The Donner Echo Square is a compact digital delay pedal from Donner that puts seven different delay modes in one small box: Digital, Analog Tape, Mod, Sweep, Lofi and Reverse12. Donner describes it as a way for a variety of delay effects to add musical color to your tone1. Instead of buying separate pedals for a clean digital repeat, a tape style wobble or a backwards swell, the Echo Square lets you switch between all of them in one unit.
It is a true bypass pedal, so when it is switched off the signal passes through without tonal coloration2. The enclosure is an aluminum alloy metal case, with an LED that shows whether the effect is engaged2.
Seven delay modes in one pedal
The Echo Square's main draw is its mode selection. One pedal gives you seven different delay effects1:
- Digital: clean, accurate repeats
- Analog Tape: darker repeats with tape style character
- Mod: modulation added to the repeats
- Sweep: a sweeping filter effect on the delay
- Lofi: degraded, lo fi repeat character
- Reverse: repeats played backwards12
Because it is a digital pedal, all seven modes are modeled in one unit rather than built from separate analog circuits2. For a player building a first pedalboard, that range means one small box can cover everything from a straightforward slapback echo to the more textured Reverse and Lofi sounds, without needing to learn several different pedals.
Controls and connections
The control set is minimal. Donner lists a Level knob that controls the volume of the effected sound2. Mode selection covers the rest of the pedal's behavior.
Connections are simple: a 1/4" mono input jack and a 1/4" mono output jack2. There is no stereo operation, so it sits in a standard mono signal chain, guitar to pedal to amp.
Power and connections: 9V, 140mA
The Echo Square runs on a 9V DC power adapter with center negative polarity, drawing 140mA2. Donner's guidance on the Mexican product page specifies an adapter with 9V DC, internal negative and external positive polarity2.
The Echo Square takes no battery1. With a 140mA draw, it needs a proper 9V DC power supply or an isolated pedalboard output, not a battery clip.
The two Donner product pages disagree on whether a power supply comes in the box. The US page reports no power supply included1, while the Mexican page lists a 9V DC center negative adapter as included2. A US buyer should plan on using their own supply.
Price and availability
On Donner's US store the Echo Square is listed at a regular price of $89.99 USD, with a sale price of $51.99 USD1. On the Mexican store it is listed at 1,199.00 MXN and shown as sold out2. Donner accepts returns within 30 days of receipt1, and the pedal carries a 1 year warranty under which Donner will repair or replace the item2.
What players do with it
Two players reporting on Donner's product page describe specific uses. One runs it as an always on ultra short delay in the effects loop of his combo amp1, a placement that suits time based effects since it delays the whole preamped signal rather than just the raw guitar. Another uses it with an electric cello, finding that a little echo always helps1.
"I use the echo square as an always on ultra short delay in the fx loop in my combo amp."
Where it sits in Donner's delay lineup
Donner makes a range of delay pedals alongside the Echo Square, including the Yellow Fall mini analog delay, the DSP based Versa Yellow Fall 2 delay and reverb pedal, and the White Tape stereo tape style echo345. Compared with those single purpose pedals, the Echo Square is the multi mode option, trading the simplicity of a one sound pedal for seven switchable delay types in one compact enclosure.
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Questions
Is the Donner Echo Square true bypass?
Yes. Donner lists the Echo Square as true bypass, so the signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off, with no added tonal coloration. It is a digital pedal, but the switching is designed to keep your clean tone intact between delay repeats.
Does the Donner Echo Square come with a power supply?
It depends on where you buy it. Donner's US product page reports that no power supply is included, while the Mexican product page lists a 9V DC center negative adapter as included. If you are ordering in the United States, plan on supplying your own 9V DC power.
Does the Donner Echo Square take a battery?
No. The Echo Square runs on a 9V DC power adapter only, with center negative polarity, and draws 140mA. There is no battery option, so it needs a spot on a pedalboard power supply or its own adapter.
Does the Donner Echo Square have a reverse delay?
Yes. Reverse is one of the seven delay modes, alongside Digital, Analog Tape, Mod, Sweep and Lofi. Reverse delay plays the repeats backward, an effect players often use for swells and ambient textures.
Can the Echo Square go in an amp's effects loop?
Yes. One player reporting on Donner's product page says he uses the Echo Square as an always on ultra short delay in the effects loop of his combo amp, which is a common place for time based effects like delay and reverb.
Sources (5)
- Donner 7-Mode Delay Pedal Echo Square Multi-Effect Guitar Pedal, Donner (us.donnermusic.com)
- Donner Pedal de retardo digital de 7 modos Pedal de guitarra multiefec, Donner Music (mx.donnermusic.com)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X
- Donner White Tape Stereo Analog Dual Echo, Delicious Audio, 2022-02-03
- Bored of your 'board? Stomp this way for the must-have new guitar effects pedals of 2024, musicradar.com, 2024-03-28
