The Empress ParaEq MKII Deluxe is a three-band analog parametric EQ pedal with a footswitchable clean boost, made by Empress Effects. Each of its three bands offers 15dB of boost or cut with its own frequency, gain and Q controls, and the Deluxe adds high-pass and low-pass filters plus Baxandall shelving filters at the frequency extremes12. A separate boost circuit delivers up to +30dB3.
Empress launched the ParaEq MKII and ParaEq MKII Deluxe in November 2022 as a refresh of the original ParaEq, which the company says had been trusted by musicians on a variety of instruments for over a decade23. Empress calls the launch the biggest in its history4, and the ParaEq MKII Deluxe was the company's top-selling pedal of 20234.
What it does and how it sounds
A parametric EQ differs from the graphic EQs many players know: instead of fixed frequency bands, each band's center frequency, gain and bandwidth (Q) are set by the player. Empress says its minimal circuit topology, the opposite of graphic EQs, gives the most control without degradation to the tone1. Both the ParaEq MKII and the MKII Deluxe share what Empress describes as a low-noise, transparent signal path that is extremely versatile2.
The pedal operates internally at 27V, which Empress says is close to rackmount studio gear and provides enough clean headroom to handle even the most aggressive frequency boosts4. In an interview with GuitarPlayer, Empress head of engineering Jay Fee put it plainly:
"Although they are powered by a standard 9-volt DC connection, these pedals are running off 27 volts of headroom"6
Empress's own EQ guide suggests a working method for hunting down problem frequencies: set a narrow Q, boost the gain, and sweep the frequency knob until the problem area pops out, then cut it7.
The controls
The Deluxe carries a full set of knobs across two rows. The upper row handles the three parametric bands; the lower row handles the filters4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Low / Mid / High Freq | Sets the center frequency of each parametric band |
| Low / Mid / High Gain | 15dB of boost or cut per band2 |
| Low / Mid / High Q | Bandwidth of each band, fully variable on the Deluxe8 |
| HP Filter | High-pass filter, 10 to 330Hz5 |
| LP Filter | Low-pass filter for the top end |
| Low Shelf / High Shelf | Baxandall shelving filters4 |
| Boost | Up to +30dB of clean boost3 |
The lower knobs control high-pass, low-pass, and low- and high-shelf Baxandall filters4. In Premier Guitar's demo, John Bohlinger noted that "the deluxe version that I'm playing here adds fully variable bandwidth controls" over the standard model8.
The EQ and boost can run linked or independently. Empress says you can set the boost to only process signal while the EQ is active, or to function fully independent, "almost like having two pedals in one"4.
Power, connections and specifications
The ParaEq MKII Deluxe runs on a standard 9V DC center-negative supply through a 2.1mm barrel connector and draws 300mA1. There is no battery option; the 300mA draw means it needs a proper power supply output rather than a shared daisy chain.
The 300mA current requirement rules out a typical 9V battery or a low-current daisy chain output. Use an isolated or dedicated 9V DC supply capable of at least 300mA.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | 1MΩ4 |
| Output impedance | 100Ω4 |
| Frequency response | 22Hz to 25kHz (-3dB)1 |
| Headroom | +30dBu1 |
| Noise | > 107dB1 |
| Total harmonic distortion | < 0.05%1 |
| Weight | 1 lb1 |
ParaEq, MKII, Deluxe and the Black Sparkle edition
The family has three tiers. The original ParaEq ran for over a decade2. The ParaEq MKII, launched November 2022, refreshed it in a smaller enclosure with a redesigned circuit9. The MKII Deluxe keeps everything from the MKII and adds the filters and fully variable Q16.
