€39.99 does not normally buy you a stereo delay pedal with 17 delay types, 10 presets, tap tempo, expression control, USB connectivity, dual DSP and an OLED display.

But that is exactly where the Hotone Binary EKO currently sits in our outlet.

And there is an important reason for that price.

The Binary EKO was not designed as a €39.99 budget pedal.

Our previous selling price was €149. We simply have remaining new Binary Series stock that we want to clear.

We know the Binary EKO particularly well

Our relationship with the Binary Series goes back much further than the current ScaleNordic outlet.

Before moving our operation to Spain, we were the Norwegian distributor for Hotone.

During that period, we sold a large number of Binary EKO pedals in Norway.

So this is not a product we recently discovered because the price became attractive.

We already knew the pedal well when it was selling at its normal market price.

We knew its feature set, its practical strengths and the reason so many players found it interesting.

The Binary Series sat somewhere between a stompbox and a multi-effect

One reason the Binary pedals remain interesting is that they were never particularly basic pedals.

Hotone developed the Binary platform from technology used in its XTOMP products and built the series around its CDCM – Comprehensive Dynamic Circuit Modeling – system.

The pedals use a dual-DSP platform with 24-bit A/D/A conversion and up to 110 dB signal-to-noise ratio.

They combine that digital processing with a physical interface that still feels much more like a normal pedal than a menu-heavy floor processor.

The front panel gives you five parameter knobs, two footswitches, four control buttons and a central OLED display.

That display is particularly important.

Instead of trying to remember what a row of LEDs means, you can see the selected bank, preset, effect and parameter information directly on the pedal.

Binary EKO – the pedal we have the strongest history with

The Binary EKO is the model we want to focus on most heavily because it is also the Binary pedal we sold in significant numbers when we distributed Hotone in Norway.

At its core, EKO is a programmable stereo delay pedal.

But describing it simply as a delay pedal understates what is inside it.

• 17 delay types.
• 10 user presets arranged in two banks of five.
• Tap tempo.
• Tap Divide.
• Stereo input and output.
• Expression pedal input.
• Dual-DSP processing.
• 24-bit A/D/A conversion at 44.1 kHz.
• Up to 110 dB signal-to-noise ratio.
• OLED display.
• USB connection for firmware and Binary Editor functions.
• Maximum delay times of up to 4000 ms, depending on the selected algorithm.

17 delay engines – from simple digital delay to much stranger territory

One of the best things about EKO is that the 17 algorithms are not simply seventeen slightly different versions of the same basic idea.

There are straightforward delays for players who just want clean repeats, but there are also analog-style, tape-style, stereo and heavily processed options.

The available delay types include:

• Dream Eko – BBD-style analog delay character.
• 80 EKO – inspired by a classic analog delay design.
• Memo EKO – inspired by a well-known stereo analog delay concept.
• 900 EKO – another classic analog-style delay flavour.
• 999 EKO – long analog-style repeats.
• Pure EKO – a clean, straightforward digital delay.
• Warm EKO – warmer feedback with an analog-style character.
• Tape EKO – vintage tape-echo style response.
• Tube EKO – echo with tube-style coloration.
• Vintage Rack – an intentionally older 1980s rack-digital character.
• Dual EKO – dual-delay operation.
• Ping Pong – repeats moving between left and right channels.
• Sweep EKO – delay combined with a sweeping filter.
• Tremolo EKO – delay combined with tremolo modulation.
• LoFi EKO – sample-reduced feedback textures.
• Ring EKO – ring-modulated feedback for more experimental sounds.
• Slap Back – short vintage-style slapback echo.

That means EKO can cover the normal jobs – clean rhythmic delay, slapback, warm repeats and stereo ping-pong – but it can also become considerably more creative when required.

The A and B controls make each delay more than a fixed preset

Three controls behave much as you would expect on a delay pedal: Mix, Feedback and Time.

The two additional A and B controls change function depending on the selected delay algorithm.

They can adjust parameters such as filtering, modulation depth, modulation rate, tone and other algorithm-specific settings.

This means you are not simply choosing between 17 fixed sounds.

You can shape each effect and then save the result into one of the 10 user presets.

Tap tempo makes far more sense on a delay like this

For live use, tap tempo is one of the features that separates a practical multi-delay from a pedal that constantly needs manual adjustment.

The right footswitch handles patch and tap functions, while Hotone also provides Tap Divide for rhythmic subdivisions.

That makes EKO useful for everything from simple quarter-note delay to more rhythmically specific parts.

The two large footswitches also make sense on stage because the pedal remains relatively compact without forcing the player to operate tiny switches with a foot.

Stereo matters – especially for keyboards, recording and two-amp rigs

Binary EKO is not limited to a mono guitar rig.

