I bought the Hotone Ampero Stomp II because of the demo on this channel. I would never have considered a Hotone product until seeing it here. It not only sounds fantastic, but it it is a great value. As this demo proves, the QC is not a thousand dollars better than the Hotone. Both are great sounding, but when used in any other context than by itself, you can't hear the difference. I use a Tonex (because of this channel) for the amp sounds, but Ampero Stomp II for all effects. Well done MN.
I was looking for the same setup as your using. I love the tonesx and what it can do. I’ve been in the hunt for an effect pedal to use via midi in conjunction with the tonex and have decided on the ampere stomp II after seeing it demoed here and on the Sonic drive studios channel. For the money that pedal does most of what I want well.
I think you nailed the comparison. I was hearing the Cortex as being more brighter and the Ampero more level. When you added the effects though I had a much harder time differentiating between the two. Great video
Agreed. I listened blind while at work, went back and looked at when I realized "I like that tone" and it was the ampero for me. Thanks for a great video!
I just bought the Ampero II Stage because of your comparison and, man, I can't be more happy. Until now I was using my EVH 5150 III 50W and a big pedalboard. My new setup now is the Ampero II Stage with my Morley 20/20 Bad Horsie Wah in front. Thanks!
I agree with your final comments and that is what I heard. The QC sounds a little brighter and crisper. However, the Hotone is a fabulous piece of kit for less than half the price.
yeah same here. Probably reason why it sounds 'louder' although they are level matched. From all these comparison videos, i've had 2 takeaways: 1) you gotta know how to dial in an amp. If you can't do that, no modeler is going to sound good, whether 500 usd or 2000 usd. 2) the IR plays a muuuuuuuuuuch bigger role than the amp modeler simulation. So focus on getting a good IR first.
I purchased rhe Ampero 2 Stage a couple weeks ago. Not the least bit sorry. $650 Sold my Helix. Been a Line 6 fan for years but the stage is such a smaller form factor with scenes, Bluetooth, touchscreen (like your smartphone touchscreen. Very smooth, fast and accurate and the editor is easier than HX edit not to mention the iOS, and Android app for editing via Bluetooth , along with backing tracks from my phone to practice with Tones … in my mind are amazing. I run mine into a Seymour Duncan Powerstage 200 and from there out to 2 cabs… custom made by Ray Franklin …. One with a 12” cannabis Rex and one with a 10” cannabis Rex speaker. Using this combination I don’t find it nexesssry to use any global EQ settings. The Powerstage has EQ on it and the cannabis Rex speakers in Ray’s cabs already provide the guitar frequencies you would get or not get from an amp and cab Killer combination along with Jay Parmar’s preset pack you’re ready to gig Thank you J. Amazing presets. I’ve also built my own presets. Very easy to get great tones out of the stage. I have presets for electric and acoustic as sometimes I play both Have a preset that uses acoustic and vocal , very easy with the stage. And the stage’s pitch correction works great. I’m not the singer in either band I play in … but sometimes I do a song or two Great to have separate signal paths for guitar and vocal with fully assignable inputs and outputs. I run both paths with effects and have had no issues with running out of DSP. A great choice for me at a great price does everything I need it to do along with recording in my studio.
@@amitbidaye7855 I'm a metal player, so I can only speak for the high-gain models, but hell yes. As a matter-of -fact it's not even close. I had bought a Helix LT because I wanted more I/O and assumed the harmonizer would be better, but the metal amp models were all flubby even with the od in front of them. The amps in my Ampero Stomp were much better, and the harmonizer was about the same. The LT went back and I'm getting a stage. I'll hang onto the Stomp for a second pedalboard \m/
Biggest difference to me is $1000 ! While the DSP Quad Cortex did sound a tad brighter at times, IMO truly not enough of a difference to warrant the huge difference in price.
Nice simple honest review. Thank you Michael. The way I heard (and would describe) it was that they were both great, but the Quad Cortex was more detailed. It sounds like it has a greater dynamic range and it picks up the nuances of the actual guitar better. It would be nice to compare several other guitars to see if that assumption is true. On stage, live gig? You would never pick it. Recording? You would not be disappointed with either. There are heaps of things you can do in editing. But if you don't mind the extra cost, then to my ear the Quad Cortex has the edge.
Love that humble comparison. All modellers have their place i guess. Personally i went with a QC 2 years ago. But i love how people making GOOD TASTY sounds out of every device out there. In the end it's all about making music with it!
I absolutely agree. If the modeler is up to snuff, it's a matter of the users being able to learn their way around the device and make good use of the tools they have.
If I'm being honest... listening blindly without biased I interpret that the Cortex is setup with a bit more gain and a tad brighter than the Ampero in the tests. The Ampero's Plexi sound has a bit too much high end cutoff in comparison. Neither is necessarily "wrong" but they are difficult to compare in this instance since the gain staging feels different AND the high end is slightly different as well... there's nothing left to compare except "feel under the fingers" which only the Player can interpret (we can't subjectively analyze that at all from a video). That's my two pesos worth of opinion which doesn't matter to anyone anyway. I don't personally use either of these products, I'm a fan boy of a couple of other products which are not relevant to this Ampero vs Cortex subject.
My perception was the Quad Cortex is brighter than the Ampero. For me the Ampero does a great job of not having the brightness and and harsh digital highs that modelers and digital effects can have. I preferred the Ampero in all examples. The Quad Cortex is pretty amazing, but the Ampero is a major contender in this space. Excellent attention to details on how to do a fair comparison. And yes , the H90 is incredible.
On Dave Friedman's suggestion/review, I've been using Ampero's Stomp II with extra channel controller... I incorporate with my TUBE amp of choice live... it F'N SLAYS... so easy to use, program, etc... and sounds KILLER.... EASILY as good as my Helix Floor, which I've used live (for my FX & backup emergency rig live) since it came out years ago....
Hotone for the money hands down got my vote. Ive watched Hotone continually push the boundaries and deliver to the market incredible value for money well done I say finally a win for the end user ! Great review as always Michael keep it honest !!
