The IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost is an Ik Multimedia preamp pedal. Close alternatives include the Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster and the Fairfield Circuitry Roger That. It pairs well with the Wren and Cuff Box of War OG and the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII.
IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost
Ik Multimedia · pedal
The IK Multimedia Z-TONE Buffer Boost is a buffer and clean boost pedal from Italian music technology company IK Multimedia, delivering a high-quality buffer to preserve signal integrity plus a clean boost for signal level adjustment. The Z-TONE provides impedance matching for active and passive pickups and clean signal amplification at IK Multimedia quality.
What stands out
“The IK Multimedia Z-TONE Buffer Boost is a buffer and clean boost pedal from Italian music technology company IK Multimedia, delivering a high-quality buffer to preserve signal integrity plus a clean boost for signal level adjustment”
— from the listing
“The Z-TONE provides impedance matching for active and passive pickups and clean signal amplification at IK Multimedia quality”
— from the listing
“The IK Multimedia Z-TONE Buffer Boost delivers clean buffering and boost at IK Multimedia quality for players who want signal integrity management and clean boost from a trusted music technology company”
— from the community notes
“In the signal chain buffer sits first”
— from the community notes
“IK Multimedia quality construction”
— from the reviews
- clean boost
- impedance
- boost
- clean
- single function utility character
- z tone
Good for
- Silent Recording
- Studio
Pedals that stack with the IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost
Wren and Cuff Box of War OG
Wren And Cuff
16% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Wren and Cuff Box of War OG leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Sola Sound
16% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Comes earlier in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter V3
EarthQuaker Devices
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter V3 after IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost in the signal chain, clear of IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Xotic SP Compressor
Xotic
10% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Xotic SP Compressor's own smooth character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay
JHS Pedals
5% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay's modulated voice goes after IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost's own clean boost character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Slö Multi-Texture Reverb
Walrus Audio
5% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost's clean boost voice out front: Walrus Audio Slö Multi-Texture Reverb goes after IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost in the signal chain so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Tone City Dry Martini is voiced for a clean amp's front end — IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost gives it exactly that
Friedman Small Box Overdrive
Friedman
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Friedman Small Box Overdrive wants
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster
Empress
68% similarityShared character: buffer, signal integrity, 8 impedance
Fairfield Circuitry Roger That
Fairfield Circuitry
61% similarityShared character: buffer, signal integrity
TC Electronic Spark Booster
TC Electronic
60% similarityShared character: boost
Browne Amplification The Fixer Dual Boost/Buffer
Browne Amplification
59% similarityShared character: buffer, signal integrity, 8 impedance
Demon FX Full BB Preamp
Demon Fx
59% similarityShared character: boost
Red Witch Seven Sisters Lily Boost
Red Witch
57% similarityShared character: boost
Cusack Music Louder
Cusack Music
57% similarityShared character: boost, clean
Carl Martin Hydra boost
Carl Martin
56% similarityShared character: boost, clean
Digitech DOD 410 Bifet Boost
Digitech
56% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, boost
Crazy Tube Circuits Super Conductor
Crazy Tube Circuits
55% similarityShared character: boost
Catalinbread Blood Donor
Catalinbread
54% similarityShared character: boost, clean
T-Rex Karma Boost
T Rex
52% similarityShared character: boost, clean
See all alternatives to the IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost?+
The closest matches in character are the Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster, the Fairfield Circuitry Roger That, the TC Electronic Spark Booster.
What pairs well with the IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Wren and Cuff Box of War OG, Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII, EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter V3 — The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Wren and Cuff Box of War OG leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in.