Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[Richard_G]

I think the AM4 might be perfect for me. I like a modular approach where I can mix and match gear based on the occasion and switch things up every once in a while. I also put more emphasis on having high-quality amp sims and a few high-quality effects than on having a plethora of things happening at the same time in complicated presets. Honestly, I could probably get by with just an AM4 most of the time, and I love how compact and lightweight it is. And having the option to combine an AM4 with my VP4 and/or my various pedals and/or my amps? Nice!

You are the target audience. The emphasis on the product was quality over quantity.

First impressions after using my AM4 for a few hours tonight (after receiving it from G66 earlier today):

This is an absolutely fantastic piece of gear! The amp sims and the effects are, of course, brilliant—no surprises there. I really like the form factor (I also have the VP4), and the UI is nice and easy to use.

I love it!

I’m sure this will be a massive hit for Fractal Audio!

 

[EOengineer]

The 6G3 is fantastic. Life pro tip - crank the tone all the way up when you want the good crunchy stuff.

 

[Los-D]

Latency (not sure if already shared)



(Spoiler alert: pretty nice!)

 

[eggpl@nt]

I'm tepidly excited about this FW. I’m generally not a FW junky because we’re long passed the point where I’m able to discern or appreciate the improvements from these incremental updates. I just don’t have the tube amp cred to pick out the nuances.

That said, I am an overdrive/boost junky, and I love using both real and modeled drives with modelers. I’m eager to see if this does anything for me.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Latency (not sure if already shared)



(Spoiler alert: pretty nice!)

Pardon if I just don't give a damn about any measurements that dude makes.

 

[GTR37]

I'm tepidly excited about this FW. I’m generally not a FW junky because we’re long passed the point where I’m able to discern or appreciate the improvements from these incremental updates. I just don’t have the tube amp cred to pick out the nuances.

That said, I am an overdrive/boost junky, and I love using both real and modeled drives with modelers. I’m eager to see if this does anything for me.

It is the “punch” update according to FAS
This is the one James Freeman said he noticed a difference

 

[GTR37]

Pardon if I just don't give a damn about any measurements that dude makes.

You and me both

 

[GTR37]

Latency (not sure if already shared)



(Spoiler alert: pretty nice!)

I don't why I watched this but the comments are hilarious
someone is claiming the latency of a Plexi is -70, that you actually hear the sound before you hit the strings

Unbelievable

 

[Aleksi]

As slick as all the Cioks stuff is, I can't stomach blowing $250+ of my gear fund on power.

I used to think like this, but then I realized that I'm powering several thousand € of gear with a pile of cheap wall warts. The Cioks takes up less space, is noise free, can power almost anything and is probably more reliable. I do wish it had a few more isolated USB outs.

 

[Los-D]

I don't why I watched this but the comments are hilarious
someone is claiming the latency of a Plexi is -70, that you actually hear the sound before you hit the strings

Unbelievable

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I used to think like this, but then I realized that I'm powering several thousand € of gear with a pile of cheap wall warts. The Cioks takes up less space, is noise free, can power almost anything and is probably more reliable. I do wish it had a few more isolated USB outs.

I'm not using cheap wall warts, I ain't got noise.

 

[Aleksi]

I'm not using cheap wall warts, I ain't got noise.

I was and usually didn't have noise

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I was and usually didn't have noise

I've got no beef with the DC7, and if one is starting from scratch, it's probably worth considering. But there also seems to be a general trend in going wildly overboard on power with over a dozen isolated outputs and amps and amps of capacity. Dirt pedals can be daisy chained with no noise concerns; sometimes for big-ass boxes like a QC or an AM4, using a wall wart for it makes more sense than scaling up a brick to be able to drive it, etc. My $150 True Tone isn't the slimmest thing in the world, but its been doing juuuuuuuuuuust fine for ages and incorporating a courtesy outlet for the AM4 wall wart makes way more sense than replacing it.

