Buying guide
By PedalBro · Updated October 16, 2026 · We do not test pedals, here is how we rank them
A tape delay pedal is for players who want echoes that smear, wobble and darken as they fade, the way an old tape machine did, without hauling and servicing one. The pedals in this guide all emulate a tape echo. The real differences are stereo or mono, MIDI or not, how much tweaking you want to do, and how much current your power supply can deliver.
Buy the Strymon EC-1. Reviewers rate it highly across the board: Guitar Player and MusicRadar both gave it 5 out of 5. It fits stereo outputs, MIDI, an expression input and switchable preamp voicings into a small enclosure, and players say it is easy to use. It costs a mid-range amount for this list, which is a fair deal for what it does.
For less money, the Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo covers the basics: a preamp modeled on the EP-III plus adjustable wow, flutter and tape types. It is mono, though, and has little review coverage. If you want more ways to shape the sound and don't mind paying the most, the Strymon El Capistan models three different tape machines and earned 5 out of 5 from Premier Guitar.
Top pick · Best for most players who want tape echo plus stereo and MIDI in a small box
The Strymon EC-1 gets top marks from reviewers for authentic Echoplex-style echo and puts stereo outputs, MIDI and preamp voicings in a compact enclosure. But we would warn that some of its deeper settings are fiddly to reach, and it is not cheap for a delay that only does tape sounds.
Budget pick · A good choice if you want tape echo character for less and play in mono
The Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo combines an EP-III-style analog preamp with adjustable wow, flutter and tape types, and it is among the cheapest pedals here. But we have little review detail to go on, and it is mono with no MIDI.
Splurge pick · The step up if you want the most ways to shape tape echo and don't need MIDI
The Strymon El Capistan models three tape machines, has tap tempo, stereo outputs and an expression input, and Premier Guitar gave it 5 out of 5. But we would point out that it is the most expensive of our picks, has no MIDI, and some players are unhappy with its stereo behavior.
Who this is for
This guide is for guitarists who want the warm, unsteady character of tape echo on a pedalboard, whether they play in mono or stereo. If you want clean, precise digital repeats, or a delay that sounds nothing like vintage tape, these pedals are not designed for that. Players who want delay and spring reverb in one box should read the notes on the Boss RE-2 Space Echo and the Universal Audio Galaxy below.
Stereo or mono
The Strymon EC-1 and Strymon El Capistan both have stereo outputs. The Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo is mono only, which doesn't matter if you run one amp.
MIDI control
Of the three picks, only the Strymon EC-1 has MIDI. The El Capistan and the Orion lack it, so if you switch presets from a MIDI controller, that alone decides it.
Power draw
These pedals draw a lot of current. The EC-1 and the Orion each need 250 mA at 9V DC, and the El Capistan needs 300 mA, so check that your supply has outputs that can handle them.
Depth versus simplicity
The El Capistan has six knobs and several machine modes, which rewards tinkering. MusicRadar's reviewer found the EC-1's secondary settings fiddly to reach, but players still call it easy to use day to day.
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. 43 pedals fit this guide and 19 of them had a score we could rank.
Best for most players who want tape echo plus stereo and MIDI in a small box
PedalBro score 78/100 · 6 sources, medium confidence
Reviewers agree that it sounds right. Guitar Player and MusicRadar each gave it 5 out of 5. MusicRadar called it an accurate take on the Echoplex, and Premier Guitar (4 out of 5) praised how authentic its tones are. Guitar.com rated it 4.5 out of 5 for its sound and versatility. Players add that it is easy to live with.
It does more than the other picks. It has stereo outputs, MIDI, tap tempo, an expression input and a USB connection, plus two preamp voicings and a boost that Guitar Player singled out. The El Capistan matches it on stereo and expression but lacks MIDI, and the cheaper Orion has neither stereo nor MIDI.
Small details help it feel like a real tape unit. Guitar Player liked its three-way record level switch, and Premier Guitar said that with an expression pedal attached you can recreate some of the physical behavior of the original machine. It also has switchable bypass and spillover, so repeats can trail off after you turn it off.
Some controls are not obvious. MusicRadar's reviewer found the secondary functions a chore, and Premier Guitar's reviewer felt the warble and other mechanical settings were vague in use. If you want everything on the front panel, the El Capistan's six dedicated knobs may suit you better.
It costs more than a single-purpose delay usually does. Guitar.com pointed out that it is pricey for a pedal that only covers tape echo, and it needs 250 mA at 9V DC, so a weak supply won't run it.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you are on a tight budget and play in mono, in which case the Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo is the better buy.
