8.1Great
iZotope Neutron 5 is an AI-assisted mixing suite of channel-strip and analysis modules for balancing and shaping individual tracks.
Plugin comparison
iZotope Neutron 5 vs FabFilter Pro-DS
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.7Great
FabFilter Pro-DS is a de-esser plug-in with two detection modes and wide-band or split-band processing for taming sibilance in vocals and audio.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, FabFilter Pro-DS comes out ahead (8.7). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | iZotope Neutron 5 | FabFilter Pro-DS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $199.00 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.1 | 8.7 |
| Formats | AU, VST3, AAX | VST, VST3, AU (Audio Units), AAX Native, AudioSuite, CLAP |
| Editions | Neutron 5 ($299) and Neutron 5 Elements ($55) | — |
| Plugins included | 11 plugins (1 mothership plus 10 component modules) | — |
| Modules | Includes Clipper, Density, Phase, Unmask, Sculptor, Transient Shaper, Exciter, Gate, Compressor, Equalizer, plus Visual Mixer and iZotope Relay | — |
| Plugin architecture | 64-bit only | — |
| Operating systems | macOS Sonoma/Sequoia/Tahoe (Intel and Apple silicon); Windows 10 and Windows 11 | — |
| Processing modes | Mid/Side and Transient/Sustain channel processing | — |
| Detection modes | — | Two modes: Single Vocal and Allround |
| Processing | — | Wide Band or linear-phase Split Band |
| Look-ahead | — | Optional, up to 15 ms |
| Oversampling | — | Up to 4x linear-phase oversampling |
| Stereo handling | — | Adjustable stereo linking with mid-only or side-only processing |
| Internal processing | — | 64-bit, with sample-accurate automation of all parameters |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.