NUX NGS-6 Amp Academy Amp Modeler Guitar Pedal 1024 Samples IR, 3rd Party IR Loader

A recent firmware update adds 6 new amps and IR’s. Nux has been reliable on updating firmware and adding features.It sounds good and has the modeling level of the NUX MG-30. Additionally, some amp models are “4K” versions which are a further step up. The boost and drives work great as does the EQ, FX loop and IR’s. The reverbs are adequate but not outstanding. Still way more useful and versatile than the Iridium. The modeling beat the Boss IR-2 and L6 Pod Express IMO. The build is nice and way better than the plastic used by L6. The noise gate could use some work. Maybe adding a parameter like dampening or reduction in addition to threshold and decay via firmware would help. Editors available for PC/Mac/iOS/Android and are easy to use. A global EQ would also be a nice addition. I have some expensive modelers like Fractal. I feel this would be an excellent choice for a beginner or for advanced users needing a headphone practice solution (aux in for backing tracks or use the onboard drum patterns) or as a backup rig for straight to PA that fits in your gig bag. It now has a nice selection of Fender amps (Twin, Vibro, Deluxe, Princeton) and Marshall’s (jcm800, jcm2000, blues breaker) and a 5150 as well. I have not had any reliability issues over two years with two units.

TL;DR I loved this little box, even the software was great, however it's started to develop some problems.Oh it's the same old story: I live in an apartment in the middle of the city, can't really turn up all my glorious tube amps (even with Weber attenuators, I was kidding myself on that) and I had gotten into making some short comedic clips centered around guitar... what to do?I've tried options in the past (plugins, PositiveGrid Spark, Sansamp, etc) and I have to say that in 2023 (now 2024) there are so many good options, that we're really spoiled for choice.Out of all of the latest options I looked at (Iridium, ACS-1, various UA boxes, Kuro's Matamp in a box, etc) the NUX Amp Academy (it's pronounced "New-X", FWIW) really checked a lot of boxes:* Can be operated without software.* Doesn't try to mod every amp under the sun.* Easy to click between presets.* IR loading* FX Loop* USB-C Audio (so you can plug a USB-C cord into your iPhone 15 and shoot video with the output)* Headphone out (so I can plug it into my studio monitors while filming)* Great software* It's $200!While I don't think some of the higher gain amp models sound amazing, the Fender stuff is great, especially if you can rely on your pedals for dirt.The software, having used some of the competitors (ahem, Universal Audio, which makes about the worst software on earth... it's mind bogglingly buggy and bad for how good their pedals sound), is really intuitive and easy to use. Plus you don't have to sign up for an account to use it!I've run all kinds of pedals into it, other preamp style pedals like an HM-2w, fuzzes, distortions and more, and I really like having an effects loop to drop in all the time based stuff (delay, reverb, phaser, etc).It was great! It really sparked my creativity by removing some of the pains of content creation.However, all was not right in paradise. About a month ago it randomly cut volume on me a few times. I thought this was a glitch, and once or twice it was really that the battery in my pedal board's power supply just died (I use rechargeable power supplies, which saves on clutter when they're juiced up).No.And about a week ago it started doing it... quite often... I tried everything:* Factory reset.* Firmware update.* Not running pedals into it (I thought it might be clipping internally).Nada, tostada.The only thing that works is to change to a different model and click back. If I do that, it goes back to normal.But it's a bummer. It means I really can't trust it enough to use it as I have been filming or recording and it cuts out in the middle of a good take. It really robs you of confidence.So I picked up a new UA Lion and a board friendly little DA box (I have others, but really liked using the Amp Academy as a DA box... it works well).Now, I didn't just quit using this thing without attempting to get support. I reached out to NUX a week ago and... haven't heard a peep.Sadly, this will go in a bin (not the trash, I'm not from the UK) along with other pedals I don't use often.I hope they get back to me, I would love to put it back in service.FWIW (in case NUX support reads this) my chain was usually something like this: tuner -> compressor -> wah -> fuzz -> OD/Dist -> Amp Academy Send -> delay/reverb -> looper -> drum machine pedal -> Amp Academy Return -> iPhone/MBP

This is an awesome amp-less solution, once you get it dialed in. That said, for some reason the IR loader/cab sim is set to run *before* reverb, EQ, and the effects loop. This will make everything sound fizzy and harsh - move it to the end of the signal chain using the companion app and the sound quality is amazing.You really need to connect this to a computer to get the most out of it, but once you do there is so much versatility at your fingertips. It has an effects loop (unlike an Iridium), multiple outputs (regular line level, XLR and 1/4" direct out, 3.5mm headphone out), aux in, the ability to turn IR cab sims on or off per output, level controls for every step of the way, a few built-in effects (overdrives/dirt/compressors), 3rd party IR compatibility - really everything you could ask for.I cannot recommend this enough - take a bit of time with it and you'll get an unbeatable sound and an amazing feature set at half the price of other modelers.

