Buying guide
By PedalBro · Updated October 9, 2026 · We do not test pedals, here is how we rank them
An analog chorus suits players who want the warmer sound of a bucket-brigade circuit rather than a digital copy of it. The pedals here differ in four main ways: whether they output in stereo, whether they add a vibrato setting, what kind of bypass they use and how much board space and power they need.
Buy the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble. It is a Japanese-built analog chorus with a stereo output and filter controls that let you choose which part of the frequency range the effect touches. Bonedo's reviewer gave it 5 out of 5 and praised its sturdy build, its sound quality and its value. Players also tend to like its tone. It costs a mid-range amount for this list and covers the needs of most chorus buyers.
If you want to spend less, the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus is one of the cheapest picks here. It adds a vibrato setting and a level control for the effect, but its spec sheet lists no stereo output. If you want more modulation options and do not mind paying near the top of the list, the Walrus Audio Julianna adds vibrato, tap tempo, a random waveshape and an expression input, all in stereo.
Top pick · Best for most players who want a well-built stereo analog chorus
The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble is a sturdy, Japanese-built analog chorus with a stereo output and filters for shaping the effect. But we wish it offered true bypass, since it uses a buffered design.
Budget pick · A good choice if you want a warm analog chorus with vibrato for less money
The Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus is one of the cheapest picks here, and it adds a vibrato setting and an effect level control. But we would like a stereo output, which its spec sheet does not list.
Splurge pick · The step up if you want stereo chorus and vibrato with tap tempo
The Walrus Audio Julianna packs analog chorus and vibrato, tap tempo and an expression input into a stereo pedal that Guitar.com rated 5 out of 5. But we think it is more than you need for a plain chorus, and it is one of the dearest pedals here.
Who this is for
This guide is for guitarists who want a dedicated analog chorus on a standard 9V pedalboard. If board space is very tight, look at the TC Electronic Corona Mini Chorus in the other pedals below. If you also play keyboards, the Warm Audio WA-C1 has a setting for that.
Stereo or mono
The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble and the Walrus Audio Julianna both have stereo outputs. The Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus lists none, so it is the one to skip if you run two amps.
Chorus only, or vibrato too
The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble does chorus alone. The Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus adds a vibrato setting. The Walrus Audio Julianna goes furthest, with vibrato, tap tempo and an expression input.
Bypass type
The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble uses a buffered bypass. Some players prefer true bypass, so check this if it matters on your board.
Power draw
The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble and the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus each draw 20 mA. The Walrus Audio Julianna needs 100 mA, so make sure your power supply has an outlet that can deliver it. All three run on 9V DC with center-negative polarity and can also take a battery.
How we picked
We looked at every pedal that fits this guide and is on sale new today, then ranked them by what reviewers and buyers say, how many sources say it, and what it costs. The full method is here.
What we do not do
We do not test pedals. Everything here comes from published reviews, retailer ratings and player discussion, so you can follow it back to its sources.
PedalBro is an index of guitar pedals, not a testing lab. For this guide we gathered the published reviews, retailer star ratings and player discussion we hold for every pedal that fits, turned them into a single PedalBro score, and ranked the pedals on that score, how many sources stand behind it and price. A person reads every guide before it is published. 96 pedals fit this guide and 32 of them had a score we could rank.
Best for most players who want a well-built stereo analog chorus
PedalBro score 85/100 · 1 source, medium confidence
The reviewer praise is strong. Bonedo gave the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble 5 out of 5, citing a very solid build, high sound quality and a range of chorus sounds. Players also commonly speak well of its tone.
Its filter controls set it apart. They let you limit the chorus to part of the frequency range, so you can keep the low end steady while the top moves. Neither the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus nor the Walrus Audio Julianna lists anything like this.
It sits in the middle of this list on price, and Bonedo singled out its value. You get stereo, which the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus lacks, without paying for the extra features of the Walrus Audio Julianna. It draws only 20 mA and can also run on a battery.
The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble uses a buffered bypass, so players who insist on true bypass should keep that in mind. It is also a chorus only: there is no vibrato setting like the one on the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus or the Walrus Audio Julianna.