At this point anything goes really, especially when it comes down to the context of a mix. What anyone should be looking out for is IO and switching options; once you see how it would work best for you and how are you planning to connect it for performance then it's just a question of budget because, as soon as you add IRs and commit on learning how to program it, anything nowadays can sound great. I'm a Helix user and recently got a Quad Cortex and honestly I can't say soundwise I'm tempted to fully switch to it. What I like about the Cortex is the portability of it and the fact that with little planning I can record a on multi tracks 2 guitars, a bass and vocals on my laptop (say for rehearsals). But still for shows I still feel more at home with the almost 10 year old Helix that I know how to program and reach the sounds I want, and so far no one I've played with told me the Cortex sounded any better.
This basically proves if you have a good set of ears and understand how these things work, the differences are pretty minute at this point. Even between the Axe FX and the Ampero mini, you can still get those 2 units VERY close to each other (I have both, tried to get the mini set up roughly the same for certain small gigs)
It shows how important the impulse is, it’s the final EQ. It made them sound very close. The sound of the cortex is more spikey in the upper mids. The Ampero rounder… I follow your observation completely.
From what I've heard I think that in a mix the difference between the two is indistinguishable, so unless you have an interest in profiling there's no point spending all that money on the Quad Cortex. Excellent video, very comprehensive. P.S. Sorry for my english...😊
i love your channel and I love the old style youtubing where not every video is a promotion for a product but a fair opinion on what you prefer. thanks a lot!
Great idea for a comparison vid Michael. They both sound good but my ears preferred the Ampero...a tiny bit fuller, rounder maybe... For the money the Ampero seems to sound pretty dope
Great comparison video👌 The quad cortex sounds a bit brighter (which can come across as a bit brittle harsh), but other than that there's not really any difference at all to the sound, other than the huge price gap. They're both really good, but with everything taken into account, the Ampero is far better value for money. I recently bought the Ampero and i absolutely love it. It sounds incredible and has more than I could ever need. It's subjective, but I just need a tool that sounds great, works well and brings the best out in my playing. The Ampero does exactly that.
I would agree with you @whoisthenext1...but for the difference in cost, that barely audible difference isn't worth the hike. I sometimes look at these sorts of things and think only dogs could really tell, so, it's really just a case of "does it sound good to you?", "do you like the way it makes you play?" ete, etc. If I saw one of these Hotone boxes of brilliance, I'd get one.
some EQ adjustment and you could have them both sounding exactly the same if you either prefer the brighter (Cortex) or more-mid-focused (Ampero) version :-) -- thanks for the comparison. Love it. Keep it up Michael
Great job as always Michael. I think both are great. The Quad cortex sounds a little more hi fi to my ears. The other sounds a little darker and smeared but not in a bad way. Switching to the Quad its like you are pulling a thin blanket of the speaker cabinet to reveal a bit more ....
Best review so far. I can tell from my basic computer speakers the QC has a bit more gain and brightness, still both sound pretty good. Pulling the plug for the Ampero to replace my tonex.
the break up is more apparent on the Quad but the Ampero is insane for keeping up for 1/3 of the price! amazing. the quality sound of the amps are great!
In terms of the amp modeling surprisingly Ampero examples sound more convincing, dynamic and less like a plugin (I'm using Kemper by the way), even with QC examples being noticably louder (I guess one of the reasons because QC is definfitely sounding more compressed (that's where it's brightness is coming from))... I suspect Axe FX would be blown away as well considering the results. Well done, Hotone!
I also heard the QC as sounding a little brighter, and wondered if that made it sound a little louder at times. The Ampero UI seems particularly good. Get what you can afford and that meets your needs. I use an HX Stomp, and it is great for me, and Line 6 keeps making it better with regular Updates.
What I hear: When playing dry (no effects) the Ampero, compared to the Quad Cortex, has a bit of a blanket-over-the-speaker sound to it. It's a light, pretty audio-transparent blanket, but it's there. Maybe a little EQ tweaking could erase the difference. Which one to buy? I would want the Hotone for playing out live straight-to-the-desk style. As long as the venue's PA is good, you're good. I would want the Quad Cortex for studio tracking. Its sound seems more detailed and "hi-fi" and there would be studio tools available to really tweak and perfect anything I didn't think was _in there_ already. Plus, more expensive unit at safer home, less expensive unit at dangerouser gig venue. Of course, this is all based on _what we heard here._ If one or the other had better effects that I commonly use, that might change the equation considerably. Good comparo. Way to go and keep up the good work.
I just recorded an entire demo with the arena 2000 and I doubt anyone would notice. Lots of people buy gear above their skill level and that’s just the way of the music world
Honestly, it was super close! I have a Line6 pod go and really wish it had MIDI. Ampero has a product that sounds good, and allows for MIDI, that is awesome! I do not play professionally, just for fun. You might have convinced me to change up my multi-effects.
Have you tried running two parallel instrument signals on the ampero at once? AFAIK the second input is only line/mic level, so I guess you'd need a preamp/Di to use it with an unbalanced instrument signal. It would be great to know how the unit performs with two guitars or guitar + bass running at the same time, if it is even possible. Great video!
I'll first say I'm listening on studio monitors. I probably wouldn't notice this on most anything else, but the QC actually has more pick attack. The Ampero seems to compress that a little bit. It's more obvious on the plexi settings. To me it makes the QC sound more natural and would probably sit a little better in the mix. Is it worth the extra $$$$. Probably not. But seeing as the QC does captures, it would be my choice. As I also have a wall of amps that I would like to capture. But then there's also the ToneX. It is definitely a great time to be a guitar player.
Really helpful review. Been doing loads of research debating the Tube Amp and Pedal route versus Modeller. Seems the Hotone is spot on for the price of a few high end pedals it’s all there and can hook it up into the front or FX of the Marshall for Tube fun!
Very good comparison. From what I heard, the Quad does sound brighter, and a tad more gainy, while the Ampero II sounds fuller and a bit less gain. Kudos for getting a kick ass STP Tiny Music guitar sound too!
This is the video I was waiting for! Thanks Michael!. For me it really comes that to the player, I own a Valeton GP200 and been looking back and forth if it’s worth the extra money for the Quad Cortex, but only for the inputs/outs capabilitys. For sound both get awesome sounds, but im more into vocals/guitar performing. The thing put me on Hotone Ampero side may be the mobile app, wich Cortex does not have, this way if you are giggin or need to change something quick you can fire up the app and make some changes without having to lay on the device and also streaming audio, thats awesome! Practicity on its limits haha. My conclusions at this point it’s just, every brand its offering good quality, but really the difference comes down to what the player needs wheter its more inputs, practicity or just practicing with some tracks where the BT function its a plus overall. Thanks for the video!
