Been having taichi for like 2 months, very happy to have it. The only thing I hate is the printing (labelling) is really difficult to read from certain angles, but once having the knobs memorized, not that annoying.
They may sound very much the same on TH-cam, but how do they compare in terms of feel? I.e. compression, touch sensitivity under the fingers etc? You can make a lot of things sound the same, but to feel the same is a whole other story.
Zendrive sounds slightly clearer but you can definitely dial in the same tones with some knob or eq tweaking. Other than that they're really close, almost identical. Joyo R Series pedals are really amazing. Thanks for this great video.
It seems to me that the Zen drive has got a slightly cleaner tone. Especially when picking individual notes. It could be probably tweaked with some knobs though. I believe that not many people can actually distinguish the difference, especially in a live setting, which makes the Joyo a bargain. :)
If cost is an object for you, then the Joyo is the way to go. If I were to buy one of these, I'd go with the original Zen drive. They spent the $$'s to do the development, testing and 1st run manufacturing. That's a chunk of change, no doubt. To now go with a cheaper alternative doesn't sit well with me. I'd get the original Zen drive or perhaps the Warm Audio WarmDrive that is mentioned elsewhere and also has a lot of merit.
You really know how to compare pedals properly. Thank you so much for very informative comparison review. I've just ordered Taichi. What a bargain! Also, Joyo looks better imo lol
Circuits and schematics (for the most part) can not be copyrighted. So ANY company could copy a circuit 100%. There is literally no difference if that is the case. I would be interested to open up both and see what's under the hood.
I believe the Zendrive has all mounted components and the Joyo is likely a PCB. Can't say for sure though as the Joyo is built in a way that makes it very hard to get to the circuit board.
Great video. Funny, I had just spent the last 2 hrs. prior to sitting down with You Tube...researching information on the component differences between these 2 pedals. Now, before I get pummeled with comments...I may have a component name incorrect or the nomenclature. With that said the only difference I could find in MAIN components was that the Zen uses BAT41 diodes and the Tai Chi uses BAT46. The only difference there is the forwarding voltage .25v bat46, / .4v bat 41. That may account for the differences in clarity, clipping? They both use N7000 MosFET, and N5532P Op amps. I am no electrical engineer. ...just comparing apples to apples in layman terms. Is it worth the extra $$$ . Up to you...I have both with my Zen being the Red Dot variety. Happy Hunting...just wanted to share. Also, take a look at the Zen by Warm Audio. Price wise, it sits between the 2 but looks VERY much like the Zen and uses many if not all the same components according to the data. Thanks for tweaking the knobs and explaining throughout the vid.
Close enough for my ears, certainly not a two hundred dollar difference (if any at all.) I always wanted an original Zendrive but they got way too expensive. I'd happily settle for the Taichi.
I really do like the Joyos bit more brightness, hoping the handmade finnish one would sit somewhere in between Joyo and orig.....anyway , a must have pedal for a strat!!! @@andrewclarkeguitar
Propably slight real tone pot values, ex: the Zen uses a 10k por that's actually 11k when measured while the Joyo has a 10k por that reads 9k which will lead to different levels of treble when both pedals are adjusted the same. Best thing is to use your ears, not your eyes.
Great comparison. I do hear (ever so slightly) more individual string definition and presence with the Zen (but it's real close). My go to overdrive is The Barber Gain Changer SR = incredible unit. I also use a Fulltone OCD and a Thorpy Fallout Cloud. oNe LovE from NYC
Thanks for the comparison. It’s funny, but I could tell which pedal was which in the very first sound comparison. I actually thought it would be more difficult to hear the difference. I could hear the clarity of the Zen coming through. Which you prefer is subjective, although I do prefer the clarity of the Zen.
Boss angry driver and Fulltone fulldrive 2 both are very expensive now. Joyo's got some great stuff going on. I actually have 3 of them. If I had a joyo back in the 80's it would have been a dream come true. @@andrewclarkeguitar
Some people still have scruples and morals and would rather pay more and get an original, and have the money go to the person/company that originally developed the sound of a pedal/amp/etc. I understand if someone doesn’t have thousands of dollars to invest in their gear, yet they still want a good sound. I was poor (still kinda am) and young once, and being able to buy cheap gear from China and still get a great sound would have been something I would have partaken in. But I say this to those who can actually afford a real Zen yet want to cheap out and buy the Joyo: why don’t you just move to China, so you can buy everything cheap? Actually, you won’t have to move there, because eventually, China will take over the world economy and basically become an invincible superpower and pretty much rule the entire planet. It’s just a matter of time.
