Top 10 Best Amp Simulation Pedals
by The Press Desk
Universal Audio Dream '65 Reverb Amplifier
The UAFX Dream ‘65 Reverb Amplifier pedal is a faithfull emulation of the Fender ‘65 Deluxe Reverb amplifier. The pedal features switchable speaker model - GB25, Oxford or EV12 - bass, treble and modulation/boost controls.
Built-In FX: EQ, Reverb and Boost
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - No
- Headphone output for silent practicing - No
- Ability to save user settings - Yes
- IR uploading support - No
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - Yes
- Stereo output - Yes
- FX Loop send/receive - No
- MIDI control - No
- External expression pedal connectivity - No
Strymon Iridium
The Strymon Iridium offers users three different tube amps, ‘Round Amp’ for clean and bright tones akin to Fender amps, ‘Chime Amp’ based on the VOX AC30 for that british mojo and ‘Punch Amp’ for high gain Marshall style smooth distortion. The pedal also includes nine IR speaker cabinets for users to choose from.
Built-In FX: EQ, Drive and Reverb
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - No
- Headphone output for silent practicing - Yes
- Ability to save user settings - Yes
- IR uploading support - Yes
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - No
- Stereo output - Yes
- FX Loop send/receive - No
- MIDI control - Yes
- External expression pedal connectivity - Yes
Neural DSP Nano Cortex
Inheriting the power of its acclaimed sibling, the Quad Cortex, Neural DSP Nano Cortex is arguably the most complete emulation pedal in its category. The device comes with 25 different Neural Captures of amps and also gives users the ability to capture the sonic characteristics of any physical amp, cabinet and overdrive on-device.
Built-In FX: EQ, Gate, Pitch, Modulation, Delay and Reverb
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - Yes
- Headphone output for silent practicing - Yes
- Ability to save user settings - Yes
- IR uploading support - Yes
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - Yes
- Mobile app control - Yes
- Stereo output - Yes
- FX Loop send/receive - No
- MIDI control - Yes
- External expression pedal connectivity - Yes
Orange Amplification Terror Stamp
The Orange Terror Stamp is made for those in search of an analogue original british tone in a compact format. Stripped down of fancy digital gizmos and based on the company’s Micro Terror and Dark Terror amps the Terror Stamp is literally a pocket size amp equipped with a physical ECC83 (12AX7) tube preamp, 20W Class AB power amp speaker out and CabSim headphones out with Orange-flavoured 4×12 speaker emulation.
Built-In FX: Tube Saturation
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - No
- Headphone output for silent practicing - Yes
- Ability to save user settings - No
- IR uploading support - No
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - No
- Stereo output - No
- FX Loop send/receive - Yes
- MIDI control - No
- External expression pedal connectivity - No
Kemper Profiler Player Pedal
The Kemper Profiler Player carries the name of the Germany-based company which arguably started it all in terms of amp simulation in live performance environments. Equipped with 127 dB dynamic range instrument input for true high-gain, tones of included effect types and presets, 3 independently controllable output groups and much, much more.
Built-In FX: EQ, Gate, Compressor, Modulation, Distortion, Boost, Pitch, Wah-Wah, Delay and Reverb
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - Yes
- Headphone output for silent practicing - Yes
- Ability to save user settings - Yes
- IR uploading support - Yes
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - Yes
- Stereo output - Yes
- FX Loop send/receive - No
- MIDI control - Yes
- External expression pedal connectivity - Yes
IK Multimedia TONEX Pedal
With an ever-growing library of tone models and presets, IK multimedia’s Tonex Pedal is also part of a larger ecosystem including other of IK’s hardware and software gear such as Amplitube 5 and the Tonex Capture Unit. The pedal itself contain 1100 premium Tone Models made with the company’s proprietary Advanced AI Machine Modeling technology.
Built-In FX: EQ, Gate, Compressor and Reverb
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - Yes
- Headphone output for silent practicing - Yes
- Ability to save user settings - Yes
- IR uploading support - Yes
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - No
- Stereo output - Yes
- FX Loop send/receive - No
- MIDI control - Yes
- External expression pedal connectivity - Yes
Line 6 HX Stomp
The HX Stomp excels in connectivity with its stereo I/O and stereo Aux I/O giving users the possibility of connecting a guitar and a stereo keyboard at the same time while its stereo send and return jacks can make HX Stomp seamlessly interact with your favorite modeler or profiler therefore expanding its capabilities. Another cool feature software-wise is the ability to work with snapshots (multiple switchable settings in a single preset).
Built-In FX: EQ, Gate, Looper, Compressor, Boost, DIstortion, Modulation, Pitch, Wah-Wah, Filters, Delay and Reverb
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - Yes
- Headphone output for silent practicing - Yes
- Ability to save user settings - Yes
- IR uploading support - Yes
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - No
- Stereo output - Yes
- FX Loop send/receive - Yes
- MIDI control - Yes
- External expression pedal connectivity - Yes
TC Electronic Ampworx Jims 45 Preamp
As with UAFX Dream and Orange Terror Stamp the AmpWorx JIMS 45 is a cost-effective one-trick pony for those in eternal love with a particular tone. Sold as a faithful recreation of Marshall’s 1965 JTM45 Tube Amp this pedal features dedicated DI and Headphones outputs equipped with official Celestion 4x12 G12M Creamback cab sim IR for some additional tone accuracy.
Built-In FX: EQ, Drive and Boost
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - No
- Headphone output for silent practicing - Yes
- Ability to save user settings - No
- IR uploading support - No
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - No
- Stereo output - No
- FX Loop send/receive - No
- MIDI control - No
- External expression pedal connectivity - No
Boss IR-200
The Boss IR-200 is a 32-bit AD/DA and 32-bit FP processing Impulse Response powerhouse that works at 96 kHz sampling rate. Straight-forward as it is, the pedal comes equipped with over 150 hi-res cab IRs from Boss and Celestion Digital plus 128 slots dedicated to third-party/user’s own plus the ability of running up to two Impulse Responses at once in mono or stereo.
Built-In FX: EQ, Noise Suppression, Saturation and Reverb
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - No
- Headphone output for silent practicing - Yes
- Ability to save user settings - Yes
- IR uploading support - Yes
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - No
- Stereo output - Yes
- FX Loop send/receive - Yes
- MIDI control - Yes
- External expression pedal connectivity - Yes
Tech21 SansAmp GT2
The SansAmp GT2 is a natural born classic that has been around way before the CabSims were a thing. This little beast has been offering different amp tones and micing options in the pedal format since 1993 establishing itself as a reliable tool for electric guitar and bass players all over the world.
Built-In FX: EQ and Drive
Quick Check List:
- Built-in tuner availability - No
- Headphone output for silent practicing - No
- Ability to save user settings - No
- IR uploading support - No
- On-device hardware tone capturing capability - No
- Mobile app control - No
- Stereo output - No
- FX Loop send/receive - No
- MIDI control - No
- External expression pedal connectivity - No
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