I heard very similar, basically the cortex just sounded richer, so a bit fuller on the lower end (without muddiness) and a bit brighter. Basically what you said as if the cortex has a mid scoop applied. I came here because I’m looking at the ampero and a friend has a helix and I wanna know if I’m cheaping myself with the ampero or if it’s amazing bang for buck. Honestly with a bit of tweeking I reckon you could probably get the same sound out of both, with a quality sound guy operating the pa I don’t think anyone could tell that it’s less than half the price of its competition. I think I’m now sold on the ampero. Thanks for the honest comparison.
Good comparison, the QC definitely sounded brighter and a bit more fuzziness to the tone. It’s gonna be interesting to see if you boost the gain and put some post EQ on the Ampero
Man i really like the Ampero. And im not like a tone specialist but i really like the multiple inputs and outputs that the Quad Cortex has, i usually play live with a mac, a bluetooth stompbox and an Apollo interface, and the multiple I/O options really help me to get vocals or other instruments effects. The downside is that i have to carry a lot of stuff and the computer is a little fragile to leave near the mixer. I think with the Quad Cortex you're paying for the I/O and the processing power. If the Ampero had more I/O it would be a no brainer for me. Really amazing for guitarrist that dont need this specific use case.
I have an Ampero but I did think the QC sounded better in these clips. But the difference was so small. Combining Ampero with ToneX is a killer combination for less money. If money is no problem, QC makes things simple. But the Ampero is great in it's own right. A good player will make both of these sound fantastic. It's such small differences and the Ampero is even better if you get it on sale. I've always liked the sound of Ampero over Line6 for example. I thought the way you described the differences was accurate. My overall impression was that it comes down to your own EQ preference in the mix but the overall character of both sounds was pretty similar.
I never regretted that I bought QC because of the quality. I regretted spending so much money on a processor but I still think it’s worth the money I paid
I haven't played with a Quad Cortex so I can't comment on that. I had an AXE FX 3 shortly after the release and sold it to stop myself drowning in choice overload + there was no floor controller which was equally maddening. I have bought three line six Helix units. The full fat version twice and the HX stomp once. Each time I moved the things on after a couple of weeks. I bought the Ampero II Stomp and I'm delighted with it. It's not going anywhere. I also have a Yamaha THR 100 HD that I just love to bits. Valve amp wise I have a Fender Machete, Marshall JVM 50, Mesa Mark Five, Mesa TA-15, A high end Marshall Plexi clone (Achillies) and a few others around 15/20 watts (Laney IRT Studio is a stand out) Gods I'm rabbiting on, sorry. I don't use the tube amps much as I tend to run them too loud for my own well-being.
Yep, the Hotone can do the job 90% playing those models, BUT yeah, the DETAIL and immediacy of the Quad is stellar and I could hear that through my tablet's speakers, so there IS a noticeable difference, especially when the tracks are soloed...
I have the Ampero II Stage and the FM9 and I owned the Helix some years ago. To my ears, the Ampero compares closer to the FM9 than the Helix. I have to admit that my FM9 gets a little jealous of the tones that the Ampero can get at such a low cost in comparison. I'm not saying that the Ampero sounds better, but it compares well. It is well worth more than the cost. The acoustic sounds are amazing also.
Fantastic example of diminishing returns. In your opinion, would you say the Ampero II Stage is by far the best bang for the buck out there as far as modeling and effects? Did you try any clean tones and were they pretty much the same results? How much would you say your IR is having on the comparisons?
The Cortex has better string clarity/definition, little more headroom, The Ampero is more compressed in it's string definition, especially strumming cords if your recording, playing live you wouldn't know any difference. Great vid, Thanks Mike !!!
Awesome video! You have a new subscriber just because of that true way of comparing things. I see a lot of videos that people compare both, they sound the same and they end up saying that the better product it's the more expensive one. I don't know why, maybe because they are trying to protect their investmentes, they are trying to keep up with the flow. Whatever. You can prefer any of them, but not considering sound quality, but other things. Period. Thanks!
I think if Hotone wants to, and puts the effort behind it, they're going to do really well. I've never cared about 4000 amp models because most folks just use a clean a mid gain and a high(er) gain. That's what you need, not necessarily that it's John Smith's 1969 Marshall with the Treble pot replaced.
On the isolated tracks the QC seems to have a bit more dynamic range - BUT - in the mix it's indestinguisahble. Nothing that couldn't be EQed also. Listening on Gelenec 8040 monitors.
Love my Ampero Stage but the DSP limitations its what it drags it down. Of course for each user the case is going to be different. In my case, I use different tunings so I rely on a Pitch Shifter on the very front of the chain and that only eats most of the DSP. If that's not the case for you, then don't hesitate and go for it, its a great sounding unit. Loved the video!
Thank's Great job ,I. just got a Stage II and I'm selling my FM9 it dose sound great but it big and heavy and I have a hard time trying to use it even when following a very good video on it That's probably just me .the Stage II is very easy to use and smaller and lighter . I did also hear that the Quad was brighter but with effects it's harder to tell.
The exact same performance re-amped is bang-on the way to a comparison like this so well done! I'm hearing the same things you mentioned. I've got an Ampero II Stomp and love it so I'm a little biased towards liking it. Both sound fantastic to me.
Michael excellent video, as always!!! I’ve been pondering my next multi-effect purchase and have been eyeing the Ampero 2 stomp and stage. I see on the web site they both have 87 amp models and 68 cabs. Do you by chance know if the Ampero 2 Stomp and Stage are essentially the same under the hood, but their form factor is just a little different? I don’t normally play live, so I think the Ampero 2 Stomp would be adequate for my needs.
I just listened on my studio monitors. The Ampero sounds a bit more like a real amp. If you did the same comparison with clean Fender tone I would know for sure.
Michael huge fan, and our impressions are very personal where there is no wrong or right for the masses. I’ll come at this from both a guitarist as well as an engineer, yea I’m one of those other guys with a YT channel, bla bla bla, not here to get viewers. So every else ignore this. To my ears and using your great term, the QC represented the hair of a guitar amp. To me more desirable, but depending on the song. In a dense mix nobody would ever hear any difference regardless, but a 3 piece, not so much. If I were on a budget I’d go with the lesser expensive piece, but if I’m passionate about tone and can’t afford to buy the different amps I like. I’d go with the QC of the two or consider a Kemper or ToneX.