This pedal’s great, I feel like I could take my board anywhere as long as I have this with me. For the price, it’s an amazing product considering all the features it has. I will say though, this isn’t something you could easily dial your desired tone on the spot. In fact, it will make you work a bit. It was a challenge to get it hooked up to my computer, I wished they had clearer instructions available for all to see, but maybe I just missed what I should have read before hand. Amazing amp options, but you might take a while dialing in your tone of choice. Hell, I haven’t even got to finishing working on my presets and it’s been roughly three weeks since I got this. I will say, it’s worth it and it’s a must have affordable amp sim, especially once you finally figure it out. What really intrigued me is the existence of an fx loop, it’s insane how they considered putting one on here. I enjoy using it, running my boost, eq, and both delay and verb through it. So overall, yes I would definitely suggest getting this.

I was hoping this would fill my needs to setup an ampless gigging pedal board into an frfr, it did not. When I plugged pedals into the Amp Academy…They sounded horrible, brittle and thin. As a stand alone pedal it sounded ok, as a pedal platform it does not sound amp like. I have a lot of OD pedals; Plumes, Tube Screamer, Zendrive, Crunch Box, Angry Charlie, Angry Driver, Siamese Drive, Soul Food, etc. All are high quality pedals and they all sounded awful. If you plan to use pedals with this unit and an frfr speaker cab, you may not like the results. If you do not use pedals you my like it. But, I sent it back to Amazon after a few days. I wanted this to solve my ampless pedal board build, I really really really wanted it to work as a pedal platform, it simply does not react like a tube amp with a pedal in front it. Maybe it will work for you, it did not for me.

Worst problem with this pedal is hot output that makes it loud!!!! Playing through a clean amp or PA struggled to manage volume.Every other feature of this bad boy is AMAZING!!! The other guitarists in my group both want one of these now.Awesome for silent headphone practice and sounds great via XLR DI out into powered desktop monitors.Was as noted a bit surprised at how hard volume management was via our PA.Sooo goood though and can't wait to play with it more!

This pedal is the clear winner among the group for the live player (UA, Strymon, Walrus, Boss). Amp Academy responds like an amp, breaths, takes pedal extremely well (even stacked OD's), plenty of headroom, and has all the direct out to front of house features that I need. Supports XLR out and effects loop so I can put my time based effects exactly where they need to live. I'm not sure why all the others (listed) have not figured out that these are the feature the live player needs. Yes, it's not stereo but who cares... when I mic up an amp, that's not stereo either. I use it to replace my clean channel fender tubeamp so I'm mainly using the "Fender Vibro King" amp sim and front the sim with my full pedal board. I don't rely on any of the built in effects (but the built-in are very good if that's all you had). I'm not a huge fan of the IR's that come with the Amp Academy. Don't get me wrong, they are fine and a great starting point if you didn't have a collection of preferred IR's. I've A/B'd the Amp Academy clean channel sim + pedal board rig against a mic'd-up Fender Vibro King + pedal board rig and there is absolutely no difference in what is being sent to the board. I've had several ears on this A/B test and all listeners agree. The scene feature is great and allows me to toggle between three graphic EQ scenes (based on the room/space I'm playing in). I couldn't be more thrilled with the Amp Academy and filling the need to go amp-less while still using my classic pedal board rig. Nicely done NUX.

As another reviewer noted, it becomes useless after 6 months or so. It started with a little crackling on one of the channels, which eventually turned into ALL of the channels having such bad noise you can't even make out the notes. I don't do gigs, just hobby playing, so it just sits there. It's a shame, because when it worked, it sounded and functioned fantastically. I've tried reaching out to NUX for several weeks, but haven't heard a thing.

Muy buen sonido tanto en las emulaciones de amplificadores limpios, es una excelente plataforma para pedales, al igual que las emulaciones de amplificación high gain, se escuchan de lujo tanto en los audífonos, como conectándolo en directo al mixer y ya ni se diga conectado a un amplificador... Sin duda debe ser la mejor opción del mercado en el balance calidad / precio / opciones de configuración... Bien por NuX, ha hecho un extraordinario trabajo con este juguete... Va excelente tanto para practicar con audífonos, ensayar y tocar en vivo... Una maravilla de aparato...

Very easy to use and sounds a great

I can play live with this alone connnected direct to mixer

Il prodotto non è nuovo perché sprovvisto di pellicola protettiva e la scatola originale si presenta danneggiata

At first I was impressed by the sound of this little pedal. After about 3-4 months it started sounding very bad. There was constant clipping on one or two scenes making the unusable. Support from the company has been poor at best. The asked for a video showing the problem. I sent them a video and they didn’t reply until after I followed up again. They suggested I install the new firmware and it only made the problem worse. Now it cuts out and clips on mor3 than one channel. Still waiting to hear what they’ll do. I don’t hold out much hope.Update Feb 14, 2024, little to no response from the manufacturer. Clearly they just take your money and offer zero service to back up their product. I’m throwing this piece or crap in the garbage where it belongs. I highly recommend you buy something from Hotone or Line 6. I’ve never had a problem with those devises. I wanted something small I could take with me when I travel. This isn’t it. Be warned very poor quality. If I could give it a zero star rating I would.