MXR M 222 Talkbox

As a previous owner of a Heil Talkbox, I was curious to see if the MXR Talk Box stood up to its solid although more complicate counterpart (the Heil model requires an external amplifier + a cabinet if you want to bypass the effect + at least 1 speaker cable). The answer is: yes! The case is sturdy and compact, the sound is brilliant and cutting, the controls are easy to manipulate. Moreover: it significantly reduces the encumbrance and weight of my live equipment.
I tried it first with a guitar and then with a simple sawtooth synth sound on a microKorg to emulate Roger Troutman's sound and the results were fully satisfactory.
At first I was disappointed that the plastic tube was different than the Heil's; in particular, the diameter of the MXR's tube is smaller. This, however, proved to be a pro as it makes easier to pronounce consonants intelligibly.