Hi Barry! Thanks! I watch your channel all the time! I agree with you. I feel that there really is no wrong answer here. If anyone prefers one over the other for any reason... they're right. They're the ones that have to make the art with it. I think mostly, no one needs to feel like they chose a lesser unit because they liked one that was less expensive. I love the QC (and use it), and I love the Ampero ( and use it)
@@2204JCM Just because you would only use one doesn't mean others aren't looking for this exact feature. Cause everyone really needs just one signal path right?
Nice video. I'm looking into the QC, or Tonex, but hadn't considered the Ampero by Line 6. I've owned that red Line 6 (the kidney been shape one) forever, so when I heard the Ampero, I thought I could hear that "Line 6" reduced dynamic (a little more one dimensional for lack of a better word) that wasn't present in the QC . I don't have a horse in this race, but I'm still searching. Anyway great video and thanks for taking the time to do such a great A/B test.
There is a clear tone difference. To my ears the Quad sounds a bit scooped out in the lower mids and correspondingly brighter in the 3-4kHz, which I do not really care for.
Nice video. I play with stomboxes and real amp only, and after your video i think this devices are good enough, but Quad cortex is more punchy, it has 110% mojo while hotone has 99% mojo
They sound equally good. Ampero is 1000$ cheaper. So, it is clear who is the winner here. QC is history, like Kemper. My personal choice is 180$ Tonex One with software update (effects). I need 3 sounds for a guitar: TS pushed JCM 800, SLO and Matchless, and Ampeg SVT4 for bass guitar. I am not going to pay 1600$ for that. Good, informative vid.
As an Ampero user I think the difference is pretty noticeable in this video. The Quad Cortex has a brighter clearer sound. It cuts the mix better than the Ampero. But I don’t think the difference is that big to make you spend a thousand dollars more.
Hmm they didn’t really sound that close to me, but at first they did. I listened on my living room tv with crappy sound that makes everything sound the same. The QC here has really strong, clear harmonic content and the Ampero felt a bit dull, lumpy and slow in comparison. The QC was more lively, beyond the added treble. As a mix engineer, in a mix context that kind of clear harmonic content is often the stuff we work at summoning from our tracks. And as a recording engineer we try to bake it into the tracks to begin with. Here the tones remind me of when I upgraded from cheap audio interfaces to the nicer stuff. At least slightly! I’m not saying it was a huge difference. I’m not trying to diss one product or another, or get all snobby - it’s just how I’m hearing it. Would I hear it in context of a live band or whatever? Idk, do you hear the difference between a nice Marshall and a Bugera copy?
Great video. I wonder if something similar happens putting the Quad Cortex and the Valeton GP200LT using the same Cab IR, I suspect the differences would be quite similar to those in this video. The only thing that would increase considerably would be the distance between the prices of each one.
There are indeed very similar to my ear. Playing live most people wouldn't hear a difference. But it seems to me that the cortex sounds like it is sitting more "forward" with more broad eq spectrum.
Both sound great! When it comes down to it tho quad cortex all day. Just because of the captures and the easy of use. I came from the helix side of things and wish I went the cortex route sooner it’s been a game changer for me. I haven’t purchased a single pedal since.
To my ears, the QC sounds slightly better. No layperson would detect a difference. So then it’s a question of feel and build quality. Is the Ampero as fun to play with? I have no experience with the Hotone, but my QC feels like it’ll hold up mechanically for a long time.
Great vid ! I tried and reviewed both the ampero II stomp (small one) and the quad cortex and came to the same conclusion soundwise. While the quad cortex is great, i'm not sure it is worth the 1k$ + price gap (unless they FINALLY include the Neural plugins in it ) . And also, something that came to my mind is the QC seems quite fragile, especially with the hybrid encoders/switches and the huge touchscreen, and I would not be confident to use it on a hot and moist stage in front of a moshpit. Maybe would it be a smart move for neural to make a rack version available ?
From what I can tell from this video the more expensive one is more expensive and the less expensive one is less expensive.
NAILED IT
Exactly!!! lol
🤣That statement cracked me up. That's what i was thinking too, lol.
@@mrfairact8662the reason being what? One is from a Gringo company selling overpriced stuff and another being Chinese optimizing stuff.
@@TheDarkEtherealNeural DSP is from Finland
I bought the Hotone Ampero Stomp II because of the demo on this channel. I would never have considered a Hotone product until seeing it here. It not only sounds fantastic, but it it is a great value. As this demo proves, the QC is not a thousand dollars better than the Hotone. Both are great sounding, but when used in any other context than by itself, you can't hear the difference. I use a Tonex (because of this channel) for the amp sounds, but Ampero Stomp II for all effects. Well done MN.
I was looking for the same setup as your using. I love the tonesx and what it can do. I’ve been in the hunt for an effect pedal to use via midi in conjunction with the tonex and have decided on the ampere stomp II after seeing it demoed here and on the Sonic drive studios channel. For the money that pedal does most of what I want well.
I have the same setup, unfortunately ampero cannot send midi pc messages which is vital for changing amps in the tonex
No it sends, i just couldn’t find it
I love my stomp!
I think you nailed the comparison. I was hearing the Cortex as being more brighter and the Ampero more level. When you added the effects though I had a much harder time differentiating between the two. Great video
Thanks! Thanks for watching!
Agreed. I listened blind while at work, went back and looked at when I realized "I like that tone" and it was the ampero for me. Thanks for a great video!
I just bought the Ampero II Stage because of your comparison and, man, I can't be more happy. Until now I was using my EVH 5150 III 50W and a big pedalboard. My new setup now is the Ampero II Stage with my Morley 20/20 Bad Horsie Wah in front. Thanks!
I have the same EVH and invective mh and some pedals. Does this thing work just to try out cool tones and jam at home and with a drummer?
I agree with your final comments and that is what I heard. The QC sounds a little brighter and crisper. However, the Hotone is a fabulous piece of kit for less than half the price.
yeah same here. Probably reason why it sounds 'louder' although they are level matched. From all these comparison videos, i've had 2 takeaways:
1) you gotta know how to dial in an amp. If you can't do that, no modeler is going to sound good, whether 500 usd or 2000 usd.
