQ like this sits on a board, see the site's guide to equalization pedals. Players who want to push the front of an amp with a frequency-shaped signal may also find the overdrive "twist" relevant, a territory covered more broadly under overdrive pedals.
Videos
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Pedal Experiments
Questions
Is the Caline CP-81 true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio describes the CP-81 as a true bypass pedal, meaning the signal passes through unaltered when the effect is switched off. The same source notes that it works well with bass as well as guitar, so it can sit on either kind of board without coloring the bypassed tone.
Does the Caline CP-81 come with a power supply?
No. Delicious Audio's product page lists the power requirement as 9V DC center negative, 300mA, and notes that a power supply is not included. You will need to provide your own 9V DC adapter or pedalboard power output that can supply the required current.
Can the Caline CP-81 run on a battery?
The published product page for the CP-81 lists only a 9V DC center negative power requirement of 300mA and states that the power supply is not included. It does not list battery operation, so plan on using a 9V DC adapter or a pedalboard power supply output.
What power supply does the Caline CP-81 need?
A 9V DC center negative supply capable of delivering 300mA, according to Delicious Audio's product page. Because of the 300mA current draw, a standard low-current daisy-chain output may not be enough; a dedicated adapter or a power supply output rated for the draw is the safe choice.
What is the difference between the Caline CP-81 and the CP-24?
The CP-81 is based on Caline's CP-24 10 Band EQ, with an added volume channel, according to Delicious Audio. Both pedals offer the same ten EQ bands at 31.25Hz through 16kHz and both are true bypass, so the volume control is the main addition on the newer pedal.
Where is the Caline CP-81 made?
China. Delicious Audio's product page states that the Caline CP-81 10 Band EQ is made in China, where the company builds its range of affordable pedals.
Sources (3)
- Caline CP-81 10 Band EQ, Delicious Audio, 2023-01-31
- 2023 UPDATE! Best EQ Pedals For Guitar: Graphic & Parametric, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-13
- Caline CP-24 10 Band Graphic EQ, Delicious Audio, 2020-11-24