A good choice if you want tape echo character for less and play in mono
PedalBro score 77/100 · 1 source, an early read
It covers the core of a tape echo sound. The Orion pairs a preamp section modeled on the EP-III with separate wow and flutter adjustment and a choice of tape types, which are the elements that make repeats sound worn and alive.
It is the cheapest way into this list's picks. It sits near the bottom of the price range, well below the Strymon El Capistan, and it still has a USB connection. It runs on a standard 9V DC center-negative supply at 250 mA, the same as the Strymon EC-1.
There is not much outside evidence for it yet. It rests on a single source, and no reviewer comments are available to confirm how it sounds, so you are taking more on trust than with the Strymon EC-1.
It is mono only and has no MIDI. Both Strymon picks offer stereo outputs, and the EC-1 adds MIDI, so the Orion suits a simple one-amp setup best.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you run a stereo rig or use MIDI switching, because the Strymon EC-1 handles both.
The step up if you want the most ways to shape tape echo and don't need MIDI
PedalBro score 85/100 · 1 source, medium confidence
It goes deeper than the other picks. It models three types of tape echo machine, and its listings also mention a looper and spring reverb. Premier Guitar rated it 5 out of 5 for how many options it offers.
Its controls give you direct access to how worn the tape sounds. Dedicated knobs for tape age, wow and flutter, and bias let you push repeats from clean to decayed without going into menus, which is a contrast to the hidden secondary settings MusicRadar disliked on the Strymon EC-1.
It is built for a working board. It has tap tempo, an expression input, stereo outputs and switchable bypass, and it is still in production.
It costs the most and lacks MIDI. You pay more than for the Strymon EC-1 yet lose MIDI control, so it only makes sense if its extra machine models and dedicated knobs matter to you.
Some players criticize its stereo performance, and it draws 300 mA at 9V DC, the most of the three picks. Its support also comes from a single review, while the EC-1 has several.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you need MIDI or dependable stereo, since the Strymon EC-1 does both for less.
These did not make the top three, but some of them are the right choice for the right player.
The Dunlop Echoplex Delay recreates the EP-3 with an Age control, stereo operation, kill-dry and spillover, and Bonedo rated it 4.5 out of 5 for its build and convincing tape character. It misses our picks because the tap tempo footswitch costs extra, Bonedo found the price fairly high, and the Strymon EC-1 costs about the same with MIDI included.
If you want delay and reverb together in stereo: the Boss RE-2 Space Echo aims at the RE-201 sound without the upkeep of a tape machine, and Bonedo rated it 4.5 out of 5 for its solid build, compact size and expression control. Players like its versatility, but it uses buffered bypass, and its review praise comes from a single outlet.
If you want a simple Echoplex-style pedal: the MXR EP103 Echoplex Delay has only four knobs, plus tap tempo and stereo, and Premier Guitar gave it 4.5 out of 5 for how closely it follows the EP-3. Its published specs are sparse and it has just one review, so we would choose the better-documented Strymon EC-1.
If you want a low-priced pedal with MIDI: the NUX Tape Echo models the RE-201 and is among the cheapest pedals here, and Bonedo's 4.5 out of 5 review highlights its authentic sound, built-in looper, MIDI and computer editor. It has a wider enclosure, its specs don't confirm stereo, and only one review supports it.
If you want a Space Echo-style delay with spring reverb in stereo: the Universal Audio Galaxy has MIDI and stereo outputs and earned between 4 and 5 out of 5 from three reviews. It is among the most expensive pedals here, needs 400 mA, and is larger than the Strymon EC-1, which reviewers rated slightly higher overall.
No. The Strymon EC-1, Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo, Strymon El Capistan and the other pedals in this guide all emulate tape echo machines, so you get the wobble and warmth without tape to replace or clean.
The Strymon EC-1 is our choice for stereo, because it has stereo outputs and MIDI and none of the reviewers flagged problems with its stereo performance. The Strymon El Capistan is also stereo, but some players criticize how it handles stereo, and the Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo is mono only.
Among our three picks, only the Strymon EC-1 has MIDI. Of the others, the Universal Audio Galaxy lists MIDI in its specs, and Bonedo's review of the NUX Tape Echo mentions MIDI in and out.
All three picks run on 9V DC center-negative power. The Strymon EC-1 and Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo each need 250 mA, and the Strymon El Capistan needs 300 mA, so make sure your supply has outputs that can deliver that much current.
We considered tape delay pedals that are sold new and have at least one published review or retailer rating. We then weighed their review scores, how many independent sources support each one, and their price. The Strymon EC-1 came out on top because several reviewers rated it highly, while the Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo and Strymon El Capistan cover the lower and higher ends of the price range.
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