2) the IR plays a muuuuuuuuuuch bigger role than the amp modeler simulation. So focus on getting a good IR first.
I purchased rhe Ampero 2 Stage a couple weeks ago. Not the least bit sorry. $650 Sold my Helix. Been a Line 6 fan for years but the stage is such a smaller form factor with scenes, Bluetooth, touchscreen (like your smartphone touchscreen. Very smooth, fast and accurate and the editor is easier than HX edit not to mention the iOS, and Android app for editing via Bluetooth , along with backing tracks from my phone to practice with
Tones … in my mind are amazing. I run mine into a Seymour Duncan Powerstage 200 and from there out to 2 cabs… custom made by Ray Franklin …. One with a 12” cannabis Rex and one with a 10” cannabis Rex speaker.
Using this combination I don’t find it nexesssry to use any global EQ settings. The Powerstage has EQ on it and the cannabis Rex speakers in Ray’s cabs already provide the guitar frequencies you would get or not get from an amp and cab Killer combination along with Jay Parmar’s preset pack you’re ready to gig
Thank you J. Amazing presets.
I’ve also built my own presets. Very easy to get great tones out of the stage. I have presets for electric and acoustic as sometimes I play both Have a preset that uses acoustic and vocal , very easy with the stage. And the stage’s pitch correction works great. I’m not the singer in either band I play in … but sometimes I do a song or two Great to have separate signal paths for guitar and vocal with fully assignable inputs and outputs.
I run both paths with effects and have had no issues with running out of DSP.
A great choice for me at a great price does everything I need it to do along with recording in my studio.
sounds and tones are better from your Ampero than the Helix?
@@amitbidaye7855 I'm a metal player, so I can only speak for the high-gain models, but hell yes. As a matter-of -fact it's not even close. I had bought a Helix LT because I wanted more I/O and assumed the harmonizer would be better, but the metal amp models were all flubby even with the od in front of them. The amps in my Ampero Stomp were much better, and the harmonizer was about the same. The LT went back and I'm getting a stage. I'll hang onto the Stomp for a second pedalboard \m/
I think Hotone is a player that was needed to kick the competition. I played Ampero One and II Stomp - both are a steal for the money.
Biggest difference to me is $1000 ! While the DSP Quad Cortex did sound a tad brighter at times, IMO truly not enough of a difference to warrant the huge difference in price.
Feel us there with the quad. He didn’t mention that.
Our guitar player gigged with a Boss GT-1 for some time and no one complained....
Nice simple honest review. Thank you Michael. The way I heard (and would describe) it was that they were both great, but the Quad Cortex was more detailed. It sounds like it has a greater dynamic range and it picks up the nuances of the actual guitar better. It would be nice to compare several other guitars to see if that assumption is true. On stage, live gig? You would never pick it. Recording? You would not be disappointed with either. There are heaps of things you can do in editing. But if you don't mind the extra cost, then to my ear the Quad Cortex has the edge.
Love that humble comparison. All modellers have their place i guess. Personally i went with a QC 2 years ago. But i love how people making GOOD TASTY sounds out of every device out there. In the end it's all about making music with it!
I absolutely agree. If the modeler is up to snuff, it's a matter of the users being able to learn their way around the device and make good use of the tools they have.
If I'm being honest... listening blindly without biased I interpret that the Cortex is setup with a bit more gain and a tad brighter than the Ampero in the tests. The Ampero's Plexi sound has a bit too much high end cutoff in comparison. Neither is necessarily "wrong" but they are difficult to compare in this instance since the gain staging feels different AND the high end is slightly different as well... there's nothing left to compare except "feel under the fingers" which only the Player can interpret (we can't subjectively analyze that at all from a video).
That's my two pesos worth of opinion which doesn't matter to anyone anyway. I don't personally use either of these products, I'm a fan boy of a couple of other products which are not relevant to this Ampero vs Cortex subject.
My perception was the Quad Cortex is brighter than the Ampero. For me the Ampero does a great job of not having the brightness and and harsh digital highs that modelers and digital effects can have. I preferred the Ampero in all examples. The Quad Cortex is pretty amazing, but the Ampero is a major contender in this space. Excellent attention to details on how to do a fair comparison. And yes , the H90 is incredible.
On Dave Friedman's suggestion/review, I've been using Ampero's Stomp II with extra channel controller... I incorporate with my TUBE amp of choice live... it F'N SLAYS... so easy to use, program, etc... and sounds KILLER.... EASILY as good as my Helix Floor, which I've used live (for my FX & backup emergency rig live) since it came out years ago....
Hotone for the money hands down got my vote. Ive watched Hotone continually push the boundaries and deliver to the market incredible value for money well done I say finally a win for the end user ! Great review as always Michael keep it honest !!
At this point anything goes really, especially when it comes down to the context of a mix. What anyone should be looking out for is IO and switching options; once you see how it would work best for you and how are you planning to connect it for performance then it's just a question of budget because, as soon as you add IRs and commit on learning how to program it, anything nowadays can sound great. I'm a Helix user and recently got a Quad Cortex and honestly I can't say soundwise I'm tempted to fully switch to it. What I like about the Cortex is the portability of it and the fact that with little planning I can record a on multi tracks 2 guitars, a bass and vocals on my laptop (say for rehearsals). But still for shows I still feel more at home with the almost 10 year old Helix that I know how to program and reach the sounds I want, and so far no one I've played with told me the Cortex sounded any better.
This basically proves if you have a good set of ears and understand how these things work, the differences are pretty minute at this point. Even between the Axe FX and the Ampero mini, you can still get those 2 units VERY close to each other (I have both, tried to get the mini set up roughly the same for certain small gigs)
It shows how important the impulse is, it’s the final EQ. It made them sound very close. The sound of the cortex is more spikey in the upper mids. The Ampero rounder… I follow your observation completely.
From what I've heard I think that in a mix the difference between the two is indistinguishable, so unless you have an interest in profiling there's no point spending all that money on the Quad Cortex. Excellent video, very comprehensive.
P.S. Sorry for my english...😊
i love your channel and I love the old style youtubing where not every video is a promotion for a product but a fair opinion on what you prefer. thanks a lot!
Great idea for a comparison vid Michael. They both sound good but my ears preferred the Ampero...a tiny bit fuller, rounder maybe... For the money the Ampero seems to sound pretty dope
Man, the way you hold those units give me shivers. Looks like it can drop anytime. Especially the QC. 😅
I know right!?
