The Hotone Ampero Stage II was already a compelling amp modeler, but native NAM A2 support makes it substantially more interesting.
The Hotone Ampero Stage II is already one of the most capable amp modelers in its price range, but a recent free firmware update adds a major new feature: native NAM A2 support.
NAM, or Neural Amp Modeling, is an open-source amp capture format that gives guitarists access to thousands of amp captures. Through Tone3000, there are now more than 25,000 captures available to download and load into compatible hardware.
In this review, we’re looking at how NAM A2 works on the Ampero Stage II, how to load captures, how much DSP they use, and how native NAM compares to the older converted format.
What Is NAM A2?
NAM stands for Neural Amp Modeling. It’s an open-source amp modeling and capture format with a massive library of captures available from the guitar community.
With Tone3000, you can browse and download thousands of captures covering amps from manufacturers and eras.
The Ampero Stage II previously supported NAM captures through its Clone system. However, those captures had to be converted into Hotone’s native format before they could be used.
The new firmware adds a dedicated NAM section, allowing NAM A2 captures to run natively on the Ampero Stage II.
That’s important because the converted and native versions use DSP differently and can sound different as well.
How to Update the Ampero Stage II
Before using NAM A2, you’ll need both the latest version of the Ampero Stage II software and the latest firmware.
- Open the Ampero Stage II software.
- Go to Global Settings.
- Scroll down to Software Settings and select Check for Update.
- Go to Firmware Settings.
- Select Check for Update.
- Install the latest firmware if an update is available.
Both the software and device firmware need to be up to date for the NAM functionality to work.
Once updated, a new NAM section will appear inside the editor.
Loading NAM Captures
The dedicated NAM section gives you up to 30 NAM slots for storing captures directly on the Ampero Stage II.
Inside NAM Manage, you can open Tone3000 directly and browse the available captures. Once you’ve downloaded a capture, you can import the NAM file through the Ampero software and assign it to one of the available slots.
For this test, I loaded several different captures, including a Soldano SLO and a Matchless-style capture.
One thing you’ll want to pay attention to is whether the capture includes a cabinet.
NAM Captures With and Without Cabinets
Not every NAM capture includes a cab. Some captures include both the amp and cabinet information, while others are essentially just the amp.
If your capture doesn’t include a cab, the Ampero Stage II gives you several options.
You can add an impulse response, use your own IR, or choose from the Hotone cabinet collection.
For example, I loaded a Soldano SLO capture and paired it with a Hotone 4×12 cabinet. The combination sounded excellent.
This also gives you more flexibility because you aren’t locked into whatever cabinet was used when the original capture was created.
How Much DSP Does NAM A2 Use?
This is where things get interesting.
I compared the same Marshall 1959 capture using the new native NAM format and the older converted Clone format.
The converted version was using around 37% DSP.
The same capture running natively through NAM A2 was using approximately 78% DSP.
That’s a substantial difference.
The advantage of the native format is that you’re running the NAM capture directly rather than converting it to another format. The downside is that native NAM can consume considerably more DSP.
That means you’ll want to pay attention to how complicated your signal chain becomes.
Adding Effects
To see how much the Ampero Stage II could handle, I started adding effects to the NAM signal chain.
I added an analog delay and reverb, then added a drive in front of the amp.
The drive consumed significantly more DSP. With the drive added, DSP usage jumped from around 78% to 91%.
Even with that fairly substantial load, the sound remained excellent.
The high-gain Soldano capture had plenty of clarity, even when playing open chords.
This does highlight an important limitation of native NAM A2 on the Ampero Stage II: you need to build your presets with DSP usage in mind.
Testing Different NAM Captures
I also wanted to try something completely different, so I loaded a Matchless-style capture.
The capture I used was the 1997 Matchless Brave 212.
This was a much cleaner amp sound, and I paired it with tremolo, delay, and a shimmer-style reverb.
The result was impressive. The clean tone was clear and detailed, and the combination of the NAM capture with Hotone’s effects created a convincing full rig without pushing the system beyond its limits.
Native NAM vs. Converted NAM
The biggest test was comparing native NAM A2 against the older converted format.
For this test, I used a Marshall 1959 BJA capture from Tone3000. This capture is based on Billy Joe Armstrong’s signature Marshall amp, giving players access to the sound of an expensive amp through the NAM ecosystem.
I loaded the capture into the Ampero Stage II using native NAM A2 and then compared it directly against the same capture converted through the older Clone system.
There was a noticeable difference between the two.
The converted version uses considerably less DSP, but the native NAM version retained a different character and, to my ears, sounded better.
This also supports reports from users who have felt that converting NAM captures into the older Ampero format could degrade the sound.
With native NAM A2 now available, you no longer have to make that compromise if you have enough DSP available for the preset.
How Good Does It Sound?
After testing several captures, the native NAM implementation is extremely impressive.
The Soldano capture had the saturation and clarity you’d expect from a high-gain amp. The Matchless capture delivered convincing clean tones with plenty of detail. And the Marshall comparison demonstrated that native NAM can sound noticeably different from a converted capture.
The native NAM tones were also compared to a Quad Cortex, and the results were surprisingly close.
Is the Ampero Stage II One of the Best Modelers Under $700?
The addition of native NAM A2 makes a strong case for it.
- 30 native NAM slots
- Thousands of Tone3000 captures
- Custom impulse responses
- Hotone cabinets
- A large selection of built-in effects
- Powerful signal routing
- Native NAM A2 support
- Floorboard-style form factor
And the NAM A2 update is available as a free firmware upgrade for existing Ampero Stage II owners.
The biggest limitation is DSP. Native NAM captures can use significantly more processing power than converted captures, especially once you start adding drives and other effects.
But if you build your presets intelligently, there’s a huge amount of flexibility here.
Final Thoughts
The Hotone Ampero Stage II was already a compelling amp modeler, but native NAM A2 support makes it substantially more interesting.
Being able to download captures from Tone3000, load them directly into the unit, pair them with your own IRs or Hotone cabinets, and build complete effects chains gives the Ampero Stage II access to an enormous library of amp tones.
The biggest thing to understand is the DSP tradeoff. Native NAM sounds great, but it uses considerably more processing power than the older converted format.
For me, that’s a tradeoff worth making.
If you’re looking for a powerful amp modeler under $700 and want access to the massive NAM ecosystem, the Ampero Stage II is absolutely worth considering.
Pros
Native NAM A2 support, 30 NAM slots, access to 25,000+ Tone3000 captures, excellent amp tones, flexible cab and IR options, powerful effects chain, compact floorboard format, affordable price, free firmware upgrade
Cons
Native NAM A2 captures use significantly more DSP, drive effects consume substantial DSP, complex presets can run into DSP limitations, firmware and software both need to be updated for NAM A2 support
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