IK Multimedia has unveiled the TONEX Plug, a compact headphone amp and USB audio interface for guitar and bass that drops the entire TONEX ecosystem into your gig bag – or your pocket. Powered by the same AI Machine Modeling engine found in the TONEX Pedal and TONEX ONE, the new device offers access to tens of thousands of amp and pedal tone models, plus Bluetooth control and streaming for truly silent, modern practice.
Priced around $/£/€149, TONEX Plug is positioned to go head-to-head with the current crop of smart headphone amps from Boss, Fender and others – but with one big selling point: seamless integration with IK’s existing TONEX software, pedals and ToneNET community.
What Is the TONEX Plug?
TONEX Plug is a personal headphone amp that plugs directly into your guitar or bass via a swivelling 1/4″ jack. On the other end, there’s a 1/8″ stereo headphone output, plus a USB-C port that lets the unit double as a compact audio interface for recording into a computer or mobile device.
Under the hood, it runs IK’s AI Machine Modeling platform – the same technology used in the TONEX software and pedals – which means it’s compatible with the huge library of Tone Models already available. Out of the box it comes preloaded with 30 curated presets, and you can replace any of them with your own favourites from the TONEX ecosystem.
Key points at a glance:
- Pocket-sized headphone amp for guitar and bass
- Runs IK’s AI Machine Modeling engine
- Access to 40,000+ free amps and pedal rigs via ToneNET (plus premium and signature packs)
- Stores 30 user presets in 10 colour-coded banks
- Works as a USB-C audio interface for recording
- Bluetooth for preset control and audio streaming
- Onboard tuner, metronome and full effects chain
Deep Integration With the TONEX Ecosystem
The biggest story here is how deep the TONEX Plug hooks into IK’s existing platform.
Using the TONEX Control app for iOS/Android, players can:
- Browse ToneNET, IK’s cloud-based preset hub, with over 40,000 free Tone Models shared by IK, artists and users
- Load Premium and Signature Collections onto the device
- Edit amp, cab and IR settings, plus noise gate, compressor, EQ and three FX blocks (reverb, delay, modulation)
- Save edited patches straight back to the hardware
- Stream stereo audio (backing tracks, YouTube lessons, playlists) over Bluetooth while monitoring everything through your headphones
This means you can design and test sounds on your desktop or phone, then send them wirelessly to TONEX Plug and take them on the road. For existing TONEX users, it’s essentially a portable “companion rig” that speaks the same language as your pedalboard and plugins.
Features and Specs: Designed for Silent Practice and Quick Recording
Hardware & I/O
- 1/4″ swivel jack plugs directly into the instrument
- 1/8″ (3.5 mm) stereo headphone output
- USB-C port for charging and audio interface duties
- Top-panel buttons for preset up/down, volume, and power/battery check
Presets & Effects
- 30 internal presets, arranged as 10 banks with three presets each
- Same core sound quality as TONEX Pedal and TONEX ONE
- Onboard processing includes EQ, noise gate, compressor, 5 reverbs, 2 delays and 5 modulation effects, all editable in the app
Practice Tools
- Built-in chromatic tuner with LED indication
- Metronome accessible via the app
- Bluetooth streaming so you can jam with lessons, tracks or click straight through the unit
Power & Portability
- Rechargeable battery, rated for around 5–6 hours of continuous use depending on source
- Charges over USB-C in roughly two hours
- Extremely compact and lightweight – designed to live in a gig bag or even a jacket pocket
Practice, Recording and Live Use Cases
IK is clearly pitching the TONEX Plug towards players who want serious tone without firing up a full rig.
Silent practice & learning
With headphones connected, you can:
- Practice late at night without bothering anyone
- Stream lessons from YouTube or music-learning apps over Bluetooth
- Use the built-in tuner and metronome so you don’t have to carry extra devices
Because the amp and cab tones are based on the same modelling as the full TONEX products, the sound through headphones is far more polished than a basic practice amp – closer to a studio recording chain.
Quick recording setup
Connect TONEX Plug to your computer or mobile DAW via USB-C and it becomes a two-in-one solution:
- A guitar/bass audio interface
- A ready-to-go amp and effects chain, with no extra plugins required
You can track ideas silently, re-amp, or just use it as your main front-end for demos. Some retailers specifically highlight the low-latency monitoring and the fact it ships with TONEX SE and AmpliTube 5 SE, giving new users an instant software toolkit.
Live and backstage
Although it’s primarily a practice/recording tool, TONEX Plug also makes sense as a backstage warm-up rig or emergency backup – plug in, call up a preset similar to your live tone, and run in-ears from the headphone out.
Competition: How Does TONEX Plug Fit the Headphone Amp Market?
With compact headphone amps becoming a serious category, TONEX Plug is IK’s answer to devices like the Boss Katana:GO and Fender Mustang Micro. Guitar World and MusicRadar both note that the unit’s 30 user presets across 10 banks put it on par with Boss’s offering and slightly behind Fender’s 100-slot Micro, but the depth of the TONEX ecosystem is where IK hopes to stand out.
Instead of a fixed set of factory models, you’re effectively tapping into:
- Thousands of captures of real amps, cabs and pedals
- Official Premium and Signature packs
- A constantly growing community library on ToneNET
For players already invested in TONEX, the Plug looks less like “another gadget” and more like a smart extra node in an existing system.
Price and Availability
TONEX Plug is listed at an MSRP of around $/£/€149, with an optional Plug + pouch bundle for a small upcharge. It is already showing as available or on order at major retailers and through IK Multimedia’s own store.
In the box, buyers get:
- TONEX Plug
- USB-C cable
- Access to TONEX SE and AmpliTube 5 SE software licences
For guitarists and bassists who want serious tones without a full amp and pedalboard, TONEX Plug looks set to become one of the most talked-about pieces of practice gear this year.
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