I got a used Line 6 Pod HD ProX for Xmas and its super affordable even with all the addon models that I bought for it. Still sounds great in 2024.
Great comparison video👌
The quad cortex sounds a bit brighter (which can come across as a bit brittle harsh), but other than that there's not really any difference at all to the sound, other than the huge price gap.
They're both really good, but with everything taken into account, the Ampero is far better value for money. I recently bought the Ampero and i absolutely love it. It sounds incredible and has more than I could ever need. It's subjective, but I just need a tool that sounds great, works well and brings the best out in my playing. The Ampero does exactly that.
I would agree with you @whoisthenext1...but for the difference in cost, that barely audible difference isn't worth the hike. I sometimes look at these sorts of things and think only dogs could really tell, so, it's really just a case of "does it sound good to you?", "do you like the way it makes you play?" ete, etc. If I saw one of these Hotone boxes of brilliance, I'd get one.
To my ear, the Ampero sounded best on the Tele, were the Cortex sounded best with the LP
some EQ adjustment and you could have them both sounding exactly the same if you either prefer the brighter (Cortex) or more-mid-focused (Ampero) version :-) -- thanks for the comparison. Love it. Keep it up Michael
Great job as always Michael. I think both are great. The Quad cortex sounds a little more hi fi to my ears. The other sounds a little darker and smeared but not in a bad way. Switching to the Quad its like you are pulling a thin blanket of the speaker cabinet to reveal a bit more ....
Best review so far. I can tell from my basic computer speakers the QC has a bit more gain and brightness, still both sound pretty good. Pulling the plug for the Ampero to replace my tonex.
the break up is more apparent on the Quad but the Ampero is insane for keeping up for 1/3 of the price! amazing. the quality sound of the amps are great!
In terms of the amp modeling surprisingly Ampero examples sound more convincing, dynamic and less like a plugin (I'm using Kemper by the way), even with QC examples being noticably louder (I guess one of the reasons because QC is definfitely sounding more compressed (that's where it's brightness is coming from))... I suspect Axe FX would be blown away as well considering the results. Well done, Hotone!
On the tele/plexi, I felt like QC had a bit more “quack.” Both tones were perfectly usable.
I also heard the QC as sounding a little brighter, and wondered if that made it sound a little louder at times. The Ampero UI seems particularly good.
Get what you can afford and that meets your needs. I use an HX Stomp, and it is great for me, and Line 6 keeps making it better with regular Updates.
What I hear: When playing dry (no effects) the Ampero, compared to the Quad Cortex, has a bit of a blanket-over-the-speaker sound to it. It's a light, pretty audio-transparent blanket, but it's there. Maybe a little EQ tweaking could erase the difference.
Which one to buy? I would want the Hotone for playing out live straight-to-the-desk style. As long as the venue's PA is good, you're good. I would want the Quad Cortex for studio tracking. Its sound seems more detailed and "hi-fi" and there would be studio tools available to really tweak and perfect anything I didn't think was _in there_ already. Plus, more expensive unit at safer home, less expensive unit at dangerouser gig venue.
Of course, this is all based on _what we heard here._ If one or the other had better effects that I commonly use, that might change the equation considerably.
Good comparo. Way to go and keep up the good work.
Thanks! Another option is that the Neural DSP plugins are VERY good. So, you can track on the plugins, then gig with whatever you want.
On the Plexi setting the Quad has more detail, note separation... The HoTone sounds good though
Hi Michael, very similar... QC sound little bit sparkling and clear.
But both sound Great!
Great job Man.
I just recorded an entire demo with the arena 2000 and I doubt anyone would notice. Lots of people buy gear above their skill level and that’s just the way of the music world
Michael you handled this video exquisitely. It answered every question I had. I've now made my purchase(s)... Thank you! 🙏🏼🤘🏼
What was your purchase?
@@cassiuswallace700 Ampero Stage and Stomp
Honestly, it was super close! I have a Line6 pod go and really wish it had MIDI. Ampero has a product that sounds good, and allows for MIDI, that is awesome! I do not play professionally, just for fun. You might have convinced me to change up my multi-effects.
Have you tried running two parallel instrument signals on the ampero at once? AFAIK the second input is only line/mic level, so I guess you'd need a preamp/Di to use it with an unbalanced instrument signal. It would be great to know how the unit performs with two guitars or guitar + bass running at the same time, if it is even possible. Great video!
I'll first say I'm listening on studio monitors. I probably wouldn't notice this on most anything else, but the QC actually has more pick attack. The Ampero seems to compress that a little bit. It's more obvious on the plexi settings. To me it makes the QC sound more natural and would probably sit a little better in the mix. Is it worth the extra $$$$. Probably not. But seeing as the QC does captures, it would be my choice. As I also have a wall of amps that I would like to capture. But then there's also the ToneX. It is definitely a great time to be a guitar player.
Really helpful review. Been doing loads of research debating the Tube Amp and Pedal route versus Modeller. Seems the Hotone is spot on for the price of a few high end pedals it’s all there and can hook it up into the front or FX of the Marshall for Tube fun!
Very good comparison. From what I heard, the Quad does sound brighter, and a tad more gainy, while the Ampero II sounds fuller and a bit less gain. Kudos for getting a kick ass STP Tiny Music guitar sound too!
They're great! A friend of mine gave me 2! I accidentally stepped on one, and it exploded... so try to avoid doing that!
Purchased because of your vid. Like the unbiased review . Excellent
I bought QC two years ago. Still love it and can’t think of replacing it so far
This is the video I was waiting for! Thanks Michael!. For me it really comes that to the player, I own a Valeton GP200 and been looking back and forth if it’s worth the extra money for the Quad Cortex, but only for the inputs/outs capabilitys.
For sound both get awesome sounds, but im more into vocals/guitar performing.
The thing put me on Hotone Ampero side may be the mobile app, wich Cortex does not have, this way if you are giggin or need to change something quick you can fire up the app and make some changes without having to lay on the device and also streaming audio, thats awesome! Practicity on its limits haha.
My conclusions at this point it’s just, every brand its offering good quality, but really the difference comes down to what the player needs wheter its more inputs, practicity or just practicing with some tracks where the BT function its a plus overall.
Thanks for the video!
