What Is the Difference Between Quad Cortex, Quad Cortex mini, and Nano Cortex?

Neural DSP's hardware line splits into three products with different physical footprints and roles: Quad Cortex is the full-size floorboard amp modeler, Quad Cortex mini is the same platform in a smaller enclosure, and Nano Cortex is the compact unit meant to sit on a pedalboard. All three run Neural DSP's amp and pedal modeling, but they differ in size, how much you can do on the device itself, and whether they can host licensed plugins. If you want the most capable single unit, look at Quad Cortex; if board space is the constraint, compare mini against Nano Cortex.

The three products at a glance

What actually separates them

Quad Cortex: the reference unit

Neural DSP describes it as the most powerful floorboard amp modeler it makes, and it is the product most of the listed awards attach to (Best Multi-Effects Pedal 2026, Best Amp Modelers 2026–2025, Gear of the Year Winner 2021, and a run of Best Amp Modelers awards from 2021 through 2025). If you are choosing one device to cover amp modeling, effects, and plugin hosting, this is the one the rest of the line is measured against.

Quad Cortex mini: same platform, smaller box

The site's own framing is the useful part here — "No compromises. Just smaller." That tells you the intent is not to strip features down to a budget tier but to shrink the enclosure. Plugin compatibility is shared across the family: Archetype: John Mayer X and Archetype: Misha Mansoor X are both listed as compatible with Quad Cortex and Quad Cortex mini, unlocked by purchasing a license and logging into your Neural DSP account on the device.

Nano Cortex: pedalboard-first

Nano Cortex is described as putting "an infinite number of amps and pedals on your pedalboard." That is a different job from the other two: it is positioned as the modeling engine you add to an existing board, not the board itself.

The compatibility rule that matters most

Not every Neural DSP product runs on the hardware. The site is explicit about two categories:

• Quad Cortex compatible: Archetype: John Mayer X and Archetype: Misha Mansoor X — buy a license, then log in to your Neural DSP account on the device to unlock.
• Desktop only: Darkglass Ultimate and Mantra are marked "DESKTOP ONLY" and available only for Windows and Mac. Darkglass Ultimate "will not be available on Quad Cortex devices."

So before buying hardware to run a specific plugin, check that plugin's compatibility line. A desktop-only title will not follow you onto the floorboard.

How to decide

• You want one unit to do everything, and size is not a constraint → Quad Cortex.
• You want the Quad Cortex platform but need a smaller footprint → Quad Cortex mini, and confirm the specific plugins you rely on list Quad Cortex mini as compatible.
• You already have a pedalboard and want to add amp/pedal modeling to it → Nano Cortex.
• You mainly want a specific desktop plugin → check whether it is desktop-only first; if it is, hardware will not run it.

Trying before committing

Neural DSP offers a 14-day free trial of any plugin, and each product page carries a "Free trial" option alongside Add to cart / Buy now. For hardware, the site directs buyers to "Find a dealer," so availability and hands-on testing run through dealers rather than a direct hardware checkout.

Listed plugin prices, for reference: Archetype: John Mayer X €169.00, Darkglass Ultimate €99.00, Archetype: Misha Mansoor X €125.00. For EU and UK customers VAT is included; for US and international customers taxes are calculated at checkout.