Best Accessory for a Nano Cortex (HX Stomp or ToneX) | Radial Highline Stereo DI Box

Hey guys! Back for another video, today we put two popular stereo DI boxes head-to-head: the new Radial Highline Stereo DI and the Radial PRO D2. Using the Neural DSP Nano Cortex, we explore how each DI box handles tone clarity, headroom, noise floor, and overall signal integrity.

🎛️ About the Radial Highline Stereo DI:

The Radial Highline is a premium active stereo direct box designed for professional touring, studio, and high-end playback applications. Built with audiophile-grade components and a rugged design, the Highline delivers exceptional detail, wide frequency response, and ultra-low noise, making it ideal for:

Guitar modelers that demand a 1:1 level conversion from 1/4 inch to XLR
Great for studio pros capturing clean, transparent DI recordings
Guitarists using amp modelers like the Nano Cortex, Axe-Fx, ToneX, Helix, HX Stomp, Kemper or your favorite Modeler.
Key Features:
✔️ High-headroom stereo active design
✔️ Jensen transformer-balanced outputs
✔️ Premium components for maximum signal integrity
✔️ Ground lift, pad, and polarity switches
✔️ Road-ready, tour-tough build quality

🎚️ What About the Radial PRO D2?
The Radial PRO D2 is a trusted industry standard — passive, simple, and durable. While it’s more budget-friendly and great for general use, it’s not designed with the same level of clarity and headroom as the Highline.

🔌 Test Setup
We run both DI boxes through the Neural DSP Nano Cortex, comparing stereo amp modeling tones and clean DI signals to evaluate how each box handles complex stereo signals and dynamic range.

📈 Who Wins?
Watch the video to hear the difference and decide which DI box is right for your setup.

👇 Let us know in the comments which DI box you prefer, or if you have a favorite DI you think we should test next!

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Time stamps
0:00 - Intro
2:13 - Comparison
4:07 - Thoughts
4:50 - Extra uses
6:01 - outro jam

#nanocortex #radialhighline #radialDIbox #modeler #neuraldsp