The Empress ParaEQ MkII is an Empress eq pedal, currently around $249. Close alternatives include the Empress Para EQ DLX and the Hot Box Pedals Bam 5-band. It pairs well with the Marshall Origin 20 Combo and the Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube.
Empress ParaEQ MkII
Empress · pedal
The Empress ParaEQ MkII is a redesigned, more compact version of the original ParaEQ, packing the same studio-level three-band parametric equalization into a significantly smaller enclosure (roughly 2.6 by 4.8 by 1.5 inches versus the original's 4.5 by 3.5 by 1.5). It carries forward the original's core functionality with no compromises while adding meaningfully improved headroom, a 107.9dB signal-to-noise ratio and 0.03% distortion at 27V internal operation. It's aimed at players who valued the original ParaEQ's precise tonal control but wanted a smaller pedalboard footprint and better noise performance.
What stands out
“5 inches versus the original's 4”
— from the listing
“It carries forward the original's core functionality with while adding meaningfully improved headroom, a 107”
— from the listing
“03% distortion at 27v internal operation”
— from the listing
“Smaller footprint is a genuine practical upgrade for pedalboard space”
— from the reviews
“It's aimed at players who valued the original ParaEQ's precise tonal control but wanted a smaller pedalboard footprint and better noise performance”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“9db signal-to-noise ratio and 0”
— from the listing
“filter feature set”
— from the community notes
- headroom
- distortion
- equalizer
- studio
- original
- smaller footprint
- better noise performance
- meaningfully smaller enclosure
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Empress ParaEQ MkII is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
Amps that pair well with the Empress ParaEQ MkII
Marshall Origin 20 Combo
Marshall
22% matchMarshall Origin 20 Combo's own crunchy character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube
Engl
21% matchEngl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube leans toward mid-forward, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Bogner Ecstasy Mini 30W
Bogner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Bogner Ecstasy Mini 30W goes after Empress ParaEQ MkII in the chain
Blackstar HT20 Mk. II 20 Watt Combo
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar HT20 Mk. II 20 Watt Combo goes after Empress ParaEQ MkII in the chain
Hiwatt Crunch 150R 112C
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hiwatt Crunch 150R 112C after Empress ParaEQ MkII
ENGL Special Edition E670
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put ENGL Special Edition E670 after Empress ParaEQ MkII
Engl 120 E610 MK II
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Engl 120 E610 MK II goes after Empress ParaEQ MkII in the chain
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Ceriatone 2202H goes after Empress ParaEQ MkII in the chain
Pedals that stack with the Empress ParaEQ MkII
Airis Effects SPEC-Defier
Airis Effects
21% matchWhat Airis Effects SPEC-Defier brings here leans toward high gain — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Ibanez Pentatone Preamp
Ibanez
20% matchIbanez Pentatone Preamp leans toward saturated, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo
TC Electronic
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo after Empress ParaEQ MkII in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Empress ParaEQ MkII — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo
pedal
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo after Empress ParaEQ MkII in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Empress ParaEQ MkII — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 goes in front of Empress ParaEQ MkII in the chain
Donner Big Mouth Distortion
Donner
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Donner Big Mouth Distortion goes in front of Empress ParaEQ MkII in the chain
Dophix Dante
Dophix
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Dophix Dante goes in front of Empress ParaEQ MkII in the chain
Source Audio L.A. Lady
Source Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Source Audio L.A. Lady in front of Empress ParaEQ MkII
Cheaper alternatives
CNZ Audio GEQ-5
Cnz Audio
48% similarityShared character: headroom
Cordovox EQ-7
Cordovox
44% similaritySimilar voicing: high headroom
Dirt Monger Instruments 6 Band EQ
Dirt Monger Instruments
43% similarityShared character: studio
Donner EQ Seeker
Donner
41% similarityShared character: studio
Orange Two Stroke
Orange
40% similarityShared character: headroom, distortion
Ibanez PT EQ
Ibanez
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Empress Para EQ DLX
Empress
49% similarityShared character: filter, noise, headroom
Hot Box Pedals Bam 5-band
Hot Box Pedals
49% similarityShared character: studio
Empress Para EQ
Empress
46% similarityShared character: gain control, studio
Old Blood Noise Endeavors 3 Band EQ
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
42% similarityShared character: noise, studio
Origin Effects M-EQ
Origin Effects
42% similarityShared character: studio
Boss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer
Boss
40% similarityShared character: studio
See all alternatives to the Empress ParaEQ MkII (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Empress ParaEQ MkII?+
The closest matches in character are the Empress Para EQ DLX, the Hot Box Pedals Bam 5-band, the Empress Para EQ. Budget picks: CNZ Audio GEQ-5, Cordovox EQ-7, Dirt Monger Instruments 6 Band EQ. Boutique upgrades: Carl Martin 3 Band Parametric EQ.
What pairs well with the Empress ParaEQ MkII?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Origin 20 Combo, Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube, Bogner Ecstasy Mini 30W — Marshall Origin 20 Combo's own crunchy character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the Empress ParaEQ MkII cost?+
Around $249 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).