I bought this on the reccommendation of reviews on line, here and elsewhere. And the reviews were right, this little box does everything I need.
I was looking for a DI that would provide: a tuner, E.Q., feedback suppressor, and a pre-amp. I play a variety of acoustic instruments and needed
a way to change instruments onstage without the noise associated with unplugging a guitar cable from a DI. The Fishman automatically mutes the signal when
the tuner is engaged, cool! Now I can change from my guitar to mandolin or dobro without having to go to the PA to mute the channel. I wanted something that had
all these abilities in one unit, having too many little boxes on-stage is a drag during and after the performance.
Now for the images the unit provides. I don’t have any of the guitars imaged, my stage acoustic is a strange cheap Korean guitar that I hotrodded,(tired of dragging expensive guitars to bars), so I just choose the image of the “Concert Guitar” and found a mic image that sounded the best. They all sounded pretty much the same, which all are actually very usable sounds. I knew and expected I wasn’t going to make my guitar sound like a vintage Martin, or my cheap but very cool(vintage) Harmony
electric mando sound like a Gibson, but my instruments sounded great and were pre-amped just right, all with just one box!!!
CUSTOMER support, I had a problem with the first unit the vendor sent, it quit working a week after I bought it, just before a gig I was planning and needed it for.
I went to the Fishman website and wrote a letter describing my problem and need (the gig was in one week), they understood my panic, sent me a new unit without requiring me to send the old one in first (Trust and belief in customers is a new experience for me), THIS was WAY cool and the new one came a day before the gig.
In using the Aura Spectrum on the gig, I was pleased to find the feedback suppressor worked miracles, the sound man had me way loud in the monitor, with a loud low frequency making everyone nervous, I just stepped on the feedback button, and POOF!, it was gone. I could tune up various instruments and get levels very easily, all without leaving my chair (I have to sit down to play dobro). This was a new day for me, life was good, I am a happy customer!!

The Aura is simply and excellent idea built excellently. Very practical features such as tuning, feedback elimination, dual outs (1 unbalanced and 1 XLR), volume, compressor. The part I like the best are the variety of sounds. They are all really good and all really different. I always struggle trying to change and capture a good sound and this allows me to do that by simply turning one knob or moving one switch.

Let me put it this way, I have refused to buy Taylor guitars with the Expression System because of the “boxy” sound that they have (which, I have deduced comes from the magnetic pickup under the fretboard on the neck). I buy my Taylors without pickups and put in the Fishman Matrix Infinity or buy the early 90’s or 2000 models with the Fishman piezo. The only way this is a tenable solution is because the Aura system is so good. It does 4 things I really like:

1) Compression – This raises the volume for lead parts on acoustic sets and keeps the dynamics in control when strumming. This has really helped our untrained sound people out and made it easier to fit into the mix with a band.

2) EQ – The Global EQ has been great when a particular model emulation lacks low end or high end sparkle. If you need fullness or some cut it really helps.

3) Tuner – Excellent on board tuner lets me get rid of the TU-2

4) Model Emulation – Sounds good on the guitars, and, you can dial in more pickup sound if you want or more of the model. I was skeptical about a digital product, but after I got over my snobbery the tone won me over.

The bottom line is that with a little bit of tweaking this thing sounds better than the Expression System by far. Of course this is a matter of taste, but after 12 years of playing professionally this is the best all in one tool I have used. I bought another one for my lead guitarist when we do an acoustic set. I highly recommend this product and think it is worth your consideration. NOTE: you need to read the manual and spend some time working through the options, good tone takes work!

By the way, the guy who gave it 3 stars should have tried the Aura 16 for 0. The higher price on the Spectrum DI is for the Compression, EQ, Feedback Eliminator, and Tuner…worth 0 if you consider what other outboard gear it is replacing. Is it me or is it stupid to knock a product for its price and features when they sell the solution you are asking for one click away?