TC Electronic VSS4 HD Native Review (vs VSS3 and Relab VSR S24)

TL;DR: The VSS4 HD Native is one of the best reverbs I have ever heard. Compared to the VSS3 Native, it’s wider, more spacious, and adds extra richness. Compared to the Relab VSR S24, they sound almost identical. For the material I tested, the VSS4 is my top choice.

TC Electronic has been making some of the best audio plugins in the industry, used not only in music production but also in the movie industry. Their System 6000 platform sits in mixing and mastering studios around the world. Recently they released native versions of several System 6000 plugins, including the VSS4 HD.

I’ve been using TC Electronic plugins for more than 10 years on their Powercore 6000 platform. Some of my favorites include the MD3 bundle, the CL1B compressor, the VSS3 reverb, and the Dynamic EQ. So when the VSS4 HD Native became available, I had to test it thoroughly.

What Is the VSS4 HD Native?

The VSS4 HD Native is a true stereo high-definition reverb based on the System 6000. TC Electronic describes it as the most transparent reverb ever made for your DAW, capable of treating your material with source-related reflections from multiple angles.

The plugin has four main sections. The Main section lets you customize the master decay, high cut, and early reflection settings. The Setup section offers different locations like Vienna Hall, bathroom, jazz club, church, cinema, and concert hall, making it useful for both music mixing and post-production for film. The Color section lets you customize reverb decay on individual frequency bands, which is a powerful feature. And the Gloss section controls reverb type and modulation.

VSS4 HD Native vs VSS3 Native

For this comparison, I used a piano track from one of my own songs. On the VSS4, I selected the default VSS4 HD Large Hall setting and increased the master decay to 5 seconds with a high cut at 2.17 kHz. On the VSS3 Native, I selected the Large Hall Clear preset with the same 5-second decay and matched the high cut.

An important note: these reverbs are not supposed to sound similar. They are different tools with different algorithms. My intention was to test the VSS4 while using reverbs I already know as a reference point.

After the first listening pass, the VSS4 had a noticeably longer decay, which turned out to be caused by a longer high-mid decay setting. After matching more settings between the two, including the low cut, bus decay, and air crossovers, the VSS3 started sounding more like the VSS4.

However, the VSS4 remained wider, more spacious, and brought extra richness that I really liked. To my ears, it creates a bigger, more enveloping space around the material.

VSS4 HD Native vs Relab VSR S24

A couple of years ago, while having problems getting my Powercore to work in my setup, I searched for alternatives to the VSS3. After extensive testing, the Relab Development VSR S24 stood out. According to Relab, it’s an exhaustive stereo emulation of the TC Electronic VSS 6.1 algorithm from the System 6000. I bought it immediately and it became one of my favorite reverbs.

For this comparison, I matched the band decay and air crossovers as closely as possible between the VSS4 and VSR S24. I also cut the input gain by 3 dB on the VSS4 to balance the volume between the two plugins.

The result? After multiple takes, it was really hard for me to distinguish between the two reverbs. They almost sound the same. I say “almost” because I couldn’t match every setting perfectly since the plugins have different options. But overall, they sound like the same reverb to my ears.

Full VSS4 HD Native Review: Watch the Comparison

Here’s the complete video where I test all three reverbs on the same material:

My VSS4 HD Native Review: The Verdict

All three reverbs tested here are among the best reverbs I have ever used. The real question isn’t “which one is best?” but rather “which reverb is best for this particular song?”

For the piano track I tested, I love the VSS4 HD Native. It hugs the piano and makes it bigger, larger, and warmer. If I had to choose between the VSS3 Native and the VSS4 HD Native at this point in my audio production journey, I would go with the VSS4.

I will also continue using the Relab VSR S24 because it’s an excellent reverb in its own right. But the bottom line is clear: the VSS4 HD Native is one of the best reverbs I have ever heard.

If you’re curious about how the VSS3 Native compares to the original Powercore version, I covered that in my VSS3 Native review.

And if you want to understand how reverb fits into the mixing process, my reverb and delay guide covers the fundamentals.

Related Articles

TC Electronic VSS3 Native Review — How the VSS3 Native compares to the original Powercore version after 10+ years of use.

How to Use Reverb and Delay in Mixing — The complete guide to using reverb and delay effectively in your mixes.

How to Set Up a Home Studio — Why investing in a quality reverb is one of the smartest early purchases for your studio.

How to Mix Music for Beginners — The complete beginner’s guide to mixing from rough balance through final mix decisions.

Ready to Go Deeper?

Reverb selection is just one part of building great mixes. If you want to learn the complete mixing and mastering workflow, my Music Production Masterclass walks you through every stage from production through mixing and mastering with real sessions and hands-on guidance.

If you’re focused specifically on mastering, the Pro Audio Mastering Course covers the complete mastering system I use on every project.

About the Author

Adrian Milea is a Mixing & Mastering Engineer, Music Producer, and Educator with over 25 years of experience in the audio industry. With releases on Armada Music, features in DJ Mag, and a career built on delivering professional results across genres, Adrian teaches audio producers how to get pro-level sound without expensive gear or guesswork.

Until next time, Stay Cool and Make Great Music! -Adrian

Last updated: March 2026