I had the ampero 1 for years and gigged it at church. Was amazing for cleans and edge of break up on Vox Ac30 tones.
ampero does have a global eq which could be brightened up if need be! both sound very good - good demo
I heard very similar, basically the cortex just sounded richer, so a bit fuller on the lower end (without muddiness) and a bit brighter. Basically what you said as if the cortex has a mid scoop applied.
I came here because I’m looking at the ampero and a friend has a helix and I wanna know if I’m cheaping myself with the ampero or if it’s amazing bang for buck. Honestly with a bit of tweeking I reckon you could probably get the same sound out of both, with a quality sound guy operating the pa I don’t think anyone could tell that it’s less than half the price of its competition.
I think I’m now sold on the ampero. Thanks for the honest comparison.
Good comparison, the QC definitely sounded brighter and a bit more fuzziness to the tone. It’s gonna be interesting to see if you boost the gain and put some post EQ on the Ampero
Man i really like the Ampero. And im not like a tone specialist but i really like the multiple inputs and outputs that the Quad Cortex has, i usually play live with a mac, a bluetooth stompbox and an Apollo interface, and the multiple I/O options really help me to get vocals or other instruments effects. The downside is that i have to carry a lot of stuff and the computer is a little fragile to leave near the mixer. I think with the Quad Cortex you're paying for the I/O and the processing power. If the Ampero had more I/O it would be a no brainer for me. Really amazing for guitarrist that dont need this specific use case.
I have an Ampero but I did think the QC sounded better in these clips. But the difference was so small. Combining Ampero with ToneX is a killer combination for less money. If money is no problem, QC makes things simple. But the Ampero is great in it's own right. A good player will make both of these sound fantastic. It's such small differences and the Ampero is even better if you get it on sale. I've always liked the sound of Ampero over Line6 for example. I thought the way you described the differences was accurate. My overall impression was that it comes down to your own EQ preference in the mix but the overall character of both sounds was pretty similar.
I never regretted that I bought QC because of the quality. I regretted spending so much money on a processor but I still think it’s worth the money I paid
Good professional and pretty honest comparison, thanks a lot. For Me Ampero sounds even much cheaper than its price.
I haven't played with a Quad Cortex so I can't comment on that.
I had an AXE FX 3 shortly after the release and sold it to stop myself drowning in choice overload + there was no floor controller which was equally maddening.
I have bought three line six Helix units. The full fat version twice and the HX stomp once. Each time I moved the things on after a couple of weeks.
I bought the Ampero II Stomp and I'm delighted with it. It's not going anywhere.
I also have a Yamaha THR 100 HD that I just love to bits.
Valve amp wise I have a Fender Machete, Marshall JVM 50, Mesa Mark Five, Mesa TA-15, A high end Marshall Plexi clone (Achillies) and a few others around 15/20 watts
(Laney IRT Studio is a stand out)
Gods I'm rabbiting on, sorry.
I don't use the tube amps much as I tend to run them too loud for my own well-being.
I feel like the QC was not only brighter but also had more low midrange punch.
Yep, the Hotone can do the job 90% playing those models, BUT yeah, the DETAIL and immediacy of the Quad is stellar and I could hear that through my tablet's speakers, so there IS a noticeable difference, especially when the tracks are soloed...
I have the Ampero II Stage and the FM9 and I owned the Helix some years ago. To my ears, the Ampero compares closer to the FM9 than the Helix. I have to admit that my FM9 gets a little jealous of the tones that the Ampero can get at such a low cost in comparison. I'm not saying that the Ampero sounds better, but it compares well. It is well worth more than the cost. The acoustic sounds are amazing also.
Fantastic example of diminishing returns. In your opinion, would you say the Ampero II Stage is by far the best bang for the buck out there as far as modeling and effects? Did you try any clean tones and were they pretty much the same results? How much would you say your IR is having on the comparisons?
I'll give you my opinion. Yes
In my opinion, it is.
The Cortex has better string clarity/definition, little more headroom, The Ampero is more compressed in it's string definition, especially strumming cords if your recording, playing live you wouldn't know any difference. Great vid, Thanks Mike !!!
the difference is literally the same difference you would get between 2 amplifier . They both sound great
100%
Awesome video! You have a new subscriber just because of that true way of comparing things. I see a lot of videos that people compare both, they sound the same and they end up saying that the better product it's the more expensive one. I don't know why, maybe because they are trying to protect their investmentes, they are trying to keep up with the flow. Whatever. You can prefer any of them, but not considering sound quality, but other things. Period. Thanks!
Stage 2 has capture, so, it's time to compare it with QC
I think if Hotone wants to, and puts the effort behind it, they're going to do really well. I've never cared about 4000 amp models because most folks just use a clean a mid gain and a high(er) gain. That's what you need, not necessarily that it's John Smith's 1969 Marshall with the Treble pot replaced.
Love my Ampero II stomp, especially now that it has scenes. Never have I played so much guitar
On the isolated tracks the QC seems to have a bit more dynamic range - BUT - in the mix it's indestinguisahble. Nothing that couldn't be EQed also. Listening on Gelenec 8040 monitors.
Love my Ampero Stage but the DSP limitations its what it drags it down. Of course for each user the case is going to be different. In my case, I use different tunings so I rely on a Pitch Shifter on the very front of the chain and that only eats most of the DSP. If that's not the case for you, then don't hesitate and go for it, its a great sounding unit. Loved the video!
Get a Digitech Drop. I run mine in front of a II Stomp and that saves me a block in the signal chain.
Thank's Great job ,I. just got a Stage II and I'm selling my FM9 it dose sound great but it big and heavy and I have a hard time trying to use it even when following a very good video on it That's probably just me .the Stage II is very easy to use and smaller and lighter . I did also hear that the Quad was brighter but with effects it's harder to tell.
You dialed up a great tone with both, but I prefer the QC brighter tone a bit. I may have to check out that IR of yours also.
Thanks!
The exact same performance re-amped is bang-on the way to a comparison like this so well done! I'm hearing the same things you mentioned. I've got an Ampero II Stomp and love it so I'm a little biased towards liking it. Both sound fantastic to me.
Michael excellent video, as always!!!
I’ve been pondering my next multi-effect purchase and have been eyeing the Ampero 2 stomp and stage. I see on the web site they both have 87 amp models and 68 cabs. Do you by chance know if the Ampero 2 Stomp and Stage are essentially the same under the hood, but their form factor is just a little different?