Its stereo I/O makes it useful with two amplifiers, recording systems and keyboards as well.

For effects such as Ping Pong delay, stereo is not simply an extra connector on the back of the pedal. It is part of the effect itself.

For a keyboard player or studio user, the stereo capability can make EKO considerably more useful than a conventional mono delay at a similar price.

Expression control without occupying your hands

EKO also includes an expression pedal input.

This lets selected effect parameters be controlled in real time while playing.

For more experimental delay sounds, filter sweeps and modulation-based effects, that can turn a static preset into something much more performance-oriented.

USB and the Binary Editor

The USB connection on the Binary Series is not there merely because USB looked modern on the specification sheet.

Hotone developed the Binary Editor for Mac and Windows for managing effects and pedal settings, and USB is also used for firmware updates.

Hotone still lists Binary manuals, editor downloads and firmware for the series on its support website.

Because the Binary platform dates from an earlier software generation, we recommend checking Hotone's current support information if computer-editor compatibility with a particular current operating-system version is important to you.

Independent reviewers also found plenty to like

We obviously have our own experience with Binary EKO, but it is useful to look at what independent reviewers said when the pedal was still a current product at a much higher price.

Premier Guitar reviewed the Binary EKO in 2018 and listed its US street price at US$139 + tax.

The reviewer highlighted the amount of control packed into the pedal, the convenience of the preset system and several of the delay sounds, particularly slapback, Sweep EKO and Tremolo EKO.

The review was not uncritical. It felt that some analog and lo-fi emulations were less convincing and preferred EKO when used for simpler digital and selected modulated delays.

We actually like that kind of review.

A review that discusses both strengths and weaknesses is much more useful than one that simply declares everything to be perfect.

AMAZONA.de also tested the EKO at €125

German publication AMAZONA.de tested the Binary EKO in 2018 at a listed price of €125.

Its conclusion described the pedal as solid, affordable and extensively equipped, with an impressively good basic sound.

The review particularly highlighted the sound quality, stereo signal path, low noise, feature set, sharp OLED display and expression pedal connection.

It also noted that a number of the 17 delay engines sounded fairly similar to one another.

Again, that is useful context rather than something we need to hide.

You do not need all 17 algorithms to sound radically different for the pedal to be useful. You need a strong set of delays that you will actually use.

At the current outlet price, EKO becomes a very different proposition

The most important thing about the current price is perspective.

This pedal was being reviewed internationally at around €125 in Europe and US$139 + tax in the United States.

Our own previous price was €149.

Today, it is competing with much simpler pedals that may offer one basic delay circuit and a handful of controls.

Binary EKO gives you a dual-DSP platform, 17 delay types, presets, stereo, tap tempo, expression control, OLED and USB.

Binary MOD – 24 modulation effects in the same platform

The second Binary pedal we still have is the Hotone Binary MOD.

MOD uses the same basic hardware concept as EKO but replaces the delay library with 24 modulation effects.

The range covers familiar modulation categories such as chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, rotary, vibrato, wah, filter, ring modulation and lo-fi processing.

It also keeps many of the features that make EKO interesting:

• 24 modulation effects.
• 10 presets.
• Dual DSP.
• 24-bit A/D/A conversion.
• OLED display.
• Stereo operation.
• Tap tempo with Tap Divide.
• Expression pedal control.
• USB for editor and firmware functions.

Binary MOD received a Best Buy award

AMAZONA.de tested Binary MOD in 2018 at a listed price of €125.

The publication gave it a Best Buy award.

The review specifically praised sound quality, effect selection, low noise, 10 memory locations, the OLED display, stereo operation, the free editor and overall price/performance.

Our remaining new Binary MOD pedals are now being offered at a substantially lower outlet price.

Why MOD can replace several individual pedals

Some players only need one chorus or one phaser and are perfectly happy with a dedicated pedal.

Binary MOD is aimed at a different user.

If you need chorus for one song, tremolo for another, rotary or vibe occasionally, a phaser somewhere else and perhaps something more experimental later in the set, having those effects in one programmable pedal makes practical sense.

The 10 preset locations also mean that you do not have to remember control positions for every sound.

For guitar, keyboard and studio use, that flexibility is one of MOD's strongest arguments.

Binary AMP – 16 amp models, 16 cab simulations and an FX loop

The third remaining model is the Hotone Binary AMP.

AMP takes the Binary hardware concept in another direction, with 16 amplifier models and 16 speaker cabinet simulations.

It also provides 10 presets, an OLED display, USB management and an integrated effects loop.

The controls are laid out much like an amplifier, with Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble and Gain, making it relatively straightforward to use without diving through deep menus.

