NUX MG-50Li Ships April 20 With Three-DSP Modeling, DeepImage Profiling, and 5-Hour Battery

NUX has confirmed April 20 as the ship date for the MG-50Li at $499. This is the unit they showed at NAMM in January — three dedicated DSPs, physical amp modeling through the TS/AC-4K engine, built-in DeepImage profiling, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated for five hours of runtime.

The architecture is different from most units at this price. NUX split the processing across three DSPs: one for effects, one for amp modeling, and one for what they call split amp simulation — separate preamp and power amp stages modeled independently. Whether that separation produces audibly more realistic amp response is something reviewers will work out this week. On paper, it is more granular modeling architecture than anything else shipping under $500 right now.

The Profiling Story

The MG-50Li includes DeepImage profiling — NUX's in-house amp capture system. That puts it in the same category as the Kemper and Quad Cortex Mini in terms of raw capability: you can capture your own amps, borrowed gear, or studio pieces and carry them in the unit. At $499, that is a real value proposition if DeepImage captures hold up to blind testing.

One gap worth watching: NUX has not announced NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) file import support for the MG-50Li. Valeton just shipped the GP-150 and GP-180 with SnapTone NAM support built in from day one. If NUX does not add NAM compatibility via firmware, that is a meaningful hole given how deep the NAM community capture library has gotten.

Battery as Practical Feature

Five hours of runtime is not marketing filler. That covers a full rehearsal or a short venue set without hunting for a power strip. The battery is integrated — not a removable pack — and recharges in approximately five hours via USB-C.

Stereo XLR balanced outputs plus internal battery plus a full IR engine in one box is a setup that previously required a Kemper or a separate power bank solution. The MG-50Li consolidates that into a single unit at $499. The weight is 2.8 kg across a 393 x 210 x 72 mm footprint — heavier than the MG-30 but reasonable for what is inside.

I/O and Connectivity

• Stereo XLR balanced outputs
• Dual FX loops for external pedal integration
• Full MIDI in and out
• USB-C audio interface (24-bit, 48kHz)
• Color LCD display
• 14 simultaneous effects
• 28 physical-model amp platforms

The dual FX loops are worth flagging specifically. At this price most units give you one. Two loops means you can keep dirt pedals in one path and time-based effects in another without rewiring at the gig.

What to Watch For at Launch

Three things to look for in first-week reviews: how the TS/AC-4K amp models compare to the MG-30 (the baseline most NUX users will care about), how DeepImage captures hold up against Kemper profiles on the same source amp, and whether the five-hour battery estimate holds under high-DSP-load patches.

Sweetwater has pre-orders open now. The MG-50Li ships in dark blue and white on April 20.

Dig Deeper on Fader & Knob

• We covered Valeton's GP-150 and GP-180 yesterday — the direct sub-$200 competition with NAM support built in.
• The mid-range modeler comparison guide covers how the MG-30 stacks up against Mooer and Valeton in the current price tier.
• Want to understand the difference between profiling and modeling? Our amp profiling vs. modeling explainer breaks down the practical implications for live use.
• Browse our NUX tone recipes for preset frameworks built on the MG series.