"I've tested loads of pedals for reviews, and it’s not often I come across one that feels this inspiring": Hotone NC-200 Verbera reverb pedal review

What is it?

Reverb. Whether used subtly for a touch of depth or loud and proud as an instrument in its own right, reverb is a key component in every guitarist’s rig. Now, with DSP in pedals being both more powerful and more accessible than ever before, we’ve seen a boom in do-it-all reverb units that bring studio-quality convolution and algorithmic verbs to the mainstream.

The latest stomp on the spacey verb scene is the new Hotone Verbera. The Hunan, China-based pedal makers have their sights firmly set on the reverb titans Strymon, Eventide, and Meris, with this hardware-based convolution reverb pedal that’s packed with instant IR loading, incredible tweakability, and a comparatively reasonable price tag.

Verbera comes loaded with 120 impulse responses, beautifully captured from iconic spaces like breathtaking symphony halls, ancient cathedrals, and even aerospace facilities. Plus, the ability to explore classic studio sounds modeled after vintage springs and plates.

At its core, Verbera boasts a unique dual-engine design: one side captures the nuanced reflections of real spaces through IR convolution, while the other offers XR, a sophisticated algorithmic reverb that creates surreal ambiance. Combining the two is where the fun lies in this pedal.

And that's not all! You can clone your favorite pedal sounds into custom IRs, storing up to 1024 within the unit for limitless inspiration. Of course, as you'd expect, there is a companion app, Neon Collector, that makes managing your IRs and presets a little easier.

With a dual-color LED ring for quick status checks, intuitive one-touch IR sorting, dual footswitch mode, and full MIDI and expression pedal support, Verbera offers a host of modern features, but is it all too good to be true? Let's find out.

Specs

• Launch price: $299/£249/€299
• Type: Reverb
• Controls: Decay, ATK/PRE-DL, Tone/Mod, Preset, Mix, IR, ALT/Menu, Clone, Active, Freeze
• Features: 120 impulse responses pre-installed (saves up to 1024 IRs and 200 presets)
• Connectivity: Input: 6.3 mm stereo jack, Outputs: 2 x 6.3 mm stereo jack, MIDI/EXP: 2 x 3.5 mm stereo mini jack
• Bypass: True Bypass
• Power: 9V, 1000 mA
• Dimensions: 84 x 126 x 63 mm
• Weight: 485g
• Options: N/A
• Contact: Hotone

Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★★★½

Okay, it may look like the MacGuffin in a $200,000,000 sci-fi epic, but I actually think this is a very good-looking pedal. It’s sleek, space-age, and beautifully balances form with practical functionality. The build quality feels solid, which is what I’ve come to expect from Hotone, and I’m pleased to say that the Verbera lives up to that reputation.

The unit itself is robust and well-constructed, with all the controls exhibiting a smooth and responsive feel. It’s genuinely satisfying to dial in your settings on this pedal. The twin footswitches are pleasantly light and soft underfoot, making them incredibly easy to operate.

As you would expect, the main input, stereo outputs, 9V power, and USB-C are conveniently located at the head of the pedal, a logical placement that I have no complaints about. However, the positioning of the MIDI Thru and MIDI IN/EXP jacks is rather perplexing. They’re situated at the bottom of the pedal, directly beneath the footswitches.

These cables being so close to my feet would make me very uncomfortable and nervous in a live situation - I'd be only one overzealous stomp away from MIDI disaster. Considering there’s ample space on the sides of the pedal, it makes me wonder why Hotone couldn’t have placed the MIDI jacks there. Perhaps the internal circuitry simply wouldn’t allow for that adjustment.

Of course, if you don’t plan to take advantage of the MIDI functionality, then it won’t be a problem at all.

Usability

Usability rating: ★★★★★

With a myriad of features and adjustable parameters, it's easy to assume that this pedal could be challenging to operate. However, that impression couldn't be further from the reality.

Right out of the box, the dual footswitches serve as selectors for the numerous presets nestled within the pedal. The right pedal swiftly cycles through the presets, while the left one allows you to go backwards through the list. If you press both switches simultaneously, the pedal transitions to a mode that more closely resembles a traditional stompbox.

In this configuration, the first switch is dedicated to toggling on and off the effect, while the second activates the Freeze function. Both modes have their advantages, but for the sake of this review, I found the second mode suited me more.

Now, as there are two different styles of reverb in one pedal, Hotone has gone out of its way to make sure it’s as easy to operate as possible, using color coding to make it super clear as to what reverb you are adjusting. When the pedal shines in an eye-catching amber hue, you’re in the realm of IR reverb; switch to blue, and you're exploring the algorithmic reverb options.

