The Morley M2VO is a passive volume pedal: a foot-controlled pedal that raises and lowers your volume without any electronics of its own. MusicRadar's reviewer Michael Astley-Brown summed it up as "A quality passive volume pedal at a decent price - it'll save you money on batteries, too!"1
What it does to your sound
The M2VO's taper is the heart of how it plays. "The M2VO has a smooth taper, which makes for precise transitions," according to MusicRadar's review, meaning the volume change is even across the pedal's travel rather than bunching up at one end1. For a player, that translates into swells and in-between settings you can find and hold with your foot.
Because the pedal is passive, it sits in the signal path without powered circuitry. The reviewer noted the trade: "It does rob a little treble compared with plugging straight into your amp, but no more than any other passive volume pedal"1. That is characteristic of passive volume pedals generally, not a quirk of this model, and players who want zero treble loss would look at active or buffered designs instead.
Power: none needed
The M2VO requires no power at all. "Doesn't require any battery or mains power," the MusicRadar review states, and being passive means "it doesn't require any power: just plug it in"1. There is no battery compartment to fill, no power supply to find space for, and no current draw on a daisy chain.
Because the M2VO is passive and unpowered, it cannot buffer your signal. If your pedalboard relies on buffers to drive long cable runs, that is a consideration when placing it in the chain.
Build and weight
The pedal weighs 1.6kg, and the reviewer described "its weighty 1.6kg enclosure makes it a seriously substantial bit of kit"1. A heavy chassis keeps the pedal planted underfoot and gives the rocking action a firm, controlled feel.
Morley's volume pedal line
Morley is known for its Switchless Activation and optical wah designs2, and the M2VO is described as an evolution of the company's classic volume pedals1. Morley's current and recent range includes several related models:
- Morley M2 Passive Volume
- Morley Volume Plus
- Morley Mini Volume
- Morley Little Alligator Volume
- Morley Volume Commander
For comparison, other passive volume pedals in the wider market include the Boss FV-30H. See the full Volume Pedals category for more.
Questions
Does the Morley M2VO need a battery?
No. The M2VO is a passive pedal, so it does not require any battery or mains power. You just plug it in and play, which also means one less thing to fail on a pedalboard and no batteries to replace before a gig.
Does the Morley M2VO take tone from your guitar signal?
MusicRadar's reviewer found it does rob a little treble compared with plugging straight into your amp, but no more than any other passive volume pedal. That is a normal characteristic of passive volume circuits rather than a flaw specific to the M2VO.
Is the Morley M2VO active or passive?
The M2VO is passive. MusicRadar describes it as an evolution of Morley's classic volume pedals, and because it is passive it requires no power at all: no battery, no power supply, no daisy chain connection.
How much does the Morley M2VO weigh?
MusicRadar's review puts the M2VO at 1.6kg, and the reviewer described its weighty enclosure as making it a seriously substantial bit of kit. That heft gives the pedal a firm feel underfoot.