If you're a total twat and run a terra board full of 300amp draw pedals go for the full monty $500 Cioks setup.. But thankfully this world is only big enough for one or two @Orvillain s

 

[Aleksi]

I've got no beef with the DC7, and if one is starting from scratch, it's probably worth considering. But there also seems to be a general trend in going wildly overboard on power with over a dozen isolated outputs and amps and amps of capacity. Dirt pedals can be daisy chained with no noise concerns; sometimes for big-ass boxes like a QC or an AM4, using a wall wart for it makes more sense than scaling up a brick to be able to drive it, etc. My $150 True Tone isn't the slimmest thing in the world, but its been doing juuuuuuuuuuust fine for ages and incorporating a courtesy outlet for the AM4 wall wart makes way more sense than replacing it.

If you're a total twat and run a terra board full of 300amp draw pedals go for the full monty $500 Cioks setup.. But thankfully this world is only big enough for one or two @Orvillain s

I only have high power draw digital pedals and daisy chaining them introduces noise. Currently I have one output free on my DC7, two are taken by the VP4. Golden, HX ONE, Mercury X and my MIDI thru take up one output each.

Cioks might be overkill for a lot of users but I've certainly wasted money on dumber things

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I only have high power draw digital pedals and daisy chaining them introduces noise. Currently I have one output free on my DC7, two are taken by the VP4. Golden, HX ONE, Mercury X and my MIDI thru take up one output each.

Cioks might be overkill for a lot of users but I've certainly wasted money on dumber things

twat

 

[Sascha Franck]

If you're a total twat and run a terra board full of 300amp draw pedals go for the full monty $500 Cioks setup..

Fwiw, a €130 one from Harley Benton will do just as good.

 

[jellodog]

Pardon if I just don't give a damn about any measurements that dude makes.

Found my people. Love ya!

 

[Orvillain]

I've got no beef with the DC7, and if one is starting from scratch, it's probably worth considering. But there also seems to be a general trend in going wildly overboard on power with over a dozen isolated outputs and amps and amps of capacity. Dirt pedals can be daisy chained with no noise concerns; sometimes for big-ass boxes like a QC or an AM4, using a wall wart for it makes more sense than scaling up a brick to be able to drive it, etc. My $150 True Tone isn't the slimmest thing in the world, but its been doing juuuuuuuuuuust fine for ages and incorporating a courtesy outlet for the AM4 wall wart makes way more sense than replacing it.

If you're a total twat and run a terra board full of 300amp draw pedals go for the full monty $500 Cioks setup.. But thankfully this world is only big enough for one or two @Orvillain s

Don't take pokes at me just because you're a pauper.

Me, just sat here... with ultimate cosmic (and super clean) power....

 

[PhilA]

Woohoo mine is out for delivery this morning

 

[Lysander]

That would take some engineering. Not saying it isn't doable, but its getting beyond a $700 device with that level of complexity of assembly:

Post in thread 'Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler'

Dec 8, 2025

TL; DR

• TI SoC - 66AK2G12ABY100 KeyStone II Multicore
  
  • 1 Arm Cortex-A15 @1GHz
  • 1 C66x DSP @1GHz
• 512 MB DDR3 RAM
• 64 MB + 48MB NOR Flash
• Cirrus Logic CS4272-CZZ Codec - A/D + DAC

Gut shots




TI SoC - 66AK2G12ABY100 KeyStone II Multicore

• 1 Arm Cortex-A15 @1GHz
• 1 C66x DSP @1GHz

512 MB DDR RAM - 2 Micron MT41K128M16JT-125:K


64 MB NOR Flash - 2...

• AlbertA

• 
• 
• 

Really interesting to see the AM4 (and i presume VP4 as well) using a 66AK2G12 instead of the ADSP-SC587 SHARC used on the FM3/FM9, which are ~30% cheaper. Those Keystone DSPs pack some serious punch.