Positioned directly above the easy-to-read screen, you'll find an encoder dial for navigating through presets, a mix control to fine-tune the intensity of the effect, and an IR encoder that lets you scroll through the extensive range of impulse responses loaded within the unit. One standout feature of the IR encoder is its ability to allow you to reorder the IRs by simply pressing it down, which significantly streamlines the process of locating the perfect sound – trust me, with so many IRs to choose from, this was a welcome addition.

Further up, you'll find controls for Decay, Attack, and Tone – a pretty standard affair for any reverb pedal. However, these controls do change when you engage the Alt button, switching you over to the algorithmic side. In this mode, the top controls become Decay, Pre-Delay, and Modulation.

With so much going on inside this pedal, I genuinely felt like I was going to get a bit lost, but I never did. Each dial is clearly labeled, and the colored lights surrounding the knobs provided continuous feedback, ensuring that I was always aware of which settings I was tweaking.

It's pretty clear to me that Hotone has invested considerable effort in making it as user-friendly as possible. Simply put, this is a very well thought-out pedal.

Sounds

Sounds rating: ★★★★★

Massive. Like, absolutely massive. That’s the only way to describe this pedal when it’s really firing on all cylinders. The blend of realistic room sounds from the IRs and the wild, modulated tones of the algorithmic verbs is genuinely breathtaking when you dial it in just right.

Now, it’s super easy to go overboard and end up with a tone that can only be described as “shoegaze down a well,” but if you find that sweet spot of lush, long trails while keeping just enough attack to hear the initial note, you could easily lose yourself in this pedal. Trust me, I did!

I’m also a big fan of the Freeze feature. Just one press of the pedal, and your reverb trail is frozen in place, creating the perfect ambient bed for layering some lead parts on top. If I'm being a bit nitpicky, I’d say the vanilla spring settings aren't up to much and they come off a touch bright for my liking. However, that’s easily tamed using the tone control.

But honestly, if you’re looking at a unit like this, recreating a ‘60s Fender spring tank probably isn't at the top of your wishlist. It’s all about those vibrant, immersive verbs with trails that stretch on forever, and the Verbera has that in spades.

I've tested loads of pedals for reviews, and it’s not often I come across one that feels this inspiring.

Verdict

With so many features, patches, and cutting-edge functionality, it would have been easy for this pedal to feel overwhelming, leaving your head buried in the manual. But the exact opposite is true. This pedal is delightfully intuitive, with a layout that’s clear and user-friendly. It really is a breeze to use, even when you're in the heat of the moment at a band rehearsal.

And it’s got the tones, too. It’s not every day you come across a pedal boasting 100 presets, and incredibly, nearly all of them are immediately usable right out of the box. Sure, I’m not the biggest fan of the spring settings; they don’t quite measure up to the ethereal, spacey options that really steal the show. But even the springs aren’t a total miss – they just don’t hit the same high standard that the other settings do.

Now, there is one little hiccup worth mentioning: the downright bizarre placement of the MIDI jacks. Honestly, I can’t picture a live or studio situation where that location makes sense. In my humble opinion, they just seem too easy to knock loose. If I had my way, I’d love to see those jacks relocated in future versions. But hey, it’s a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things. What we have here is an otherwise fantastic reverb pedal.

Guitar World verdict: Simple to use, built to last, and with tones that would make pedals twice this price jealous, there’s really not a lot to dislike about this pedal. Okay, I’m not really a fan of the locations of the MIDI in and outs, but it’s a small issue in an otherwise flawless pedal.

Also try

Strymon BigSky MX $679/£699
With a screen and usability improvement, one of the all-time great reverb units just got even better. The BigSky has been an industry standard pedal for years, and for good reason.

Boss RV-200 $269/£259
Taking the best of the RV-500 and adding an exciting new algorithm, the RV-200 is a space-conscious stereo-verb monster.

Read more: Boss RV-200 Reverb review

Keeley Parallax Spatial Generator $219/£229

Straight up shoegaze in a box, the Parallax Spatial Generator combines the Caverns’ delay functionality with the '80s over-the-top verb for a stunning pedal that’s addictive to play.

Hands-on videos

Juliana Wilson

I Didn't Expect This From A Pedal! 🤯🎸 | HOTONE VERBERA - YouTube

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HotoneAudio

Hotone Verbera - Presets Preview - YouTube

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