Rolls MX28 Mini-Mix VI

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $120.00
Sale Price: $73.45
Today's Bonus: 39% Off

• 3 - Stereo 1/4 Stereo Inputs
• True stereo 1/4 outputs, unbalanced
• Two Headphone Outs (1/4 and 3.5mm)
• Pan control for each channelSpecifications
• Input Impedance - 10K Ohms

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very good build quality, I even bought a second to use for headphone mixes. Low noise, has mono inputs in a stereo config, so it's very flexible

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The first MX28 I received had a high-pitched hum/buzz/whine noise in the headphone amp which was audible at normal listening levels, and awful if the headphone amp was cranked. The noise got louder if I touched my finger to the metal chassis. It was present whether or not anything was connected to the MX28's inputs and outputs. I tried another outlet. No change. I wrote to Rolls via their web contact form and asked if this was normal, but did not receive a reply.

I tried another pair of headphones, but the noise was still there. The master output was clean, and sounded fine through an external HeadRoom AirHead headphone amp. Oddly enough, the noise also went away if I drove the AirHead's input the MX28's headphone output.

Still, using an external headphone amp defeated half of my purposes for getting the MX28, so I ordered a replacement to see if I just got a bad mixer or power supply. The replacement had a similar noise, but it was higher pitched, a little quieter, and had a slightly different character to it. I tried the power supply from the first mixer with the replacement MX28 and now the replacement mixer sounded like the first one did. I tried the replacement power supply with both mixers and they both sounded the same with the same power supply.

My conclusion is that the headphone amp design is susceptible to noise from the power supply, and that the power supplies vary in their level and character of noise. I suspect this would sound great running off of batteries, but the supplied wall wart power isn't clean enough. I found that connecting sources to the inputs and outputs, while using the replacement power supply, lowered the noise a little more to where it's not too bad at normal headphone levels, although it's still prominent if I turn the headphone amp up above the center position.

I'm giving it 2 stars, because the mixer section and master output work well and don't have the whining noise, but beware if you want to use the headphone amp.

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I have a number of Rolls products, and they're all solid. This one is no exception--the build is solid and compact and it does its job. For a product like this I would love to see an on/off switch rather than being forced to unplug it to turn it off, but otherwise a good solid product.

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I have this mixer fully connected: stereo sound comes in from three computers, and goes out to speakers and headphones. There's no noticeable loss in sound quality. The level adjustments work really well. Cheap analog stereo mixers (and even some good stereo mixers) will have problems keeping the two channels balanced as the levels are adjusted; well-matched, dual-gang potentiometers just aren't cheap. But this mixer maintains remarkably consistent balance as the overall levels are adjusted, without any audible crosstalk. Overall, it's a niche product, but if you need a combination stereo mixer and headphone amp, this a great choice.

No complaints; but I've already outgrown it! The only thing I would want is a power switch so I could shut it off when not using it.