In this article
Updated September 18, 2026. Written by Chaos Audio, maker of Stratus. Product specifications and comparison sources are linked below.
Stratus adds a capture-based sound-building pedal to the rig you already have. At $299, it combines up to three native NAM A2-Lite blocks, a looper, and FX Builder 2.0 in a compact mono enclosure. HeadRush Core brings guitar and vocal processing, a touchscreen, and broader connections into one floorboard. Both access NAM, but their supported model variants and the roles they fill are different.
Three NAM models, one Stratus preset. With the latest Chaos Audio app and Stratus firmware 1.0.100, Stratus runs up to three NAM A2-Lite models simultaneously in a single preset/chain, using your own uploads or TONE3000 captures. Each NAM block now uses roughly half the CPU it used before this update; other effects still share the pedal’s processing budget.
As of September 17, 2026, Stratus is the only factory-built compact pedal under US$300 we’re aware of that natively runs three NAM A2-Lite models simultaneously in one preset/chain. Its price is $299. See the latest Stratus and FX Builder 2.0 update.
The short version
- Stratus: Captures, custom effects, and looping inside an existing mono rig.
- The alternative: Core combines guitar and vocal processing, a touchscreen, broader routing, and stage connections in one floorboard.
- Start with the rig: decide which sound, control, or connection you need before comparing catalog totals.
Side by side
| Chaos Audio Stratus | HeadRush Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $699 |
| What it is | Compact multi-effects + NAM amp modeler with a generative AI effects builder | Touchscreen guitar/bass/vocal console: modeling, cloning, NAM, and performance tools |
| NAM support | Native NAM A2-Lite — the core amp engine Up to 3 simultaneous NAM A2-Lite models in one preset/chain (firmware 1.0.100 + latest app) |
Native NAM A2 (Full + Lite) and A1, via free 5.1 firmware |
| TONE3000 access | 600,000+ amp and pedal NAM captures on TONE3000, all compatible with Stratus; browse and install through the Chaos Audio app | On the touchscreen via HeadRush Cloud — browse, preview, download on-device |
| Amp models | NAM captures are the amps | 97 models (53 HeadRush + 44 ReValver) + clones + NAM captures |
| Capture your own gear | Via NAM's free tools, then load to pedal | On-device Amp Cloner + ReValver SuperClones |
| Effects | 19 free effects covering all effect categories; custom FX Builder 2.0 effects; the chain shares the CPU budget | 120+ built-in, including 7 vocal effects with Antares Auto-Tune |
| Generative AI | FX Builder 2.0: describe, audition, refine, and install custom effects; 30 free AI builds every month | None |
| Vocals | No mic input | XLR mic in with 48V phantom, Auto-Tune, harmony, vocoder, doubler |
| Looper | 5 minutes, unlimited overdubs | 5-minute looper with 20 minutes of overdub time |
| Drum machine | No | Built-in |
| Control | Bluetooth app; 2 footswitches; 14 hands-free presets, 128 stored | 7" touchscreen + 5 footswitches; Wi-Fi remote editor |
| MIDI | Full USB-MIDI map (host adapter required) | 5-pin MIDI in and out |
| I/O | Mono 1/4-inch audio in/out; USB-C for power, updates, and MIDI | Stereo TRS + dual XLR outs, stereo FX loop (4CM), expression input, aux in, headphones, USB |
| Power | 9V DC, center-negative, at least 400 mA, or supported USB-C power | 12V 3A adapter (center-positive) |
| Size & weight | 5.5" × 3.125" × 2.125", 11.6 oz | 16.08" × 9.24" × 2.64", 8.37 lb |
| Best for | Personal capture/effect sounds for an existing mono rig | Centralized guitar/vocal processing and floorboard connections |
The open side grows
HeadRush 5.1 adds native NAM and TONE3000 access, with support for A2 Full and Lite modes as well as legacy A1. Stratus uses A2’s Lite mode to run up to three NAM blocks in a chain. All 600,000+ amp and pedal NAM captures on TONE3000 have been retrained to A2 and are compatible with Stratus; each A2 model includes both Lite and Full modes.
What Core Brings to the Rig
Core combines guitar processing with an XLR microphone input and vocal effects, including its supported Auto-Tune workflow. The touchscreen, stereo/balanced outputs, effects loop, drum machine, and looper can consolidate functions for a singer-guitarist. Those features matter most if you would otherwise need separate equipment for them.
What the pedal keeps
For a particular sound, describe an effect in FX Builder 2.0—for example, a delay with darker repeats and gentle movement. Audition the result, ask for a change, then install it in your Stratus chain. Pedal captures can feed an amp capture, with other effects sharing the available processing power. Once installed, your sounds run locally and can be recalled without a phone or internet connection. Hear FX Builder 2.0 examples and explore the workflow. The examples on that page are software-rendered demonstrations.
FX Builder 2.0 is now on mobile. Build effects directly in the Chaos Audio app for iOS and Android, then use them in your Stratus chain alongside NAM captures. These current app screenshots show the builder and a finished effect.
On stage
Stratus recalls 14 presets from its footswitches and up to 128 via USB-MIDI, with a host required for conventional controllers. Core provides five switches, a touchscreen, conventional MIDI, and its stage outputs. Keep the exact switching features tied to the current firmware instead of describing every operation as gapless.
Cost of ownership
Stratus is 5.5 × 3.125 × 2.125 inches and 11.6 oz. Core is listed at 16.08 × 9.24 × 2.64 inches and 8.37 lb; allow for the cables and power supply in the board layout too. Stratus is US$299 with 19 free effects covering all effect categories, 30 free AI builds every month in FX Builder 2.0, and access to all 600,000+ amp and pedal NAM captures on TONE3000. See the product page for configuration, regional pricing, and shipping estimates.
Which should you buy?
Choose Stratus if the rest of your rig already works and you want captures and effects without reorganizing it around a floorboard. A custom delay or modulation effect can sit alongside your chosen amp and pedal captures.
Choose Core when you want guitar, vocals, stereo connections, and floor editing centralized in one device. The relevant advantage is the functions you will actually use.
Sources
- HeadRush — Core product page (model counts, cloner, vocal FX, I/O, dimensions, NAM/TONE3000 integration)
- HeadRush — HeadRush Cloud (supported NAM formats: A2 Full/Lite, A1 variants)
- TONE3000 — HeadRush brings TONE3000 to their lineup (5.1 firmware, lineup pricing)
- Sweetwater — HeadRush Core listing (price, looper/overdub spec, native-NAM note)
- TONE3000 — NAM Architecture 2 (A2) (test methodology and results; code and data are open source)
- Chaos Audio — Stratus product page (Stratus specs and pricing)
- Chaos Audio — three NAM blocks, firmware 1.0.100, and FX Builder 2.0 on mobile
Explore Stratus, its included effects, and current availability.
