Feature:
The best thing about this unit is its versatility. For the money, you'll be hard pressed to find a single piece of gear that offers this much potential. The trade off is that it does a lot, but doesn't do everything really, really well. Swiss army knives are useful but sometimes you need a real screwdriver, if you know what I mean. The back panel is worth noting as it includes plenty of I/O options at key points along the signal path.
Quality:
This is where it suffers the most. The price is directly related to the quality of components used, so if you want something that can take some abuse, this isn't it. I haven't had it long enough to say how reliable it is, but so far so good. In a studio setting I would expect it to last a reasonable amount of time. Using it for gigs, I wouldn't give it a year.
Value:
This unit is pretty much in a class by itself. I haven't found anything for the price that can do as much. Again, how well it does any particular funcion is arguable, but if you're looking for a one-stop shop for preamps, there's nothing else like it unless you're going to take out a loan.
Desirability:
Very impressive looking. The front panel is organized logically and asthetically pleasing as well.
Sound:
Out of the box, the presets offer a wide variety and combinations of modeling and effects. Most of them are okay, but every one I've tried has required some adjustment to suit my taste. That may have as much to do with my amp and cabinet as it does my ears. Some of the effects sound a little too "digital". Flanging and chorus in particular lack the subtle warmth that can be found in higher quality single effect units. The amp and cabinet modeling is pretty well done, but still requires some tweaking to get the sound I'm looking for.
Ease of Use:
Fairly easy to navigate the presets, but editing is a bit of a chore. Time spent with the manual will be that much less head scratching when you're trying to change something. With the versatile I/O choices, integrating it into a rig or studio setting is a breeze.
Overall:
I thought I might use this for gigs, but it's not really suited for live use without being overly careful. Given its price, if it breaks, it's trash.
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