IK Multimedia TONEX Board Review: The $999 Capture Rig
IK Multimedia's TONEX Board runs four AI tone models across two paths with 76 effects, a 5-inch touchscreen and USB audio, for $999.99. Full review.
IK Multimedia has spent years building TONEX into one of the best-known names in amp capture. On September 3, 2026, the company put the whole ecosystem on the floor. The TONEX Board is a dual-path hardware modeler that runs four AI tone models at once, layers 76 effects on top, and sells for 999.99 USD/EUR before tax. That price is the headline, because it lands well under the flagship floor units it competes with.
At a glance: A floor amp modeler for guitar and bass. Four simultaneous AI-captured tone models across two independent signal paths, 76 effects, a 5-inch touchscreen, and 2,000 included models with access to 60,000-plus free ToneNET captures. It ships now at 999.99 USD/EUR (tax excluded). USB audio interface and full on-unit editing arrive by free firmware later in 2026.
What is the TONEX Board?
TONEX started as software and a small pedal. It uses IK's AI Machine Modeling to capture the sound of a real amp or pedal into a "tone model," then plays that model back with convincing accuracy. The catch until now was format. Getting the full TONEX experience on stage meant stringing together pedals or dragging a laptop to the gig.
The TONEX Board fixes that. It is a full pedalboard-style floor unit that puts the capture engine, a deep effects rack, and stage-ready controls in one enclosure. It sits directly against the Line 6 Helix Native hardware line and the Neural DSP Quad Cortex, but it approaches the job from IK's angle: capture first, then a huge effects library borrowed from AmpliTube 5. If you have followed the rise of neural capture through tools like the free TONE3000 NAM plugin, this is that idea built into a road case.
What the TONEX Board does
Four tone models across two paths
The core feature is signal routing. The Board runs up to four AI-captured tone models per preset, spread across two independent signal paths. You can run them in series, in parallel, in stereo, or as a wet-dry rig. That means a captured amp on one path and a captured bass rig or a second amp on the other, each with its own effects, summed however you like.
76 effects, most of them from AmpliTube
Capture handles the amp and cab tone. The effects handle everything else. The Board carries 76 effects across nine categories, with 51 pulled straight from AmpliTube 5, 15 from TONEX, and 10 brand-new designs. You get 12 effect slots to place them, so a preset can carry a full front-of-amp and post-amp chain without running out of room. For anyone who has built pedalboards inside AmpliTube on a computer, this is the same toolbox in a stompbox.
Models on tap, and a free library that keeps growing
The Board ships with 2,000 premium tone models, which is already more than most players will use. The bigger story is ToneNET, IK's community library of over 60,000 captures that you can browse and load for free. Preset storage is generous too: 1,440 slots arranged as 12 setlists of 40 banks with three presets each, and more than 200 preloaded from the factory.
Stage and studio control
Control comes from a 5-inch high-resolution color touchscreen, six push-rotary encoders, and four footswitches that switch between preset, scene, and stomp modes with LED rings for status. Audio runs at 192 kHz and 24-bit with a 123 dB dynamic range, so the converters are studio-grade rather than an afterthought.
TONEX Board specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Hardware floor amp and effects modeler (guitar and bass) |
| Modeling | AI Machine Modeling, up to 4 tone models per preset |
| Signal paths | 2 independent, series / parallel / stereo / wet-dry |
| Included models | 2,000 premium, plus 60,000-plus free via ToneNET |
| Effects | 76 across 9 categories (51 AmpliTube 5, 15 TONEX, 10 new), 12 slots |
| Presets | 1,440 slots (12 setlists x 40 banks x 3), 200-plus preloaded |
| Display / control | 5-inch color touchscreen, 6 push-rotary encoders, 4 footswitches |
| Audio | 192 kHz / 24-bit, 123 dB dynamic range, 5 Hz - 24 kHz |
| Inputs | 2 (stereo 1/L, 2/R), stereo effects loop |
| Outputs | Stereo XLR pair, stereo TRS pair, 3.5 mm headphone |
| MIDI / control | 5-pin DIN MIDI I/O, 2 TRS expression / control jacks |
| USB | USB-C 2.0, 4-in / 2-out audio interface via free firmware Oct 1, 2026 |
| Power | 9V center-negative, 1.5A minimum |
| Bundled software | TONEX Modeler, TONEX software, TONEX Board Editor, AmpliTube 5 MAX |
TONEX Board vs Neural DSP Quad Cortex
The Quad Cortex is the obvious rival: another capture-based floor unit built around simultaneous models and a touchscreen. The difference is price and philosophy.
