OK....this is really a mixer...a compact studio mixer used in the music and broadcast industry. All my music professional friends have one at home to use
with the Macintosh and Midi gear...and they all say it's really very "clean".
That's what a studio engineer said about the McIntosh MC-30 he used in a tv
studio monitor system.....That was a damn good amp...so I had to try the Mackie!
Padding down your tuner to fade up your cd player is unique to audiophile life
and the first difference you experience here....but is this thing dynamic!...
It will blow your power amp (or headphones) right into the next century...and
it is clean.....by the way VLZ..means...Very Low Impedance..circuitry...which
is the method for optimizing bipolar electronics for low noise.......bipolar
opamps...in this case....it is balanced input to out...has 4 mic inputs...
(oh well) and 4 line level balanced or unbalanced line level ins. aaannnd
a very cool LED (and accurate) level display...all for under $400......
This is CONTROL..at it's best.....and it's clean........

I've been in the PA business for about 4 years now and so far ANYTHING I've seen from mackie, especialy the VLZ series of mixers is DA BOMB!

I had this in my system for 1 week. I agree - this mixer is clean and an absolutebargain for the price. I think that it constricts soundstage depth, but it is certainly
dynamic and clean. It's a great starter preamp.