IK Multimedia TONEX Plug Portable Headphone Amp & USB Interface

The TONEX Plug is IK Multimedia’s pocket-sized headphone amp for guitar and bass: it plugs straight into your instrument’s output jack and puts the same AI Machine Modeling tone engine used in the TONEX Pedal and TONEX ONE into your headphones. It is made for players who want to practise silently at home, warm up backstage, play while travelling or record ideas straight to a computer, without carrying an amp or a pedalboard.

Real amp tones in a 70 g device

At just 75 x 40 x 20 mm and around 70 g, the TONEX Plug is small enough to live in a gig bag pocket. Inside, it runs Tone Models created with IK’s AI Machine Modeling (AIMM) technology, which captures the feel and response of real amps, cabinets and pedals rather than approximating them. Reviewers single out how responsive the tube amp models feel under your fingers, which is where many headphone amps fall short.

You can store 30 presets on the device and step through them with the onboard buttons, so the Plug works on its own without a phone. When you want more, the free TONEX Control app and the ToneNET community library give you access to tens of thousands of free Tone Models shared by other players, plus optional premium collections.

Effects, EQ and tuner on board

Each preset can use a noise gate, compressor and EQ, plus effects from a library of five reverbs (three springs, room and plate), two delays (digital and tape) and five modulation types (chorus, tremolo, phaser, flanger and rotary). A quick tuner is built in, so you can tune up without reaching for a clip-on tuner.

Bluetooth app control and jam-along streaming

Built-in Bluetooth connects the TONEX Plug to the free TONEX Control app for iOS and Android. From your phone you can browse ToneNET, load Tone Models, edit parameters and manage presets with drag and drop. Bluetooth also lets you stream audio from music apps on your phone into the Plug, so you can play along with songs, backing tracks or lessons through the same headphones.

USB-C audio interface for recording

The USB-C port charges the internal rechargeable battery and also turns the Plug into a USB audio interface. Connect it to a computer or mobile device to record your guitar or bass tone straight into a DAW, or to hear computer audio and your instrument together. The package includes TONEX SE and AmpliTube 5 SE software for Mac and PC, so you can keep building tones on your computer.

Tips for getting the best from the TONEX Plug

• Check your guitar’s jack: the 1/4″ plug swivels to suit most guitars, but deeply recessed or unusually angled output jacks may need a short instrument cable or adapter.
• Use closed-back headphones when practising near others, and keep the volume moderate to protect your hearing on long sessions.
• Charge before travelling: the battery charges over USB-C, so any phone charger or laptop port keeps it topped up.
• Organise your 30 presets in the app by style or song, so you can switch quickly using only the onboard buttons.

Who is the TONEX Plug for?

• Players who practise at night or in apartments and need full amp tones without noise.
• Travelling musicians who want a real practice rig that fits in a pocket.
• Bass players as well as guitarists, since the Plug supports both instruments.
• Songwriters who want to record ideas to a computer or phone without setting up an interface and amp.
• Existing TONEX users who want their Tone Models available away from their pedal.

If you want to play out loud with a band or send a tone to a PA, a full-size amp from our guitar amplification range or a TONEX pedal from our guitar effects pedals section is the better fit.

TONEX Plug vs TONEX ONE and other headphone amps

vs TONEX ONE: both run TONEX Tone Models, but the TONEX ONE is a stompbox that sits on your pedalboard and feeds an amp, PA or interface. The TONEX Plug is a self-contained headphone amp with its own battery, made for personal practice and portable recording.

vs other headphone amps: reviewers compare the Plug with popular models such as the Fender Mustang Micro and Boss Katana:GO. The Plug’s main difference is access to the TONEX ecosystem: you can load AI-captured models of real amps and pedals from ToneNET instead of being limited to built-in amp models. If you also record, a dedicated audio interface gives you mic inputs and more connections, while the Plug keeps things simple for guitar and bass.

Key Features

• Plugs directly into your guitar or bass; 1/4″ swivel jack
• AI Machine Modeling Tone Models, the same engine as TONEX Pedal and TONEX ONE
• 30 onboard presets, switchable without a phone
• Noise gate, compressor, EQ, 5 reverbs, 2 delays and 5 modulation effects
• Built-in tuner
• Bluetooth control with the free TONEX Control app, plus audio streaming for jamming along
• USB-C audio interface for recording to a computer or mobile device
• Rechargeable battery, charged via USB-C
• 1/8″ stereo headphone output
• Includes TONEX SE and AmpliTube 5 SE software

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the TONEX Plug work with bass guitar?

Yes. IK designed the TONEX Plug as a headphone amp for both guitar and bass, and you can load bass Tone Models from ToneNET.

Do I need a phone to use it?

No. You can switch between the 30 stored presets and adjust volume with the buttons on the device. The app is only needed to load new Tone Models or edit settings.

Can I play along with music?

Yes. Stream audio from your phone over Bluetooth, or connect via USB-C to a computer, and you will hear the music and your instrument together in your headphones.

Can I record with the TONEX Plug?

Yes. Over USB-C it works as an audio interface, so you can record your processed guitar or bass into a DAW on a computer or a recording app on a mobile device.

Will it fit my guitar?

The swivelling 1/4″ jack suits most guitars and basses. Instruments with recessed or awkwardly placed output jacks may need a short instrument cable or right-angle adapter.

Is a carry pouch included?

The standard package includes the TONEX Plug, a USB-C cable and software. IK sells a carry pouch separately or as part of a bundle.