Proves what people? Proves that big name pedal manufacturers are ripping us the hell off with bullshit and snake oil. All pedals should be $50 bucks now. Full stop.
Really well done comparison. I was thinking of going Zen, but now I’m thinking I’m just gonna have to practice my tai chi. 😂
Wow! They sound pretty much identical! Thank you Andrew! We definitely want more of those comparison videos.
Crazy, hey?? I've got more of these on the way. Thanks for watching 😊
I've just ordered the Taichi, can't wait to get it😊
Even the knob positions were the same, amazing!
They are virtually the same! Great comparison video. I got the Taichi and I'm so glad I have it. Thanks
Thank you so much for the review. You saved $200 for me
Hey that's awesome! 😀
Been having taichi for like 2 months, very happy to have it. The only thing I hate is the printing (labelling) is really difficult to read from certain angles, but once having the knobs memorized, not that annoying.
Just bought the Taichi, never mind for the money, its an excellent pedal, good demo !
Totally agree! Thanks for watching.
They may sound very much the same on TH-cam, but how do they compare in terms of feel? I.e. compression, touch sensitivity under the fingers etc? You can make a lot of things sound the same, but to feel the same is a whole other story.
The same.
What an excellent demo. The only difference I noticed was a bit extra brightness from the Zendrive at the same tone knob settings.
Zendrive sounds slightly clearer but you can definitely dial in the same tones with some knob or eq tweaking. Other than that they're really close, almost identical. Joyo R Series pedals are really amazing. Thanks for this great video.
yea ...differences could be down to Pot taper variations.
I love these comparisons. Well done.
Glad you enjoyed it!
The Warm Audio WarmDrive is even better than the Zendrive. Love that pedal, it's never off my board.
I haven't tried the Warm Audio one. But it looks and sounds awesome from what I've seen!
It seems to me that the Zen drive has got a slightly cleaner tone. Especially when picking individual notes. It could be probably tweaked with some knobs though. I believe that not many people can actually distinguish the difference, especially in a live setting, which makes the Joyo a bargain. :)
It's very very close. But there is a slight difference. But is that difference worth almost $200? Not too sure, haha. Thanks for watching!
If cost is an object for you, then the Joyo is the way to go. If I were to buy one of these, I'd go with the original Zen drive. They spent the $$'s to do the development, testing and 1st run manufacturing. That's a chunk of change, no doubt. To now go with a cheaper alternative doesn't sit well with me. I'd get the original Zen drive or perhaps the Warm Audio WarmDrive that is mentioned elsewhere and also has a lot of merit.
You really know how to compare pedals properly. Thank you so much for very informative comparison review. I've just ordered Taichi. What a bargain! Also, Joyo looks better imo lol
Thanks for the great comparison, you just saved me $200!
Glad I could help!
That’s a huge shock how close they sound!
Have you compared with the Donner dumble pedal?
The only thing better on the Zendrive is the graphics (and not by much). Other than that, both pedals are virtualy the same.
Many thanks Andrew !! very cool review .
Definitely like petal videos. Starting to look again. Had a big muff pi and a daddyo distortion. Looking for next one
Nice! Lots more on the way. Thanks for watching :)
Joyo make good pedals I own 6 of them at last count. I recommend them, they've been fun to use
Circuits and schematics (for the most part) can not be copyrighted. So ANY company could copy a circuit 100%. There is literally no difference if that is the case. I would be interested to open up both and see what's under the hood.
I believe the Zendrive has all mounted components and the Joyo is likely a PCB. Can't say for sure though as the Joyo is built in a way that makes it very hard to get to the circuit board.
Great video. Funny, I had just spent the last 2 hrs. prior to sitting down with You Tube...researching information on the component differences between these 2 pedals.
