Hotone Ampero II Stomp - Review

[laxu]

I am watching this and I honestly think I prefer it to Tone where toneX sound a bit flabby, the attack on the low end here is damn good .



the only issue I see is CPU . one catch , one hi end verb , one multitap delay ,a screamer and you are limited to what else you can add

If they figure out how to have the catches use less cpu than the models like NDSP , this thing will become pretty deadly
as it is you basically have a Nano Cortex , with a few more fx, available a way better GUI

Also the fact that these guys are getting content creators for the other brands Amalgam involved early is a good move

Yeah if they can reduce CPU usage that would be great. I think you could get some leeway by using less demanding reverb, the 140 Plate HQ is the most demanding (and best sounding!) reverb in the unit, and dropping it to say Large Plate can give you some room to have maybe more fx selection.

To get around the limitations, you could run captures over multiple presets with different effects combinations to make them do enough, say 3 presets for say clean, rhythm drive and lead drive sounds. The preset switching is so fast that this should work out.

When they release an Ampero 3, that will be an interesting product for sure.

 

[GTR37]

Yeah if they can reduce CPU usage that would be great. I think you could get some leeway by using less demanding reverb, the 140 Plate HQ is the most demanding (and best sounding!) reverb in the unit, and dropping it to say Large Plate can give you some room to have maybe more fx selection.

To get around the limitations, you could run captures over multiple presets with different effects combinations to make them do enough, say 3 presets for say clean, rhythm drive and lead drive sounds. The preset switching is so fast that this should work out.

When they release an Ampero 3, that will be an interesting product for sure.

That’s good to know about the Preset switching if you don’t need to use scenes that would kind of make it a none issue

Also how is the XTC red model compared to the Helix ( if you have both)I know it does not likely have all the boosts bright switches but does it sound decent?

 

[cjl5000]

Yeah if they can reduce CPU usage that would be great. I think you could get some leeway by using less demanding reverb, the 140 Plate HQ is the most demanding (and best sounding!) reverb in the unit, and dropping it to say Large Plate can give you some room to have maybe more fx selection.

To get around the limitations, you could run captures over multiple presets with different effects combinations to make them do enough, say 3 presets for say clean, rhythm drive and lead drive sounds. The preset switching is so fast that this should work out.

When they release an Ampero 3, that will be an interesting product for sure.

I honestly think they can continue to optimise and solve any quality issues on the Ampero 2 range with the hardware that they have. I dont know if that will be the case though.

 

[laxu]

I honestly think they can continue to optimise and solve any quality issues on the Ampero 2 range with the hardware that they have. I dont know if that will be the case though.

I think the platform is just too short on CPU. If they were to upgrade more fx and amp algorithms it'd get too tight for many signal chains. If they were able to make captures run very efficiently that could help a lot.

 

[JCW308]

I think the platform is just too short on CPU. If they were to upgrade more fx and amp algorithms it'd get too tight for many signal chains. If they were able to make captures run very efficiently that could help a lot.

This for sure. I have tested the Ampero II series it inside and out, it's weakest point is CPU horsepower. It's SO close, that's what is frustrating!

 

[GTR37]

This for sure. I have tested the Ampere II series it inside and out, it's weakest point is CPU horsepower. It's SO close, that's what is frustrating!

I honestly think they are going to cause a whole ton of problems for competition in 2025 , because they will get this part eventually

 

[KingsXJJ]

I “upgraded” to the Stage from the Stomp. Why? I’m not sure exactly. Except for maybe I believe in the future for this platform and want the “best” of it. Plus, it looks cool and the BF prices at AliExpress got nuts. Go Ampero II.

 

[KingsXJJ]

To Laxu’s point about midi, usb outlet placement on his Stomp review, the Stage has everything on top/outback. What a joy.
Nothing on the sides:

 

[laxu]

To Laxu’s point about midi, usb outlet placement on his Stomp review, the Stage has everything on top/outback. What a joy.
Nothing on the sides:View attachment 34002

The EXP/CTRL jacks are still the first jacks you'll find, which is the main annoyance for me. I've plugged my guitar into the EXP jack so many times now by accident because usually the first jack is for guitar input.