| TONEX Board | Neural DSP Quad Cortex | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | 999.99 USD | 1,799 USD |
| Approach | Capture plus AmpliTube 5 effects library | Neural Capture plus in-house amp and effect designs |
| Simultaneous models | 4 across 2 paths | 4 (blocks across a grid) |
| Free community captures | 60,000-plus via ToneNET | Cortex Cloud captures |
| Display | 5-inch touchscreen | Larger touchscreen |
| Audio interface | 4-in / 2-out via firmware (Oct 2026) | Built in |
If you want the deepest all-in-one designed-from-scratch platform, the Quad Cortex still sets the pace, and its audio interface works today. But the TONEX Board undercuts it by 800 USD, leans on the enormous free ToneNET library, and gives AmpliTube veterans a toolbox they already know. Against the Line 6 Helix Native ecosystem, where the Helix Stadium floor sits near 1,799.99 USD, the same value gap applies.
Who the TONEX Board is for
This is for the player who already believes in capture. If TONEX or the desktop AmpliTube 5 rig is how you get your sound, putting it on the floor with studio converters and stage controls is a straightforward upgrade. Bassists get real attention too, since the dual-path design suits a split clean-and-drive bass rig.
It is less essential if you never leave the computer, since the TONEX and AmpliTube plugins already cover in-the-box work. Heavy live users who ride many scenes may also want to weigh the four-footswitch layout against rivals with more switches before committing.
How much does the TONEX Board cost?
The TONEX Board is 999.99 USD/EUR, tax excluded, and available now from the IK Multimedia store and authorized dealers. It bundles the TONEX Modeler, TONEX software, the TONEX Board Editor, and AmpliTube 5 MAX. Two dated firmware milestones matter for buyers: the 4-in/2-out USB-C audio interface arrives free on October 1, 2026, and full real-time editing inside the TONEX Board Editor is set for Q4 2026. You can check current pricing on Thomann or the official IK product page.
FAQ
Is the TONEX Board worth it over the Quad Cortex?
It depends on your priorities. The Quad Cortex is the deeper, pricier platform with a built-in audio interface today. The TONEX Board costs 800 USD less, taps the free 60,000-plus ToneNET library, and reuses the AmpliTube effects you may already own. For value and for existing TONEX users, the Board is the easier call.
Does the TONEX Board work as an audio interface?
It will. The USB-C port becomes a 4-in/2-out audio interface through a free firmware update scheduled for October 1, 2026. At launch it is not yet active, so treat that feature as coming soon rather than day-one.
How many effects does the TONEX Board have?
Seventy-six, across nine categories, with 12 slots per preset. Of those, 51 come from AmpliTube 5, 15 from TONEX, and 10 are new designs built for the Board.
Can I use my own captures on it?
Yes. You can create tone models with the TONEX Modeler and load community captures from ToneNET, which holds over 60,000 free models on top of the 2,000 premium models included.
Verdict
The TONEX Board is IK Multimedia doing the sensible thing: taking a capture engine that players already trust and building the stage-and-studio hardware it always needed. Four models across two paths, 76 effects, studio converters, and a free library that dwarfs the competition, all for 999.99 USD. The delayed audio interface and modest footswitch count are the only real asterisks. For capture believers and AmpliTube owners, this is one of the most affordable serious floor rigs you can buy right now.
