I have a Phonic mixer which I use as a live drum sub-mixer. I bought it because it was very low cost and I do many outdoor festivals (rain, dust and questionable AC sources) - I figured if I fried the Phonic it was not much cash down the toilet - but the thing has held up to almost going on three years of abuse.
I think the Phonic is fine as a live mixer. It is reasonable quiet (although the pre's are a little "harsh sounding"). While I could see some people using a Phonic in a home studio I would not recommend Phonic for a home studio (mainly because of the pres).
Phonic probably compares to Behringer (without Behringer's marketing push) - in fact Phonic appears to be a "reverse engineered Behringer. I beleieve Phonic is made in Korea.
Kind off ironic - Behringer copies Mackie - and Phonic copies Behringer.