I don’t normally play live, so I think the Ampero 2 Stomp would be adequate for my needs.
I just listened on my studio monitors. The Ampero sounds a bit more like a real amp.
If you did the same comparison with clean Fender tone I would know for sure.
Another great video Michael! As a previous kemper customer of yours should we wait for QC packs from you in the future??
Michael huge fan, and our impressions are very personal where there is no wrong or right for the masses.
I’ll come at this from both a guitarist as well as an engineer, yea I’m one of those other guys with a YT channel, bla bla bla, not here to get viewers. So every else ignore this.
To my ears and using your great term, the QC represented the hair of a guitar amp. To me more desirable, but depending on the song. In a dense mix nobody would ever hear any difference regardless, but a 3 piece, not so much. If I were on a budget I’d go with the lesser expensive piece, but if I’m passionate about tone and can’t afford to buy the different amps I like. I’d go with the QC of the two or consider a Kemper or ToneX.
Hi Barry! Thanks! I watch your channel all the time! I agree with you. I feel that there really is no wrong answer here. If anyone prefers one over the other for any reason... they're right. They're the ones that have to make the art with it. I think mostly, no one needs to feel like they chose a lesser unit because they liked one that was less expensive. I love the QC (and use it), and I love the Ampero ( and use it)
The Quad Cortex having up to 4 signal paths is amazing.
Yeah cause everyone really needs that much right?
@@2204JCM Just because you would only use one doesn't mean others aren't looking for this exact feature. Cause everyone really needs just one signal path right?
Nice video. I'm looking into the QC, or Tonex, but hadn't considered the Ampero by Line 6. I've owned that red Line 6 (the kidney been shape one) forever, so when I heard the Ampero, I thought I could hear that "Line 6" reduced dynamic (a little more one dimensional for lack of a better word) that wasn't present in the QC . I don't have a horse in this race, but I'm still searching. Anyway great video and thanks for taking the time to do such a great A/B test.
Hi, Ampero is made by Hotone, not line 6.. Have a nice day!
@@milansaffek8052 Thanks.... my mistake. So many options I got confused. Cheers.
Now tone capture is coming to the ampero stage II in November via firmware.
There is a clear tone difference. To my ears the Quad sounds a bit scooped out in the lower mids and correspondingly brighter in the 3-4kHz, which I do not really care for.
Nice job Mike I agree with your assessments after hearing both.
Nice video. I play with stomboxes and real amp only, and after your video i think this devices are good enough, but Quad cortex is more punchy, it has 110% mojo while hotone has 99% mojo
Can't go wrong with either one. I found out that people in the audience don't care what gesr you use as long as you sound good that what counts.
Thank you for giving us an honest comparison!!!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
They sound equally good. Ampero is 1000$ cheaper. So, it is clear who is the winner here. QC is history, like Kemper. My personal choice is 180$ Tonex One with software update (effects). I need 3 sounds for a guitar: TS pushed JCM 800, SLO and Matchless, and Ampeg SVT4 for bass guitar. I am not going to pay 1600$ for that. Good, informative vid.
As an Ampero user I think the difference is pretty noticeable in this video. The Quad Cortex has a brighter clearer sound. It cuts the mix better than the Ampero. But I don’t think the difference is that big to make you spend a thousand dollars more.
WOW!! for the price i would go with Ampero, only glitch is that the Ampero is white and visible on stage other then that both are great!
Thanks for doing some cleanish mid gain examples rather than just metal.
Hmm they didn’t really sound that close to me, but at first they did. I listened on my living room tv with crappy sound that makes everything sound the same.
The QC here has really strong, clear harmonic content and the Ampero felt a bit dull, lumpy and slow in comparison. The QC was more lively, beyond the added treble.
As a mix engineer, in a mix context that kind of clear harmonic content is often the stuff we work at summoning from our tracks. And as a recording engineer we try to bake it into the tracks to begin with. Here the tones remind me of when I upgraded from cheap audio interfaces to the nicer stuff. At least slightly! I’m not saying it was a huge difference.
I’m not trying to diss one product or another, or get all snobby - it’s just how I’m hearing it. Would I hear it in context of a live band or whatever? Idk, do you hear the difference between a nice Marshall and a Bugera copy?
Great video. I wonder if something similar happens putting the Quad Cortex and the Valeton GP200LT using the same Cab IR, I suspect the differences would be quite similar to those in this video. The only thing that would increase considerably would be the distance between the prices of each one.
Great information! Thank you… I was on the fence whether it would be a waste of money to buy the Hotone.
I'm glad I have my Kemper and my lovely tube amps and don't have to look any further...
The Hotone sounds good, but certainly darker. My used FM3 was $100 more than the Hotone and I will be sticking with that.
The difference is cortex little brighter , just boost 3k-4k area 3db on ampero , both sounds exactly same
Thanks for using the same IR.
There are indeed very similar to my ear. Playing live most people wouldn't hear a difference. But it seems to me that the cortex sounds like it is sitting more "forward" with more broad eq spectrum.
Both sound great! When it comes down to it tho quad cortex all day. Just because of the captures and the easy of use. I came from the helix side of things and wish I went the cortex route sooner it’s been a game changer for me. I haven’t purchased a single pedal since.
Nice! Yeah the pedals DO sound really good in the QC. And it's bar far the easiest of the capture processes! BY FAR!
I agree That's what I heard too, great video stonking Riff in the first section ! is that a song or something you created for the demo ?
Thanks!!! It's a little tune I made up for the demo
To my ears, the QC sounds slightly better. No layperson would detect a difference. So then it’s a question of feel and build quality. Is the Ampero as fun to play with? I have no experience with the Hotone, but my QC feels like it’ll hold up mechanically for a long time.
many thanks, very good approach in this comparison. great idea to play both trough the same sample recorded guitar
The Ampero is hard to beat for cleans at any price.
Great vid ! I tried and reviewed both the ampero II stomp (small one) and the quad cortex and came to the same conclusion soundwise. While the quad cortex is great, i'm not sure it is worth the 1k$ + price gap (unless they FINALLY include the Neural plugins in it ) . And also, something that came to my mind is the QC seems quite fragile, especially with the hybrid encoders/switches and the huge touchscreen, and I would not be confident to use it on a hot and moist stage in front of a moshpit. Maybe would it be a smart move for neural to make a rack version available ?