Teenage Engineering PO-28From real comments

Name: Teenage Engineering PO-28
Rating: 2.7 (7 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 7 mentions across 7 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment43%

PROS 43%

CONS 57%

Rank based on 7 mentions across 7 aspects

View the verdict as

What users love

Compact yet powerful sound0 mentions

Widely praised

Audio I/O flexibility0 mentions

Widely praised

Desirable alongside other Pocket Operators0 mentions

Widely praised

What users complain about

Unclear per-sound volume control0 mentions

Generally negative

Limited pitch range questioned0 mentions

Generally negative

Unclear chaining with other gear0 mentions

Generally negative

Uncertain beginner accessibility0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice

1Mid

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz

Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz

Articulate sound

Great with extended-range guitars

Strong overall tone quality

Price concerns

2Premium

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

Musical analog tone

Long-term reliability and board loyalty

Simple, intuitive controls

High price point

Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable

Distortion at high settings

3Premium

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Touch-sensitive dynamics

Long-term favorite / durability of appeal

Sweet, low-gain tone quality

High price versus clones

Deluxe loses some original character

Limited mid control

Best value

4Mid

MXR Super Badass Distortion

Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged

MXR Super Badass Distortion

Exceptional versatility

Natural, amp-like tone

Powerful 3-band EQ

Demo videos undersell the pedal

Noticeable noise floor

Volume drop when engaged

5Premium

Eventide Orville

Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you

Eventide Orville

Exceptional reverb quality

High-quality warm pitch shifting

Strong aspirational appeal

High price

Cheaper alternatives may suffice

Effect can feel like it plays for you

6Premium

Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb

Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like tone

Excellent low-to-mid gain drive

Underrated favorite among owners

High price point

Limited gain-staging flexibility

No built-in reverb

7Premium

Roland TR-808

Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware

Roland TR-808

Iconic, powerful kick drum

Warmer, more alive analog character

Cultural and historical influence

Extremely high collector price

Analog noise and static requiring EQ

Reliability concerns of aging hardware

8Premium

Moog Subsequent 37

Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine

Moog Subsequent 37

Inspiring and addictive to play

Warm, fat analog tone

Strong DAW/VST editor integration

High price for what it offers

Limited versatility outside bass range

Needs effects/partner gear to shine

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style tone

Convincing demo influenced purchase

Excellent clean boost

Not suited for metal tones

10Mid

Wampler Paisley Drive

Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions

Wampler Paisley Drive

Transparent tone

Versatile across genres

Works well across many guitar types

Two-channel routing complexity

Dry signal bleed-through

Inconsistent demo impressions

You are here

Teenage Engineering PO-28

Audio I/O flexibilityCompact yet powerful soundDesirable alongside other Pocket OperatorsLimited pitch range questionedUncertain beginner accessibilityUnclear chaining with other gear

Teenage Engineering PO-28

Audio I/O flexibility

Compact yet powerful sound

Desirable alongside other Pocket Operators

Limited pitch range questioned

Uncertain beginner accessibility

Unclear chaining with other gear

Versatile
1. MXR Super Badass Distortionarrow_upward15
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward6
3. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward4
Expensive
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_downward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_downward3
3. Eventide Orvillearrow_downward4
Dynamic response
1. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward8
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward2
Build quality
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_upward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_upward1

Overall Impression

The PO-28 Robot is part of Teenage Engineering's tiny Pocket Operator lineup, drawing interest from people comparing it against siblings like the PO-20 Arcade and PO-24 Office. Viewers weigh it alongside gear like the Pocket Sub, praising the surprising power packed into such a small device. Some prospective buyers are deciding between multiple units, ordering the PO-20 first while still considering the PO-28. Questions focus on practical use: whether individual sounds in a pattern can be volume-adjusted or pitched lower, and whether it can connect to other gear like a Microkorg or an RME Babyface interface. The audio I/O also raises curiosity about routing external microphone input through the device.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

speedCompact yet powerful sound

1 mentions

Widely praised

A related Pocket Operator device (Pocket Sub) is described as surprisingly powerful sound from such a small unit, suggesting the lineup including the PO-28 punches above its tiny size.

@arcaneforce8880

Ive just been getting the pocket sub. Im amazed at how powful it sound from such a small device. Love recording loops into bloxs wave. The robot is next on my list. Keep up the good jakob.

smart_display

May 11, 2016

micAudio I/O flexibility

1 mentions

Widely praised

The device's audio I/O sparks interest in connecting an external microphone to process live sound input, pointing to appreciated routing flexibility.

@TizedesCsaba

Audio I/O means it is possible to connect external microphone and making something with the sound comes from the microphone?!

smart_display

April 6, 2021

shopping_cartDesirable alongside other Pocket Operators

1 mentions

Widely praised

Commenters are actively comparing and considering buying multiple Pocket Operator units, including debating the PO-28 versus the PO-20, showing strong purchase interest.

@MrFricoco

Sweet review and Tutorial! I was debating the PO-28 vs the PO-20... I already ordered a PO-20, but I may get this one now too!

smart_display

May 11, 2016

volume_downUnclear per-sound volume control

1 mentions

Generally negative

A user asks whether individual sounds in a recorded pattern can have their volume adjusted, noting pattern sounds seem too loud compared to a live instrument, implying this isn't obviously supported.

@sovietwave

Hello! Great review! Tell me, is it possible to change the volume of each individual sound when recording a pattern (the sounds of the pattern seem to me too loud compared to a live game instrument)? And is it possible to make the sounds of the pattern lower than A1? Thanks!

smart_display

February 14, 2022

tuneLimited pitch range questioned

1 mentions

Generally negative

A commenter asks if sounds can be pitched lower than A1, suggesting uncertainty about the device's low-end pitch range.

@sovietwave

smart_display

February 14, 2022

cableUnclear chaining with other gear

1 mentions

Generally negative

A user is unsure how to connect the device to a Microkorg and RME Babyface interface, or whether units can be chained together with or without a laptop, indicating connectivity is not self-evident.

@fazerfod

I really want to get a few of these but wondering how would I connect them to my Microkorg and Babyface RME audio interface? Is there a way to chain them together with or without a laptop? I am not interested in Korg Volca gear that is too expensive.

smart_display

August 5, 2017

help_outlineUncertain beginner accessibility

1 mentions

Generally negative

A commenter with no musical background questions whether the device is a good starting point, suggesting the learning curve isn't clearly communicated.

@mng604

If I know nothing about music, is it a good idea to buy one of these?

smart_display

January 22, 2016

Teenage Engineering PO-28chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

What users lovefavorite_border

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Versatile

Expensive

Dynamic response

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Teenage Engineering PO-28From real comments

What users love

What users complain about

Overall Impression