I guess Hotone was thinking "you have an expression pedal right next to the unit, so this way you can run a very short cable".

 

[JCW308]

The EXP/CTRL jacks are still the first jacks you'll find, which is the main annoyance for me. I've plugged my guitar into the EXP jack so many times now by accident because usually the first jack is for guitar input.

Same here - input should always be the first the right side facing down / left side facing the back. Always!

 

[KingsXJJ]

Same here - input should always be the first the right side facing down / left side facing the back. Always!

I’ll manage! Lovely looking unit TBH.

 

[cjl5000]

@laxu I was thinking, regarding effects, it could be interesting on noting down here any effects in the unit which "exceed expectations". For example, the 'Minivibe' has no right being that good. IMO

 

[GTR37]

@laxu I was thinking, regarding effects, it could be interesting on noting down here any effects in the unit which "exceed expectations". For example, the 'Minivibe' has no right being that good. IMO

That would be cool for even for the amps perhaps
What’s the top 10 in the box

 

[KingsXJJ]

It must be firmware or perhaps something else like the different presets… but I think the Stage sounds better.

Especially on things like JCM800 medium to high gain unboosted. The amp just seems more alive & more vintage.

Might just be me enjoying “steak” in the Matrix. I like it though. It seems quite real and noticeable to me. I’ve tried the mini, stomp and stage.
Each do very well. But the Stage is definitely nicest… to me.

 

[laxu]

It must be firmware or perhaps something else like the different presets… but I think the Stage sounds better.

Especially on things like JCM800 medium to high gain unboosted. The amp just seems more alive & more vintage.

Might just be me enjoying “steak” in the Matrix. I like it though. It seems quite real and noticeable to me. I’ve tried the mini, stomp and stage.
Each do very well. But the Stage is definitely nicest… to me.

These are the fw updates of Stage fw 1.2.1 that adds the Tone Catch feature:

Version 1.2.1
Released 10/31/2024

New Features

1. Tone Catch (Global > Tone Catch) function added - You can now catch and save your favorite tones, then apply them with the new CATCH module

Improvements, Changes & Bug Fixes

1. Significantly optimized the latency of the CAB module
2. Reduced the system resource utilization of the IR module
3. Optimized the Freeze effect with the addition of a high-resolution option
4. Other minor improvements and bug fixes

Those optimizations and bug fixes are not on the Stomp, so I'm guessing you might find improved latency to help. The Stomp seems to be a few fw behind the Stage at this point, with probably the next one catching up. I kinda wish they'd get that out for Christmas tho!

 

[Sascha Franck]

I guess Hotone was thinking "you have an expression pedal right next to the unit, so this way you can run a very short cable".

Or they have just stolen it from the HX Stomp...

 

[cjl5000]

Those optimizations and bug fixes are not on the Stomp, so I'm guessing you might find improved latency to help. The Stomp seems to be a few fw behind the Stage at this point, with probably the next one catching up. I kinda wish they'd get that out for Christmas tho!

Totally. I can't imagine what is keeping them from dropping the update that is so vastly different, as to delay it so long

 

[Sascha Franck]

Out of interest: Are the Ampero II Stomp and vanilla Ampero II on the same level (minus the 3 encoders)?

 

[laxu]

Totally. I can't imagine what is keeping them from dropping the update that is so vastly different, as to delay it so long

I think they are trying to figure out a solution for how to handle captures on the Stomp. Running captures is easy, making captures is not because the Stomp does not have a mic preamp like the Stage and "Ampero II" have. That might put more limitations on it.

Out of interest: Are the Ampero II Stomp and vanilla Ampero II on the same level (minus the 3 encoders)?

Ampero II has a newer firmware on par with the Stage.

Otherwise all of them seem to be the same DSP platform but with a different amount of controls/footswitches/inputs/outputs.

I still don't understand the decision to throw away the physical encoders on the "Ampero II" to cut costs. They can't cost that much more.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I still don't understand the decision to throw away the physical encoders on the "Ampero II" to cut costs.

Yeah, pretty weird decision.
Would actually be a pretty perfect form factor thing for some gigs I seem to be playing in the future, but I guess I'll rather grab the GT-1000 instead. Wouldn't mind something not related to my main pedalboard, though.