At 425 g and 73 x 130.2 mm, it is a full-size pedal, a bit larger than the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you also want vibrato and tap tempo, which the Walrus Audio Julianna provides.
A good choice if you want a warm analog chorus with vibrato for less money
PedalBro score 78/100 · 1 source, medium confidence
Bonedo gave the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus 4.5 out of 5. The reviewer liked its clean build, its warm and clear core sound and its value for money.
For less than the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, it gives you a vibrato setting, which the Boss lacks. It also has a level control, so you can push the chorus forward or blend it back against your dry tone.
It suits a crowded board. The jacks are on top and the case measures 66 x 124 mm, slightly smaller than the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble. An internal DC/DC converter gives it more headroom, and it draws 20 mA from a standard 9V supply.
The spec sheet lists no stereo output. That puts it behind the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble and the Walrus Audio Julianna if you run two amps or a stereo rig.
It also has no filter controls like those on the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, so you have fewer ways to shape the effect.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you play in stereo, where the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble is the better buy.
The step up if you want stereo chorus and vibrato with tap tempo
PedalBro score 85/100 · 1 source, medium confidence
Guitar.com gave the Walrus Audio Julianna 5 out of 5 and strongly recommended it, praising the rich textures it can produce.
It offers more control than the other picks. Tap tempo lets you lock the modulation speed to a song. A drift function and a random waveshape give less regular movement. An expression input lets you change settings with your foot while you play.
Like the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, it runs in stereo. Like the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus, it also does vibrato. It is the only pick here that combines both features.
The Walrus Audio Julianna sits near the top of this list on price. If you only want a good chorus, the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble covers that for less.
It draws 100 mA, far more than the 20 mA of the other two picks, so check that your power supply can handle it. Its range of features also means more settings to learn than on a simpler chorus.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you want a simple chorus with few controls, where the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble or the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus fits better.
These did not make the top three, but some of them are the right choice for the right player.
If you want the simplest possible controls: the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone has one rate knob and one depth switch, and it draws just 10 mA. Players like its tone, but some complain that it runs quiet. At a similar mid-range price, the Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble adds stereo and filter controls.
The Boss DC-2w Dimension C (Waza Craft) is a Japanese-built analog chorus that includes an SDD-320 mode and uses a buffered bypass. Little published detail is available on how it sounds or performs, so we chose the better-documented Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble instead.
If you also play keyboards: the Warm Audio WA-C1 is a stereo analog chorus and vibrato with selectable impedance for guitar or keys. Guitar.com and Bonedo each rated it 4.5 out of 5, and Bonedo noted it also works well as a boost. However, Bonedo reported fairly high noise and some coloring of the signal in bypass, and Guitar.com found its large footprint a drawback.
If board space is very tight: the TC Electronic Corona Mini Chorus is the smallest and lightest pedal here, with TonePrint support for loading different sounds. Premier Guitar gave it 4.5 out of 5. Its listing mentions no stereo output or vibrato, so the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus offers more for a similarly low price.
The Boss Chorus CE-2W Waza Craft is a Japanese-built, stereo bucket-brigade chorus from 2016 with a Mode switch that adds a vibrato setting. Premier Guitar rated it 4.5 out of 5. It costs about as much as the Walrus Audio Julianna but offers only Rate and Depth controls and a buffered bypass.
Only if you run two amps or a stereo rig. The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble and the Walrus Audio Julianna both have stereo outputs. The Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus lists none.
The Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus and the Walrus Audio Julianna both have a vibrato setting. The Julianna also adds tap tempo and an expression input. The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble does chorus only.
The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble uses a buffered bypass. The specs for the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus and the Walrus Audio Julianna do not state a bypass type.
All three picks run on 9V DC, center-negative, and can also use a battery. The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble and the Carl Martin Atlantic Chorus each draw 20 mA. The Walrus Audio Julianna needs 100 mA.
We considered analog chorus pedals that are sold new and have at least one published review or retailer rating. We looked at their review scores, how many sources stood behind each one and where each sits on price. From those, we chose a best overall pedal, a cheaper option and a step up.
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