Tone3000 announces Neural Amp Modeler Architecture 2 (A2)
September 1, 2026 · 3 sources
Tone3000 announced the release of Architecture 2 (A2), the latest iteration of the Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) standard, this year1. Tone3000 is described as the biggest central resource for distributing user NAM captures1. The architecture is free and open-source, and any manufacturer or developer can integrate A2 into their products without paying licensing fees2.
A2 launches in two formats: A2 Full, which cuts CPU usage by up to 40% for studio and DAW environments, and A2 Lite, an ultra-efficient version designed for affordable hardware pedals2. Tone3000 claims A2 is more CPU-efficient than the previous A1 architecture and sounds better than anything else, including Neural DSP's models1. Tone3000 used MUSHRA blind listening tests in which over 1,000 participants compared 37 real analog setups, ranging from a cranked Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier to a vintage Neve 1073 preamp, against their digital captures2. Gearnews reported that the new technology can run on a $3 microchip2.
A NAM model is a .nam file that can be loaded into multi-effects pedals and desktop plugins1. The dedicated Tone3000 plugin is free1. HeadRush's Prime, Flex Prime and Core multi-effects units support A2, running the full version rather than A2 Lite1. The Flex Prime is the most affordable of the three at $4991. Access to the Tone3000 hub on those units requires a firmware update, after which the full Tone3000 library can be browsed over WiFi1.
"The free architecture is launching in two formats: A2 Full, which cuts CPU usage by up to 40% for studio and DAW environments, and A2 Lite, an ultra-efficient version designed for affordable hardware pedals."
In a review of the HeadRush implementation, Guitar.com wrote that A2 captures remain pre-set in their on-device EQ and gain settings, with built-in post-EQ for the NAM block, and that only one NAM model can be loaded per preset on the HeadRush units1. The reviewer also noted that uploads vary widely in gain-staging1. Darkglass announced that its KosmOS 1.16 update for the Anagram modeling platform adds full A2 support through a partnership with Tone3000, with three processing blocks allowing up to three simultaneous instances of A2 Full, A2 Lite or A13.