Strange Problems with EHX Key9... Anyone else

MrMusic

I recently tried out an EHX Key9 on Denmark st and although it sounded great when the guy plugged it in it wouldnt work immediately and appeared faulty, finally it did work and i tried it out and really liked it.

I thought this was a one off and decided to order one as i was really impressed. Unfortunately the one i have recieved seems to have a similar issue regarding power and i have realised the only way to get it working is do disconnect the power supply a few times and re try.... Very odd and annoying!

Has anyone else experienced any similar issues with the key9 or the other EHX organ pedals?

monquixote

Yep 

All sorts of issues with the B9 and from what I've heard so have plenty of other people.

mrkb

I though unreliability was a free feature of all EHX pedals! The C9's certainly had a poor reputation for reliability.

BumFace

They really are badly put together. I try and avoid buying them for that reason, although I've got a soul food and a double muff (which is shite)

JohnPerry

I had two B9s and one did that half the time. Had to return it

Branshen

Had a second hand ehx freeze develop a fault with the LED. Nothing has ever failed me except maybe some pedal switches. No desire to get any ehx after that.

Kebabkid

A bit of a necro bump.

I'm really enjoying the vids for the Key9 and have had various Roland guitar synths in the past which I used in function bands with relative success. however, the various reliability issues documented with EHX pedals and these ones in particular are worrying and I'm just wondering whether a couple of years on things have improved with these keyboard-orientated pedals and the problems have been ironed out?

Any happy/satisfied users? @MrMusic, what happened with your story?

meltedbuzzbox

My synth9 and mel9 have been solid so far

Funkfingers

MrMusic said:

it wouldn't work immediately and appeared faulty, finally it did work and i tried it out and really liked it.

I have the EHX Ring Thing. It seems to take longer than one would expect to react to the power going on.

Kebabkid

Good to hear @meltedbuzzbox ;
Were they bought at the time these were introduced (? 2015) or more recently?

meltedbuzzbox

Funkfingers said:

MrMusic said:

it wouldn't work immediately and appeared faulty, finally it did work and i tried it out and really liked it.

I have the EHX Ring Thing. It seems to take longer than one would expect to react to the power going on.

One?
Sounds like there is some serious riffage going down at Buckingham palace

meltedbuzzbox

@Kebabkid I got them both this year. 
I couldn't say if they have been sat around for a while though. 
All EHX pedals come with a warranty when you buy them new. I think it lasts for a year

Gulliver

My B9 just decided to stop working one day.  Super low signal regardless of where the controls are     Might send it to EHX to get it repaired, but it's probably not going to be getting much use now I've left my old band.

schrodinger1612

‘Cos EHX, innit? 

MrMusic

Kebabkid said:

A bit of a necro bump.

I'm really enjoying the vids for the Key9 and have had various Roland guitar synths in the past which I used in function bands with relative success. however, the various reliability issues documented with EHX pedals and these ones in particular are worrying and I'm just wondering whether a couple of years on things have improved with these keyboard-orientated pedals and the problems have been ironed out?

Any happy/satisfied users? @MrMusic, what happened with your story?

Found out the Key9 (And most EHX) pedals only work with the original EHX power supply. I was using a Strymon Ojai and the Key9 didn’t like it. 

Sold my Key9 in the end about a year ago, great pedal if you need a Rhodes or Keyboard sound. Just use the original ps

impmann

MrMusic said:

Kebabkid said:

A bit of a necro bump.

I'm really enjoying the vids for the Key9 and have had various Roland guitar synths in the past which I used in function bands with relative success. however, the various reliability issues documented with EHX pedals and these ones in particular are worrying and I'm just wondering whether a couple of years on things have improved with these keyboard-orientated pedals and the problems have been ironed out?

Any happy/satisfied users? @MrMusic, what happened with your story?

Found out the Key9 (And most EHX) pedals only work with the original EHX power supply. I was using a Strymon Ojai and the Key9 didn’t like it. 

Sold my Key9 in the end about a year ago, great pedal if you need a Rhodes or Keyboard sound. Just use the original ps

Actually this isn't strictly true... it's just a power supply, there's no "magic" in there. Perhaps the other supply wasn't supplying sufficient current, as these are very hungry. And some cheap (not saying the Strymon is cheap - I'm making a general point) supplies that say they can deliver large current do so at the expense of noise, interference or in some cases where I've measured them, MASSIVE heat and instability. The EHX supplies get hot... worryingly so in some cases.

FWIW, I have a pile of EHX pedals here - from Small Stone to Micro Synth to a Mel9 and they are 100% solid. I use them with the original supplies if supplied with them or powered by either the GigRig system (observing the current supply needs) or an old power supply unit I've had for years that can provide up to 2amp of current should it be needed.

MrMusic

impmann said:

MrMusic said:

Kebabkid said:

A bit of a necro bump.

I'm really enjoying the vids for the Key9 and have had various Roland guitar synths in the past which I used in function bands with relative success. however, the various reliability issues documented with EHX pedals and these ones in particular are worrying and I'm just wondering whether a couple of years on things have improved with these keyboard-orientated pedals and the problems have been ironed out?

Any happy/satisfied users? @MrMusic, what happened with your story?

Found out the Key9 (And most EHX) pedals only work with the original EHX power supply. I was using a Strymon Ojai and the Key9 didn’t like it. 

Sold my Key9 in the end about a year ago, great pedal if you need a Rhodes or Keyboard sound. Just use the original ps

Actually this isn't strictly true... it's just a power supply, there's no "magic" in there. Perhaps the other supply wasn't supplying sufficient current, as these are very hungry. And some cheap (not saying the Strymon is cheap - I'm making a general point) supplies that say they can deliver large current do so at the expense of noise, interference or in some cases where I've measured them, MASSIVE heat and instability. The EHX supplies get hot... worryingly so in some cases.

FWIW, I have a pile of EHX pedals here - from Small Stone to Micro Synth to a Mel9 and they are 100% solid. I use them with the original supplies if supplied with them or powered by either the GigRig system (observing the current supply needs) or an old power supply unit I've had for years that can provide up to 2amp of current should it be needed



I enjoyed the Key9, just had power issues with it, i am aware of current draw and what pedals require. I must say i was baffled that my Strymon Ojai can power a mobius with no problems and every other pedal i have tried with it but the Key9 was the only pedal not playing ball.

joetele

As others have said, EHX pedals seem quite picky about their power supplies, and I could only use the EHX supplied PSU with my Synth9.