The Joyo R-14 Atmosphere is a digital reverb pedal from Joyo, announced in October 2019 and released that November as the latest in the company's R series of low-cost effect pedals1. It packs nine reverb algorithms into a compact enclosure, running from the familiar (spring, plate, church) to the more experimental (shimmer, comet, rewind, forest, pulse)2. At launch it listed for $893; by January 2024 Gearnews gave its price as $69.004.
MusicRadar described it at launch as a pedal that "packs a lot of functionality into a pedalboard-friendly enclosure"3, and Gearnews's reviewer called the pricing "pretty spot on for what you are getting"1.
The nine reverb types
Joyo lists the Atmosphere's nine built-in digital reverb types as SPRING, CHURCH, PLATE, EKO-VERB, SHIMMER, COMET, REWIND, FOREST and PULSE2. Gearnews's buying guide grouped them the same way: the "more familiar plate, church, and spring modes" plus "six more adventurous algorithms"4.
| Mode | What it is |
|---|---|
| SPRING | Classic spring reverb emulation2 |
| CHURCH | Large hall-style reverb2 |
| PLATE | Plate reverb emulation2 |
| EKO-VERB | Echo combined with repeating reverb4 |
| SHIMMER | Pitch-shifted ambient reverb2 |
| COMET | One of the six "adventurous" algorithms4 |
| REWIND | One of the six "adventurous" algorithms4 |
| FOREST | One of the six "adventurous" algorithms4 |
| PULSE | One of the six "adventurous" algorithms4 |
The standout for many players is EKO-VERB. Gearnews describes it as "a combination of echo and repeating reverb, which is a similar concept to the legendary Space Echo"4. Its 2019 launch coverage put it more bluntly: "Eko-Verb has nothing to do with the rapper Eko-Fresh, but is a combination of echo and repeat"1. In practice it gives you delayed repeats inside the reverb tail, the kind of sound you would otherwise build by chaining a delay pedal into a reverb.
Controls
The Atmosphere's controls are Mix, Decay, Tone, Mod, a Trail toggle and a reverb type selector2. Gearnews's buying guide lists the same set as wet/dry mix, decay time, tone, modulation and trail mode4.
- Mix: wet/dry balance24
- Decay: reverb tail length24
- Tone: brightness of the reverb24
- Mod: a dedicated depth control for the modulation effects2
- Trail toggle: whether the tail rings out after bypass24
- Reverb type: selects among the nine algorithms2
The Mod control is worth noting: Joyo specifies it as a modulation depth control dedicated to the modulation effects, so the shimmer and other modulated algorithms get their own knob rather than sharing a generic control2.
Power and connections
The Atmosphere runs on DC 9V with a center negative plug, with a rated current consumption of 140mA2. There is no battery option, so it needs an external supply2.
At 140mA the Atmosphere draws more current than most analog pedals. If you use a daisy chain, check that your supply's output can cover it alongside everything else on the board.
Connections are a 6.35mm input jack, with input impedance of 2.2MΩ and output impedance of 100Ω2. The signal bypass type is listed by Joyo simply as "Bypass"2.
LED modes
The pedal offers three LED modes: Sync, Always and Off2. Sync ties the LED to the pedal's state, Always keeps it lit, and Off disables it, handy on dark stages where a bright LED is a distraction.
Physical layout
The enclosure measures 109 x 67 x 48mm and weighs 248g2, small enough that MusicRadar called it pedalboard-friendly3. One practical note from Gearnews's launch coverage: the Trails switch sits close enough to the footswitch that "You'll need to be careful not to knacker it with an overzealous stomp"1.
What reviewers said
Gearnews's 2024 budget reverb roundup, which picked the Atmosphere alongside pedals from Behringer, Flamma, Nux, tc electronic, Mooer, Universal Audio and Boss for home studio use, concluded4:
"Overall, the R-14 might not be the best pedal to take on tour with you, but it's certainly an inspiring tool to add to your home studio"
The same review found it appealing to guitarists and electronic musicians overall4. At launch, Gearnews's news coverage judged the original $89 pricing fair for what the pedal offers1.
Where it sits in the Joyo range
The Atmosphere is part of Joyo's R series of low-cost effect pedals1. It was due out in November 2019 as the latest entry in that range1.
Videos
JOYO AUDIO
JOYO Direct
SRGuitar
Questions
Does the Joyo R-14 Atmosphere take a battery?
No. Joyo lists the R-14 Atmosphere as not battery powered, so it runs only from an external supply. It wants DC 9V with a center negative plug and draws a rated 140mA, which is more than a typical analog pedal, so a dedicated output on a power supply is the practical choice.
What is the EKO-VERB mode on the Atmosphere?
EKO-VERB is one of the Atmosphere's nine reverb types, described by Gearnews as a combination of echo and repeating reverb, similar in concept to the classic Roland Space Echo. It blends delayed repeats with reverb in a single algorithm rather than stacking a separate delay and reverb pedal.
Does the Joyo Atmosphere have reverb trails?
Yes. The pedal has a Trail toggle among its controls, so you can choose whether the reverb tail continues to ring out after you bypass the pedal or cuts off immediately. Gearnews also lists trail mode among the pedal's additional controls.
What do the LED modes on the Atmosphere do?
The Atmosphere offers three LED modes: Sync, Always and Off. Sync ties the LED's behavior to the pedal's state, Always keeps it lit, and Off turns it off entirely. Useful if you find bright LEDs distracting on a dark stage or want to save a little power.
Sources (4)
- Joyo R-14 Atmosphere: Reverbs galore in a budget pedal packed with features, gearnews.com, 2019-10-29
- R-14 ATMOSPHERE_JOYO, Joyo
- Joyo Audio brings nine types of reverb to the party with the Atmosphere stompbox, MusicRadar, 2019-10-28
- The Best Budget Reverb Pedals for your Home Studio, www.gearnews.com, 2026-01-19
