The Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus is a Maxon chorus pedal, currently around $229. Close alternatives include the Warm Guitar Pedals WA-C1 and the Maxon CS9 PRO Stereo Chorus. It pairs well with the Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head and the Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt.
Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Maxon · pedal
The Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus is an analog chorus pedal from Maxon, the respected Japanese manufacturer behind many classic Ibanez-era analog effects circuits, offering true stereo output for wide, spacious chorus textures. Built with Maxon's reputation for premium analog circuit design, it's aimed at players wanting rich, three-dimensional chorus tones spanning subtle shimmer to more pronounced, swirling modulation.
What stands out
“Primary use case is players wanting lush, spacious chorus textures for clean and lightly driven tones, particularly in stereo recording or live rig setups”
— from the community notes
“True stereo output gives genuinely wider, more spacious chorus character than mono-only alternatives, particularly valuable for studio and stereo-rig use”
— from the reviews
“The Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus is an analog chorus pedal from Maxon, the respected Japanese manufacturer behind many classic Ibanez-era analog effects circuits, offering true stereo output for wide, spacious chorus textures”
— from the listing
“Built with Maxon's reputation for premium analog circuit design, it's aimed at players wanting rich, three-dimensional chorus tones spanning subtle shimmer to more pronounced, swirling modulation”
— from the listing
“Standout strength is Maxon's analog circuit pedigree, drawing on the company's decades-long reputation for premium, musical modulation effects”
— from the community notes
- stereo
- spacious
- stereo chorus
- analog chorus
- shimmer
- subtle
- mono
- three dimensional
Price updated Oct 22, 2026
Genres the Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Ambient
- Neo Soul
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head
Revv
20% matchRevv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head leans toward high gain, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Synergy SL2 Module goes after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus in the chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head goes after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus in the chain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 goes after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus in the chain
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212 after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hughes & Kettner Coreblade after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Pedals that stack with the Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Fjord Fuzz Odin
Fjord Fuzz
23% matchFjord Fuzz Odin leans toward fuzzy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fjord Fuzz Berserk
Fjord Fuzz
22% matchWhat Fjord Fuzz Berserk brings here leans toward aggressive — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss DD-2 Digital Delay
Boss
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.
Keep Boss DD-2 Digital Delay after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Roland SDE-3000D
Roland
7% matchRoland SDE-3000D's pristine voice goes after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus's own lush character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Death By Audio Destruction in front of Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 goes in front of Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus in the chain
Subdecay F-Bomb
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Subdecay F-Bomb in front of Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchWarm Audio Jet Phaser belongs after Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus, since modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set
Cheaper alternatives
Source Audio Gemini Chorus
Source Audio
65% similarityShared character: stereo, modulation
Behringer UC200 Stereo Chorus
Behringer
64% similarityShared character: stereo, modulation, subtle
Behringer Chorus Symphony
Behringer
62% similarityShared character: mono, stereo, modulation
TC Electronic Corona Chorus
TC Electronic
61% similarityShared character: stereo, modulation, subtle
Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble
Boss
59% similarityShared character: mono, stereo, modulation
Wampler Nirvana Chorus
Wampler
59% similarityShared character: stereo, modulation, subtle
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Warm Guitar Pedals WA-C1
Warm Guitar Pedals
70% similarityShared character: modulation, mono, stereo
Maxon CS9 PRO Stereo Chorus
Maxon
67% similarityShared character: mono, stereo, recording
MXR M134 Stereo Chorus
MXR
66% similarityShared character: mono, stereo, modulation
Walrus Audio Julianna Deluxe Chorus/Vibrato
Walrus Audio
65% similarityShared character: mono, stereo
Eventide TriceraChorus Tri-Stereo Chorus
Eventide
64% similarityShared character: stereo, modulation, subtle
Maxon ASC-10
Maxon
64% similarityShared character: stereo, modulation
See all alternatives to the Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus?+
The closest matches in character are the Warm Guitar Pedals WA-C1, the Maxon CS9 PRO Stereo Chorus, the MXR M134 Stereo Chorus. Budget picks: Source Audio Gemini Chorus, Behringer UC200 Stereo Chorus, Behringer Chorus Symphony. Boutique upgrades: Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl, Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, Analog Man Bi-Chorus.
What pairs well with the Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt, Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H — Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head leans toward high gain, and that's a real, usable character to pair with.
How much does the Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus cost?+
Around $229 (live listing price, updated Oct 22, 2026).
Compare
- vs Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl
- vs Warm Audio WA-C1 Chorus and Vibrato
- vs TC Electronic Stereo Chorus Flanger