Feature:
It's all pretty simple...there are two seperate channels, 2 knobs per channel and a button in the middle to switch the processing on and off(so you can hear the difference between processed and un-processed). Nothing else came with the maximizer except the manual and these little sticky things to put on the bottom of the unit, which I suppose you could use if you don't plan on putting it in a rack. The box itself seems very sturdy and probably would handle well on the road, especially after it gets in a nice sturdy rack.
Quality:
Everything on the maximizer is in perfect condition and of high quality. Seems to be very sturdy and also manages to look very cool. It's probably not as tough as a stomp box, but this thing wasn't meant to be kicked at. Put it in a quality rack and leave it there, it should last forever.
Value:
I ended up paying 155.99 at a guitar center and I must say, it was well worth it. At 199.99 it's slightly expensive and on top of that, I would go the extra mile and buy some high quality 1/4" instrument cable to connect it, but all in all it's worth the money.
Desirability:
This product is a very good looking product, very sleek and compact. I wouldn't say it's something that everyone would want because it is something I picked up just to see if I could enhance my live sound. It is not a necessary piece of equipment, but from what people have told me so far, it definately livens up my guitar rig and gets rid of the muddiness that I used to have. So if you have any problems such as muddiness or any other issues with clarity, this product is something you should really look into.
Sound:
This is a cool piece of gear. I've only had it for 1 day now, but I can already see its potential. The knobs themselves are very easy to use and their effect on the actual sound is very obvious. The only thing you will have to do is dial in a sound you like and play with the knobs a bit. The only place that you might really have to work to get a nice sound is with the effects loop of your amp(if you are using it with an amp). I am running my maximizer in the effects loop of my mesa/boogie dual rectifier and the sound changes drastically depending on the amount of the processes signal i put into the mix. Other than that, getting this thing to improve your sound should be no problem at all.
Overall:
Since I just got this thing I'm not looking for a replacement and I'm still learning how to use it. I think the only thing I would ever want to replace it for is probably a newer version sonic maximizer. From what I can tell, BBE is hard at work creating better versions of this technology, so if they make anymore breakthroughs, I might want to check it out. I can't really compare the 482i to anything else because its the only thing like it on the market. I have yet to find another product that does exactly what this one does, or even, another product that claims to be able to do it. If this thing were stolen, I'd flip out because I just bought it and spent a lot of money on it. I think I would replace it eventually, but I don't think I'd rush right out and buy another because you can do without it. This product, although it is great...it is an "extra" and not essential to a guitar rig.
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