The Sitek Caffeine Booster V2 is a compact boost pedal from Poland-based Sitek Guitar Electronics, an update to one of the company's first creations. It lifts your signal by up to 20dB, which makes it useful for boosting volume, pushing a tube amp into crunchier territory, adding an extra channel of gain in front of your dirt pedals, or simply enriching the harmonic content of your signal1. Premier Guitar described the original's character as a "rich, sparkly boost and bright crunch," and reported that the V2 preserves that character while adding more gain and additional tone-shaping controls2.
The update was announced in late September 2020 and reported by guitar.com on October 1, 2020, priced at $165 and available immediately3. Premier Guitar noted it could be bought on Reverb.com or directly from the Sitek Guitar Electronics website2.
What it does
At its core the Caffeine Booster V2 is a volume and gain tool. Sitek positions it as "perfect for boosting the volume of your instrument, pushing your tube amp into more crunchy territory, providing an additional channel of gain to your dirt pedals or simply enriching the harmonic content of your signal"1. In practice that means three common jobs: a solo switch that makes you louder, a front-end hit that makes an amp or an overdrive pedal work harder, or an always-on enhancer for your core tone.
The V2 keeps the original's character while adding more gain and extra controls. Premier Guitar reported that designers Andy and Hania made the update: "While the original character was preserved, Andy and Hania added more gain and additional controls for further tone-shaping"2.
Controls and modes
The control surface is small: two knobs and two switches.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level knob | Sets the output level3 |
| Gain knob | Sets the amount of gain3 |
| D/B switch | Selects between drive and boost modes32 |
| Tone switch | Alters the signal's low end32 |
The D/B switch is the biggest change over the original. guitar.com's Daniel Seah explained the two modes: "Use the former to operate the Caffeine Booster V2 as a crunchy dirt box, or the latter as a more conventional boost"3. So the same pedal can serve as a light distortion-style dirt box or as a straight volume and gain lift, depending on which side of the switch you use.
The tone switch works on the bottom end of the signal. Both guitar.com and Premier Guitar describe it as a way to compensate for different kinds of guitar pickups or to suit a player's personal preference32, which is useful if you move between, say, a bassy hollowbody and a brighter single-coil guitar.
The DualMode footswitch
The DualMode footswitch, kept from the original, lets you run the pedal in latching or momentary operation32. Latching is the conventional behavior: step once to switch on, step again to switch off. Momentary means the effect only sounds while your foot holds the switch down. As Daniel Seah put it on guitar.com: "You can use the latter to highlight specific guitar lines, or to accentuate syncopated attacks with a band"3. That makes the pedal usable almost like an expression tool for quick accents rather than just an on/off boost.
Circuit and power
The Caffeine Booster V2 is fully analog. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as "a 100% discrete analog circuit with a dual stage design to provide the appropriate input and output impedance"1, and Premier Guitar reported a 100% discrete analog signal path designed with a combination of BJT and JFET transistors2.
Power is flexible: the pedal operates on a standard 9 to 12V DC power supply with a 2.1mm negative center barrel connector, or on a 9V battery1. Premier Guitar's launch coverage likewise listed 9V DC or a 9V battery2. Running it at the higher end of that range is an option the maker supports.
The $165 price and "available now" status are from the October 2020 launch coverage3. Premier Guitar listed Reverb.com and the Sitek website (www.sitek.rocks) as the places to buy it at launch2.
How it compares
Against a transparent clean boost like the Xotic RC Booster V2, which Xotic describes as offering "a super transparent 20db+ clean boost and a +- 15db 2 band active EQ"4, the Caffeine Booster V2 takes a different approach: it is not purely a clean boost, since its drive mode adds crunch and its character was described as sparkly and bright from the start2. The two pedals reach for similar boost amounts, around 20dB, but the Caffeine adds a dirt option and a low-end switch where the RC Booster V2 offers a two-band active EQ.
Videos
Alberto Barrero
Questions
What is the difference between drive mode and boost mode on the Caffeine Booster V2?
The D/B switch selects between the two. Drive mode runs the pedal as a crunchy dirt box, while boost mode runs it as a more conventional boost, lifting volume and pushing an amp or other dirt pedals harder without adding its own crunch.
How much boost does the Caffeine Booster V2 give?
Sitek states the pedal provides a boost of up to 20dB to your signal. That is enough to push a tube amp into breakup or add an extra gain stage in front of overdrive and distortion pedals.
Can the Caffeine Booster V2 run on a 9V battery?
Yes. The pedal operates on a standard 9 to 12V DC power supply through a 2.1mm negative center barrel connector, or on a 9V battery, so it works on a pedalboard power supply or standalone.
What does the DualMode footswitch do?
The DualMode footswitch lets you operate the pedal in latching mode, where it stays on until you step again, or momentary mode, where the effect only lasts while you hold the switch down. Momentary operation can highlight specific guitar lines or accentuate syncopated attacks with a band.
What does the tone switch do on the Caffeine Booster V2?
The tone switch alters the signal's low end. Sitek and press coverage describe it as a way to compensate for different kinds of guitar pickups or to suit personal preference, for example tightening the bottom end with bassier instruments.
Is the Caffeine Booster V2 analog?
Yes. Sitek describes it as a 100% discrete analog circuit with a dual stage design, and Premier Guitar reported a 100% discrete analog signal path built with a combination of BJT and JFET transistors.
Sources (4)
- Caffeine Booster V2 by Sitek Guitar Electronics, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Sitek Guitar Electronics Updates the Caffeine Booster, Premier Guitar, 2020-09-30
- Jolt your guitar signals with the updated Caffeine Booster V2 from Sitek Guitar Electronics, guitar.com, 2020-10-01
- RC Booster V2, Xotic Online Shop, 2025-10-01
