The price point is a little high for some, but you get what you pay for, especially if you want an introductory sound mixer. It has all the useful features you’d need to mix your audio together for monitoring or output, and requires hardly any tuning once you set it up right.

Since it is a 5-Channel mixer, you basically only can plug in 3 devices total (and can cheat in 2 audio devices with the Tape setting with no sound control). Device one is set up to be your Mic (XLR) / Line in (1/4 or 6.35mm), Device 2 (2/3) is Left Mono (1/4 or 6.35mm) & Right Mono (1/4 or 6.35mm), and Device 3 (4/5) which are the same as Device 2.

You have your Main Out which would mix the 3 Device above to a L and R Mono to (1/4 or 6.35mm), Then you have Phones (Headphones) which you can use to Monitor in Stereo with a (1/4 or 6.35mm).

Of course there’s also the Tape Setting which you can mix out or listen too with White and Red RCA and you can slot in 2 tape devices, but the mixer has no control over the audio volume or levels, and you can press a button to output to Phones or Main Out.

The drawback to this devicve is that it controls both L and R audio at the same time on the device you slot into, if your trying to control the audio levels seperately you’d have to slot into a different device slot, but after that everything works perfectly out of the box, once you adjust the settings to how you like it.

This compact mixer doesn’t have a power switch, but for anyone thinking about unplugging it when not in use, you really don’t have too, the device doesn’t get too warm, and unplugging a device like this that doesn’t have a power switch can actually lead to damage over time if you keep power cycling it that way.

I bought this for streaming to mix down my Computer Audio and my TV audio into one device for my headphones and its worked like a charm. If you’re looking to do the same you’ll have to buy a few adapters and extra cables, but its well worth it.

This was the third mixer I tried and a lot of the cheaper mixers I found on Amazon had weird audio hum/distortions that you couldn’t remove even by adjusting the settings. This device worked out of the box with no distortions or audio interfearence.

I highly recommend this device if you’re looking for an easy to set up entry mixer.

As for the chips inside, it seems to be pretty good. Mackie mixers are known for being of pretty good sound quality, and at these prices you don’t sweat the issue of servicing, since they are inexpensive enough to replace easily. The mic pre’s are pretty good for basic work.

Personally, I use it for remote mixing without FX, and to feed my Bi-amped monitors, it is well up to both tasks. The bottom line: the simpler your needs, the better it is. Keep it basic and it works pretty well. At this price it is a good value.