Now, before I get pummeled with comments...I may have a component name incorrect or the nomenclature. With that said the only difference I could find in MAIN components was that the Zen uses BAT41 diodes and the Tai Chi uses BAT46. The only difference there is the forwarding voltage .25v bat46, / .4v bat 41. That may account for the differences in clarity, clipping? They both use N7000 MosFET, and N5532P Op amps.
I am no electrical engineer. ...just comparing apples to apples in layman terms.
Is it worth the extra $$$ . Up to you...I have both with my Zen being the Red Dot variety.
Happy Hunting...just wanted to share.
Also, take a look at the Zen by Warm Audio. Price wise, it sits between the 2 but looks VERY much like the Zen and uses many if not all the same components according to the data. Thanks for tweaking the knobs and explaining throughout the vid.
Very informative. Thank you so much for sharing!
Close enough for my ears, certainly not a two hundred dollar difference (if any at all.) I always wanted an original Zendrive but they got way too expensive. I'd happily settle for the Taichi.
Agreed! Almost identical to my ears as well.
David: there are options: I have the 70€ 68Pedals Inca Kola, the IRIN Taichi 30€, ....
after my dark strat jazz tone my ears need a bit of glassy( I have the Looking Glass) brightness, so I ordered the Joyo!
Glassy brightness is what this pedal does best! Good choice 😁
just tried it yesterday: aVERY NICE pedal, and not too bright!@@andrewclarkeguitar
just upgrading to our finnish pedalmakers version(100€) with premium components and assembly: ZEN stays on!!!@@andrewclarkeguitar
I really do like the Joyos bit more brightness, hoping the handmade finnish one would sit somewhere in between Joyo and orig.....anyway , a must have pedal for a strat!!!
@@andrewclarkeguitar
The Joyo is good, but it lacks clarity and definition when you play a chord, it gets flubby.
Propably slight real tone pot values, ex: the Zen uses a 10k por that's actually 11k when measured while the Joyo has a 10k por that reads 9k which will lead to different levels of treble when both pedals are adjusted the same. Best thing is to use your ears, not your eyes.
Great comparison. I do hear (ever so slightly) more individual string definition and presence with the Zen (but it's real close). My go to overdrive is The Barber Gain Changer SR = incredible unit. I also use a Fulltone OCD and a Thorpy Fallout Cloud. oNe LovE from NYC
Thanks for the comparison. It’s funny, but I could tell which pedal was which in the very first sound comparison. I actually thought it would be more difficult to hear the difference. I could hear the clarity of the Zen coming through. Which you prefer is subjective, although I do prefer the clarity of the Zen.
Great Video - what is the Loop pedal?
It's just a Boss RC-1
Joyo a bit muddier/zendrive is clearer
I don't like either, but that is because it's not a tone I need. The Joyo is very usable for new players.
Fair enough! What's your go-to overdrive?
Boss angry driver and Fulltone fulldrive 2 both are very expensive now. Joyo's got some great stuff going on. I actually have 3 of them. If I had a joyo back in the 80's it would have been a dream come true.
@@andrewclarkeguitar
What is the loop switching pedal called?
It's the JHS Switchback ☺
circuits are circuits
They do sound the same.
Ok. Befor anythings shown. I like A
it's hilarious all you guys say oh it's identical for less $ and yet you never see Joyos on any notable player's boards.
Some people still have scruples and morals and would rather pay more and get an original, and have the money go to the person/company that originally developed the sound of a pedal/amp/etc.
I understand if someone doesn’t have thousands of dollars to invest in their gear, yet they still want a good sound. I was poor (still kinda am) and young once, and being able to buy cheap gear from China and still get a great sound would have been something I would have partaken in.
But I say this to those who can actually afford a real Zen yet want to cheap out and buy the Joyo: why don’t you just move to China, so you can buy everything cheap? Actually, you won’t have to move there, because eventually, China will take over the world economy and basically become an invincible superpower and pretty much rule the entire planet. It’s just a matter of time.
Because guitar players are gullible idiots.
A = Taichi
the tai chi is muddy, farty, totally useless live. videos are a poor representation. save your money.
Proves what people? Proves that big name pedal manufacturers are ripping us the hell off with bullshit and snake oil. All pedals should be $50 bucks now. Full stop.
The Zen sounds more expensive