| Version | What it adds |
|---|---|
| ParaEq MKII | Three parametric bands, 15dB boost/cut, selectable Q widths, +30dB boost29 |
| ParaEq MKII Deluxe | Adds HP/LP filters, shelving filters, fully variable bandwidth21011 |
| Black Sparkle Edition | Limited run of 500 pieces, identical internals, black sparkle finish45 |
Guitar World's EQ pedal buying guide notes that "the non-deluxe version of the ParaEQ ships without the HP/LP and shelving filters"11. In the same guide, the reviewers' verdict on the Deluxe was blunt:
"Simply put, there is no alternative to the Empress Para EQ in a compact format."11
In June 2024 Empress released a limited run of 500 pieces in a black sparkle finish45. Guitar Pedal X reported that the internals are the exact same as the standard Sky Blue edition, differing only in colourway, and that its author found it an always-on pedal with an extremely low noise floor, clarity and expansiveness5.
On bass and the Bass ParaEq
Empress says it built the Bass ParaEq after hearing from countless players who were already using the ParaEq MKII Deluxe on bass12. The Bass ParaEq adapts the same concept for low-frequency instruments, with frequency clusters changed and honed for bass rather than guitar. Bass players can use the ParaEq MKII Deluxe itself, but the dedicated version tailors its ranges to the instrument.
Who uses it
Empress's artist pages list a long roster of ParaEq MKII Deluxe players, including Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Tom Bukovac, Paul Gilbert, Cory Wong, Aaron Marshall, Andrew Huang, Kid Koala, Douglas D'Lima, Brian Kobayakawa, Ben Flanders, Kelen Capener, Mark Webber and Ben Whiteley13.
Videos
Empress Effects
Empress Effects
Questions
What is the difference between the ParaEq MKII and the MKII Deluxe?
Both share the same three parametric bands with 15dB of boost or cut and the boost circuit. The Deluxe adds high-pass and low-pass filters plus low and high shelving filters, and its Q controls are fully variable rather than selectable. The non-Deluxe ParaEq MKII ships without the HP/LP and shelving filters.
Is the Empress ParaEq MKII Deluxe true bypass?
It offers both. Empress describes true bypass for maximum transparency when the pedal is off, and buffered bypass to protect against signal loss over long cable runs. The player chooses which mode suits their board.
Can the ParaEq MKII Deluxe be used on bass?
Yes. Empress says countless players were already using the ParaEq MKII Deluxe on bass before the company built a dedicated version. The Bass ParaEq adapts the same concept with frequency ranges tailored to low-frequency instruments.
Can the boost be used without the EQ on?
Yes. The boost can be set to process signal only while the EQ is active, or to function fully independently, which Empress likens to having two separate pedals in one box.
How many Black Sparkle ParaEq Deluxe pedals were made?
The Black Sparkle Edition of the ParaEq MKII Deluxe was a limited run of 500 pieces, released in June 2024. Its internals are identical to the standard Sky Blue edition, differing only in the finish.
Sources (13)
- ParaEq MKII Deluxe, Empress Effects Inc.
- ParaEq MKII, Empress Effects Inc.
- Empress Effects launches the ParaEQ MKII, promising the “most control of any EQ on the market”, Guitar World, 2022-11-02
- ParaEq MKII Deluxe Black, Empress Effects Inc., 2023
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-03
- "The Empress Effects ParaEq MKII Pedals Are as Good as It Gets": Head of Engineering, Jay Fee, Explains How Their New Parametric Equalizers Can Take Your Sound to the Next Level, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2022-12-09
- EQ and You, Empress Effects Inc.
- Empress ParaEQ MKII Deluxe Demo, Premier Guitar, 2023-07-06
- The 7 Best EQ Pedals for Every Budget: Shape Your Tone in Seconds!, gearnews.com, 2025-09-15
- 2023 UPDATE! Best EQ Pedals For Guitar: Graphic & Parametric, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-13
- Best EQ pedals 2026: tame your tone, Guitar World, 2021-12-22
- Bass ParaEq, Empress Effects Inc.
- Douglas D'Lima, Empress Effects Inc.
Justin Meldal-Johnsen
