Neural DSP Quad Cortex

253 Customer ratings

4.7 / 5

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27 Reviews

Neural DSP Quad Cortex
$1,539
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"LCD backlight Leak is a normal feature" claim Neural DSP and Thomann
Chrissssssss 17.11.2022
We all know what this unit is.
Made of a really nice metal case, slick, elegant, quality on the IRs and all its features, responsive screen, rotary foot switches, sturdy glass on the screen, wifi, possibilities of amp captures and more...
One thing broke my heart a bit. For an unit costing this much and being soo popular, built with this much quality and care, seems that a batch has BACKLIGHT LEAKS on the corners (other users has reported this on the internet).
The reply from Thomann and Neural DSP, apparently is that this is normal.
While the screen is fully functional and nothing seem to be wrong with it, respecting touch feature, as soon as you look at the screen from just a bit of an angle, you will notice a big purple/blue-ish stain on one of the corner from it.

This is not really nice, as for this price and this hype, I wasn't expecting less than perfection.
I have had units that cost 10x less than this product and they DONT have this issue (Mooer 250 and NUX-MG30).

Im a bit heart broken that this was their reply to quality check to be honest.

Some would say: "But it doesn't affect playability, you should not care..." -Well, some purchases are not simply made to gig and that's it. Some purchases mean a bit more that just the item, because they cost hard earned money and specially if you have been waiting for restock for 2 months like me.

Im satisfied with the quad cortex, but still, a bit heartbroken.
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4
Potentially the best on the market…
4TuneMan 07.07.2022
***
Update - after few months and few firmware updates.

Very nice device - still. Still waiting for it to be functional.
In the meantime I learned how to do captures and captured two amps and some overdrive effects. Once you learn (not an easy, "try and miss" process) the level and EQ adjustments the results of the captures are really good.

Yet, as still no NDSP plugins available on QC, I am not playing it anymore. It stays in my home studio to "impress" (nobody's really impressed, as it is rather boring looking gray box). So I am using plugins and since few days the Headrush Prime. Huge, powerful and funny.

I wonder, if QC will ever be fully functional, working like in the initial description from Neural DSP. Maybe may kids will see ;-)

Footswitches I was complaining about are now creaking even louder after some use.

End of update.
***

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Original review below.
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I bought this unit after almost two years of “hunting”. Not a fan of prepaids, so was waiting till online availability. And then it happened, so I bought it instantly - happiness :-)

I bought it, as I am using NDSP plugins, and they sound fantastically. Nothing mimics my old Marshall like Nolly plugin. And I remembered, NDSP was promising the ability to have your plugins available in your Quad Cortex. Well, not yet, and there is no date set to it.

About the Quad Cortex self.
PROS
- processing power - it is really there, you may create any crazy signal chains and QC is processing it easily
- great touch display
- good design (both the physical device and the interface)
- footswitches act as potentiometers also (rotary encoders)
- tons of amps and effects to choose from

CONS
- not really built “as a tank”, my impression is QC is rather fragile (comparing it to some other devices I own (no names in the review) :))
- footswitches are very noise (they squeak like they will break any moment)
- because of processing power this unit goes hot, even on standby
- with all the amps and effects available - missing the ones from NDSP plugins, which is big disappointment

I know, I shall read the whole Internet before buying, and not rely on what I remembered from the initial statements of NDSP. The lack of amps and effects from plugins is quite a bad surprise to me.
Otherwise, great unit. Especially, when you want to use it as sound capturing device (did not try it, but youtube videos sound convincing).
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GG
state of the art
Gods Guitarist 15.12.2022
After owning Kemper and Helix, the Quad Cortex is definintly the one for me. Its easy to get the sound that your looking for without tweeking for hours or playing with cabs and IR's. The flexibility of pedal controlled parameters is superior. Would give all fives but it doesn't have rubber feet.
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Neural DSP Quad Cortex