The Universal Audio Golden Reverberator is a stereo digital reverb pedal from Universal Audio, part of the company's UAFX series. It puts three families of modeled reverb in one box: Spring 65, based on vintage tube-driven amp springs; Plate 140, based on German studio plate reverbs; and Hall 224, built on vintage digital studio algorithms. Universal Audio calls it the company's flagship, no-compromise reverb unit, offering what it describes as the most authentic tube-driven spring, plate, and vintage digital reverbs ever captured in an effects pedal1.
The pedal ships with nine reverb algorithms and three more unlock after registration, for twelve total, according to Premier Guitar's review2. It runs about $364.00 USD as listed in gearnews' 2026 reverb pedal buying guide3.
Spring, plate and hall reverbs modeled from vintage gear
The three mode positions on the toggle each hold three variations, and each family comes from a specific set of source hardware1.
| Mode | Based on | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 65 | Three "golden unit" spring tanks handpicked from over two dozen auditioned, from a trio of vintage amps, with tube clipping captured via UA's "whole amp" approach1 | Three, described by gearnews as the spring reverbs found on 60's Fender-style amps4 |
| Plate 140 | Three vintage German EMT studio plates sourced from The Plant recording studio in Sausalito, California, with available analog modulation1 | Three plate clones2 |
| Hall 224 | Exact, bit-for-bit vintage digital reverb algorithms from the late 1970s1 | Three, plus optional chorus in true 70s/80s style5 |
Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen identified the Hall 224 as based on the more than 40-year-old 12-bit Lexicon 2245. Registering the pedal also unlocks a free Hall 224 Chamber & Plate effect, which Guitar.com's reviewer Richard Purvis described as offering extra plate and chamber sounds from the 22416.
The controls and footswitches
The control surface is the same layout used across the first full-size UAFX pedals: two footswitches, six knobs, and three mini-toggles24.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Decay | Reverb length |
| Pre-delay | Gap before the reverb starts |
| Mix | Wet/dry balance |
| Bass | Low EQ on the reverb |
| Treble | High EQ on the reverb |
| Modulation | Modulation amount, where the mode allows it7 |
The three mini-toggles select the reverb type, store the preset, and choose an A/B/C variation within the active effect4. The two footswitches give access to two sounds: the left one calls up the Live sound, representing the current knob positions, and the right one calls up the stored preset5.
Power and connections
No power supply, USB cord, or power cord is included with the pedal, so you have to buy them separately. The pedal also draws 400mA minimum, which rules out a battery and means it needs an isolated supply rather than a shared daisy chain.
The Golden Reverberator requires an isolated 9V DC, center-negative supply delivering 400mA minimum, through a 2.1 x 5.5 mm barrel connector, the same as standard Boss connectors1. Connections include two 1/4" TS inputs and two outputs (the second of each pair for stereo), USB Type-C for registration and firmware updates, and Bluetooth v5 for the UAFX Control app1. Using the rear panel USB-to-MIDI connection, the pedal receives preset changes and realtime CC control in a programmable MIDI rig1. The dry signal stays analog through the pedal in all modes, at 0 ms from input to output1.
Other specifications from Universal Audio:
- Input impedance: 500 kilohms mono, 1 megohm stereo
- Output impedance: 500 ohms
- Max input level: 12.2 dBu; max output level: 12.1 dBu
- Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, ±1 dB
- Dimensions: 2.56" H x 3.62" W x 5.55" D (with knobs and protrusions)
- Weight: 1.24 lbs unboxed1
Guitar World lists the pedal's origin as USA5.
Presets without a screen
A third toggle stores a single sound in memory, so you always have two reverb tones available from the footswitches: a stored preset and the current control settings2. There is no LCD, so you have to remember what preset is where8. The companion app is UAFX Connect, used on a computer for registration and software upgrades8.
What reviewers said
Published reviewers were broadly positive about the sounds, with some reservations about scope and value69.
- MusicRadar's reviewer Rob Laing wrote that "For spring reverb alone, the modelling here sounds incredibly authentic"7.
- gearnews' reviewer found the Golden Reverberator "much simpler to use than, say, the Strymon Nightsky"4.
- Guitar.com's Richard Purvis scored it 8/10, calling it "easy to recommend in terms of pure tone, but it has many rivals," and noting it "sounds extra-majestic in stereo but is geared towards conventional 'verbs rather than overblown soundscapes." He also felt "it does somehow feel like the least memorable unit of the three" UAFX pedals reviewed together6.
- gearnews' spring reverb buying guide named it a standard-setter for premium digital emulations of classic spring reverbs10.
"The UAFX Golden Reverberator's tones stand head and shoulders above"2
Players wanting a smaller or cheaper Universal Audio reverb can also look at the UAFX Del-Verb Ambience Companion, the Heavenly Plate Reverb, and the Evermore Studio Reverb from the Compacts line.
Videos
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Universal Audio
Corey Congilio
News
Questions
Is the UAFX Golden Reverberator true bypass?
Yes, and you can also choose buffered bypass. The pedal offers true bypass via mechanical relays or buffered/trails bypass, switchable within the UAFX Control app, with silent switching and spillover/trails. The dry signal stays analog through the pedal in all modes, at 0 ms latency from input to output.
Does the Golden Reverberator come with a power supply?
No. Universal Audio does not supply a power adapter, USB cord, or power cord with the pedal, so you have to buy those separately. It needs an isolated 9V DC center-negative supply delivering at least 400mA, with a standard 2.1 x 5.5 mm barrel connector.
Does the Golden Reverberator have MIDI?
Yes, over USB. Using its rear panel USB-to-MIDI connection, the Golden Reverberator fits into a programmable MIDI rig, receiving preset changes and realtime CC control. The USB Type-C port is also used for registration and firmware updates via computer.
How do you save presets on the Golden Reverberator without a screen?
A mini-toggle marked Store saves a single sound into memory alongside your current control settings, so you always have two reverb tones available from the footswitches. There is no LCD, so you have to remember which preset is where.
Is the Golden Reverberator stereo?
Yes. It runs in stereo or dual mono, with two 1/4 inch unbalanced TS inputs and two outputs, the second jack of each pair for stereo connections. Reviewers found it sounds extra-majestic in stereo, though it leans toward conventional reverbs rather than huge ambient soundscapes.
Sources (10)
- Golden Reverberator Pedal, Universal Audio (www.uaudio.com)
- Universal Audio UAFX Golden Reverberator Review, Premier Guitar, 2021-03-24
- The Best Reverb Pedals for Electric Guitar: From Budget to High-End, www.gearnews.com, 2026-06-08
- Review: UAFX Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and Astra Modulation Machine, gearnews.com, 2021-04-04
- Universal Audio Golden Reverberator review, Guitar World, 2021-09-09
- The Big Review: Will Universal Audio’s entry into the guitar pedal market send boutique brands scurrying for cover?, Guitar.com, 2021-05-13
- Universal Audio UAFX Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and Astra Modulation Machine review, MusicRadar, 2021-12-26
- Golden Reverberator Reviews, Universal Audio
- "A stunningly good reverb pedal that sounds and operates like one twice the price": Hotone NC-200 Verbera review | MusicRadar, MusicRadar, 2026-06-12
- Best Spring Reverb Pedals 2025: Sunny Sounds for Surf Rock and Skate Punk, gearnews.com, 2025-07-07