We would rather be transparent about the Binary AMP reviews

Not every independent review of every Binary product was equally enthusiastic.

AMAZONA.de praised Binary AMP's robust construction, very good OLED display, Mac/PC editor, 10 memory locations, low noise and simple operation.

However, that reviewer was less impressed with the overall amp modelling and dynamics.

We think that is worth mentioning.

Binary AMP does not need to be presented as the ultimate modern modeller in order to make sense at its current price.

It is a compact programmable amp/cab tool with presets, an FX loop, OLED and USB – and that is how we would evaluate it today.

Binary EKO, MOD and AMP compared

These were not designed as €39.99–€49.99 pedals

That point is worth repeating because extremely low clearance prices can sometimes work against a product.

A customer sees €39.99 and naturally assumes that the product was designed to compete with other €39.99 pedals.

That is not what happened here.

The Binary Series was developed as a much more ambitious digital pedal platform with dual DSP, OLED displays, presets, USB software support and programmable effects.

The low price is a result of our current stock-clearance situation.

Why are we selling them this cheaply?

ScaleNordic is no longer the Norwegian distributor for Hotone.

Our operation is now based in Spain, and we are clearing the remaining Binary Series stock rather than trying to rebuild a full Hotone distribution programme around a small number of remaining models.

The products are new stock.

So rather than keeping older distributor inventory indefinitely, we would prefer to price it aggressively and let the pedals go to musicians who will actually use them.

That is particularly true of Binary EKO, where we still have considerably more remaining stock than the other Binary models.

Who should consider the Binary EKO?

We think EKO makes particular sense if you want more than a basic three-knob delay but do not want a large multi-effects floorboard.

• Guitarists who need several different delay sounds during a set.
• Players who want tap tempo and presets.
• Dual-amp users who can take advantage of stereo output.
• Keyboard players who want a compact stereo delay.
• Studio users looking for unusual delay textures.
• Players who want expression control for live manipulation.
• Anyone who wants to experiment with tape, analog-style, ping-pong, filtered, modulated and lo-fi delay without buying several separate pedals.

Which Binary pedal should you choose?

Choose Binary EKO if delay is the priority. It offers by far the widest delay toolkit of the three Binary models we still have and is the pedal we know best from our years as the Norwegian Hotone distributor.

Choose Binary MOD if you use several modulation effects and would rather have chorus, phaser, flanger, tremolo, vibe, rotary, wah and more in one programmable stereo pedal.

Choose Binary AMP if you specifically need a very inexpensive compact amp/cab simulator with presets and an FX loop and understand that it comes from an earlier generation of modelling technology.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Binary EKO priced so low?

It is a stock-clearance price. Our previous ScaleNordic price was €149, and we are now clearing our remaining Binary Series inventory.

Did ScaleNordic sell the Binary EKO before?

Yes. We were previously the Norwegian distributor for Hotone and sold a large number of Binary EKO pedals in Norway.

Does Binary EKO have presets?

Yes. It provides 10 user presets arranged in two banks of five.

Does it have tap tempo?

Yes. Binary EKO includes tap tempo and Tap Divide functions.

Is Binary EKO stereo?

Yes. It supports stereo input and output, making it suitable for dual-amp rigs, stereo recording setups and keyboards as well as conventional guitar use.

Can I use an expression pedal?

Yes. Binary EKO and Binary MOD provide an expression pedal connection for real-time parameter control.

What is the USB port used for?

USB is used for Binary Editor functions and firmware management. It is not a USB audio-interface connection.

Is the Binary Editor still available?

At the time of writing, Hotone still lists Binary Editor downloads, manuals and Binary firmware on its support website. Compatibility with specific current operating-system versions should be checked with Hotone if editor use is important to you.

What power supply do the Binary pedals require?

The Binary pedals require a 9 V DC, centre-negative power supply with at least 200 mA available. The power supply is not included.

Is Binary MOD only for guitar?

No. Its stereo connectivity and modulation effects also make it useful with keyboards and studio equipment.

Does Binary AMP include cabinet simulation?

Yes. Binary AMP provides 16 amplifier models together with 16 speaker cabinet simulations.

Our final advice

Do not judge these pedals only by their current price.

Look at what is actually inside them.

OLED display. Dual DSP. Presets. USB. Programmable effects. Stereo operation and expression control on EKO and MOD. An FX loop on AMP.

Those were serious features when the Binary Series was launched, and they remain useful today.

Independent reviewers were evaluating the Binary EKO at around €125 in Europe and US$139 + tax in the United States.

That is not because somebody later removed the OLED display, the dual DSP, the stereo outputs, the presets, the expression input or the 17 delay engines.

It is simply time for us to clear the remaining stock.