It is compact - much smaller than the newer L12: 375 × 240 × 50 vs. 450 × 280 × 70
It also is lighter, and feels somewhat less sturdy.
It has several downsides, most “fixed” in the L12 I think: Horrible UI (but if you ignore the effects, it isn’t so bad), loses time/date if you don’t keep batteries in it, the combo jacks are stupidly tight for ¼" connectors and I’ve had two go bad (the XLR part still works fine), the fader logic has quirks (you have to move every fader a bit after you turn it on, or channels that look off will be on!).
That said - it has been a steady workhorse: I’ve had it for four years now, taken it to numerous gigs, dropped off a table, banged up, etc… and it still goes on. The 24bit multi-track recordings have been fine with no hitches at all.
