Walrus Audio MerakiFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 67 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment60%
PROS 60%
CONS 40%

Rank based on 67 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a true analog BBD delay with independent stereo time/mod control
  • You mainly use synths or studio setups and value rich, lush analog tone over presets
  • You're willing to pay a premium for a boutique, feature-rich delay

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need MIDI preset recall rather than CC-only control
  • You're on a tight budget or need a rig-friendly mono/live-standard pedal
  • You require true independent dry/wet control per output for stereo imaging

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
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Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
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Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Premium
Walrus Audio Meraki
Rich analog BBD toneExcellent pairing with synthsTrue stereo dual delay architectureHigh priceDisputed 'true stereo' implementationNoise on synth line-level signals
Walrus Audio Meraki
Rich analog BBD tone
Excellent pairing with synths
True stereo dual delay architecture
High price
Disputed 'true stereo' implementation
Noise on synth line-level signals

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Musical, rich analog tone that wins over synth and guitar players alike. Commenters repeatedly describe the Meraki as gorgeous, warm, lush and 'the stuff of legend,' calling it the best or most musical delay they've owned. It's praised on synths like the Matriarch, JX3P, OB-X8 and P10, as well as acoustic and electric guitar, with several saying it replaced multiple pedals or made them sell other gear. Many say it's worth the price despite the cost.

Steep price sparks constant debate about value versus alternatives. At roughly €660-680, users compare it unfavorably in price to the Boss DM-101, used vintage units, or digital emulations like the TC Flashback 2, questioning if the extra cost is justified. Others counter that genuine 8-chip MN3005 BBD analog delay with true stereo and MIDI has no real substitute, making the price acceptable for dedicated boutique gear despite it being 'overkill' for live budgets.

Stereo implementation and minor technical quirks draw criticism. Several vocal commenters argue it isn't truly stereo because dry signal is summed to both outputs without independent per-channel dry/wet or kill-dry pots, keeping the instrument centered. Others report noise/hiss with synth line-level signals, a high-pass filter on the dry signal, bypass/trails behavior questions, and disappointment that only MIDI CC (not preset recall) is supported, calling it a drag for pedalboard use.

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