The MOOER PHOENIX is a compact digital preamp pedal from MOOER, part of the company's Micro Preamp line. It carries two channels voiced, in Mooer's words, as "a homage to modern, German-designed metal amps": a clean channel that goes "from crystal clear to crispy crunch" and a gain channel covering "everything from fat rock rhythms and heavy metal riffs to searing lead lines." Like the rest of the Micro Preamp series, it is a digital recreation of a tube amp's preamp section, designed to feed a power amp or an amplifier's effects return rather than a conventional guitar amp input.1
What it does to your sound
Mooer describes the Phoenix's character as "Punchy, dark lower mids, tight low end and gain on tap," which is the company's own summary of how it sits next to the amp designs it draws on.1
"a homage to modern, German designed metal amps. Punchy, dark lower mids, tight low end and gain on tap."
The two channels split the work:
- Clean channel: runs from clear tones into crunch territory1
- Gain channel: aimed at rock rhythm parts, metal riffing and lead lines1
- Built-in effects: delay and reverb, with tap tempo1
Mooer describes the 016 Phoenix as a homage to modern, German-designed metal amps, and its sound is built around that brief: punchy, dark lower mids with a tight low end and gain on tap. The clean channel runs from crystal clear to crispy crunch, while the gain channel covers everything from fat rock rhythms and heavy metal riffs to searing lead lines.3
Where it came from
The Phoenix sits in Mooer's Micro Preamp range, and the manufacturer frames its character plainly: according to Mooer, the pedal is "a homage to modern, German-designed metal amps." That positioning places it among the company's mini preamp pedals alongside models such as the 017 Cali MK IV and the 018 Custom 100.4
Connections and power
The Phoenix keeps its jack layout simple, with one input and one output plus the power inlet1:
| Jack | Type | Impedance | What it takes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input | 1/4" mono | 1 meg Ohm | Your guitar directly, or the output of overdrive or distortion pedals placed before it1 |
| Output | 1/4" mono | 100 Ohms | A power amp or your amplifier's effects return; Mooer highly recommends using a tube amplifier in that setup1 |
| DCIN | Power inlet | - | DC 9V, 300mA, center-negative AC adapter1 |
Mooer specifies a 300mA current draw at 9V DC, center negative. Many daisy-chain and low-output power supplies deliver less than that per outlet, so the Phoenix needs a supply output rated for at least 300mA.1
Videos
MOOER Audio
Guitar Bonedo
Chester Chen
Questions
Is the Mooer Phoenix analog or digital?
It is digital. Mooer describes its Micro Preamp pedals, the Phoenix among them, as sonically accurate digital recreations of the preamp sections of popular tube amplifiers. The Phoenix is a homage to modern, German-designed metal amps, with a clean channel and a gain channel rather than an analog circuit.
What power supply does the Mooer Phoenix need?
Mooer specifies an AC adapter delivering 9V DC with a center-negative pin, and the DCIN control description calls for a DC 9V, 300mA supply. Because of the 300mA current draw, a standard low-current daisy-chain supply may not be enough; a dedicated supply rated for at least 300mA is the safe choice.
Does the Mooer Phoenix have delay and reverb?
Yes. Alongside its two preamp channels, the Phoenix offers delay and reverb effects with tap tempo functionality, so you can set time-based effects to match your tempo without an external delay or reverb pedal.
Can I run the Mooer Phoenix straight into a power amp?
Yes. Mooer says the output can connect to a power amp or to your amplifier's effects return, and the company highly recommends using a tube amplifier in that setup. The input accepts your instrument directly or the output of overdrive or distortion pedals placed before it.
How much current does the Mooer Phoenix draw?
Mooer lists the current draw at 300mA on a 9V DC, center-negative supply. That is higher than many compact pedals, so check what your pedalboard power supply can deliver on each output before adding it to a board.
Sources (4)
- 016 - PHOENIX_MOOER Audio, MOOER Audio
- Mooer releases 3 more Micro Preamp pedals, Guitar.com, 2018-09-04
- Mooer bolsters Micro Preamp range with 3 new mini pedals, MusicRadar, 2018-08-22
- Mooer adds three new preamp pedals, gearnews.com, 2018-08-02
