Today I suggest you get acquainted with the MIXX mod from Aspire and SunBox, the SBS format that has been gaining popularity lately.

Thanks to the SigaretNet store for providing the device for testing

Before we move directly to the subject of today’s review, I want to make a small digression and briefly talk about an interesting idea that the guys from Aspire decided to implement. This manufacturer is one of the oldest on the vaping market, having given us a huge number of innovative solutions, many of which, as usual, were picked up by other companies. vape wellington But this was quite a long time ago, back in the days of Antlantis, Nautilus tanks and BVC evaporators (yes, this means not only the Belarus Vaping Community website and community, which have existed since 2015, but also the Bottom Vertical Coil type of replaceable heads), and recently the manufacturer has not been able to stand out with anything other than the popular Minican/Brusko Minican Pod system. And, apparently, having decided that it was not far to Joyetech oblivion, they came up with an interesting thing: to implement solutions of “widely known in narrow circles” vape brands under the Prestige brand at their own facilities, ensuring both excellent quality and not such a high cost as in the individual production of small companies. As a result, by today there have already been quite a few “victims” of such collaboration: the Germans Smoker Store (probably everyone remembers the unforgettable Taifuns), the Greeks Atmizoo and the Italians NoName and SunBox. And so, it was in collaboration between Aspire and SunBox that the MIXX SBS Box Mod was developed.

In accordance with the “prestigious” positioning of the device, it is sold in the corresponding packaging: a black box with gold embossing Prestige | Aspire Engineering on the lid in a black drain, decorated with gold and silver inscriptions. On the front side there is an image of the device (though not in the same color as what is inside), a round sticker with the signed design (I had a Toffee in my hands) and the name MIXX embossed in silver with the signature Designed by Sunbox. On the back there is a list of the kit contents, a warning about restrictions on sale and use by pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with heart disease, etc., and also the manufacturer’s details.

On the top of the drain there is a sticker with a golden hologram (when changing the angle of view, two “A”s move in a square) and a scratch-off layer, under which the numbers and QR code are hidden. You can either scan the QR with your phone, or manually enter the numbers on a special page of the Aspire website at the very bottom in the field that is labeled New verification system.

Under the lid, you’ll find a black envelope with another “P” and standard waste paper inside, and under it, in a gold frame (wow!), rests the device itself. Under the cardboard with the inscription Designed by SunBox, there are a couple more parts.

Aspire MIXX 60W Box Mod Package

Aspire MIXX Box Mod

Adapter for 18350 Battery

Two Screws for 18350 Adapter

User Manual

In the box, in addition to the manual in English and French and the device itself, there was a short adapter tube for using an 18350 battery, which can be installed instead of the one already installed in the device for 18650, as well as two short screws for its fastening in a separate bag.

Appearance and design of the Aspire MIXX 60W Box Mod

What is SBS? It’s very simple: this is a format that has recently gained popularity (and at the same time received a new designation Side-by-side Mod), long and well known to many experienced vapers under the name “stick”. That is, a box mod in which the connector is located significantly below the battery, due to which the atomizer (if it is of normal height, and not the size of a “Brunhilde”) may practically not protrude beyond the dimensions of the entire setup. Of course, with the exception of the drip tip, because touching the body of the mod with your lips, especially in the realities of a global pandemic, is clearly an unwise activity. This is exactly the device that the MIXX battery unit is, created by the joint efforts of the Italian developer SunBox (on our site you can even find a couple of reviews of clones of his creations: Sunbox E8 Moonraker and Sunbox / RSS Mods Stealth, both “copied” by the Chinese SXK) and the Chinese manufacturer Aspire.

Visually, the device consists of three parts: a case, a pipe with three transverse grooves and an upper “cap” that crowns the entire mod. The case parts, which Aspire especially notes, are completely CNC machined from a solid piece, and the process takes 30 minutes (where is Greenpeace looking?!). In the front, in a hollow, there is Fire, on the right side – control buttons, on the left – the name of the device MIXX in the form of a deep milling (be prepared for it to get clogged with dirt). Despite the presence of roundings, the language does not turn to call the device “ergonomic”, it still has enough sharp edges and corners, which can sometimes cause some discomfort when used. But it still does not cause any problems in the hand, it is just slightly angular.

In terms of the number and variety of colors, the Aspire MIXX can put many other devices to shame (except perhaps the Mi-Pod, which has an unimaginable number of all sorts of options): from classic black/white/gray, including colorful (Colored Series), translucent (Frosted Series) and up to cases made of different types of stabilized wood (Stabilize Wood Series). But even this was not enough for Aspire and SunBox, since in addition to the mod itself, you can buy a variety of tubes (Tube MIXX Sleeves), and even find a special adapter for the 21700 format (MIXX 21700 Extension Kit)! You can admire all the wealth of offers on the device’s promo page, there is definitely something to look at.

Specifications of the Aspire MIXX 60W Box Mod kit

Dimensions:

for 18650 battery: 83 mm * 48 mm * 24 mm

for 18350 battery: 53 mm * 48 mm * 24 mm

Weight: 142 g

with 18650 battery: 188 g

Materials: aluminum and stainless steel (there are options with plastic and wood)

Atomizers: up to ∅24 mm

Battery operation: 18650/18350 (adapter included), 21700 (adapter purchased separately).

Output power: 1 – 60 W

Resistance support: 0.1 – 3.5 Ohm

Operating modes: variable wattage, variable voltage, bypass

Display: OLED 0.91″

Control board: ASP Chip

Protection types:

10-second cutoff

short circuit

reverse polarity

heavy discharge

deep discharge

overheating

In this form, the Aspire MIXX mod turns into a tiny square baby with a height of 53 mm (not counting the cover, which protrudes by another 3 mm).

Here you can try to screw atomizers onto the box that are larger than 24 mm. However, there is little point in such a “trick”, since the 18350 battery is not suitable for anything except MTL winding.

Screen and control of the Aspire MIXX 60W Box Mod

The device uses a three-button control system: Fire in the front and two adjustment buttons, “-” on the left and “+” on the right. The buttons are metal, pleasant, pressed with a clear stroke and a pleasant click, but when shaking they ring a little and rattle when touched.

The display has a diagonal of only 0.91″, and is designed like old-school DNA boards from Evolv. But, unfortunately, there is only some kind of its own microcircuit from Aspire called ASP. Moreover, without any special frills, which can upset at least fans of temperature control.

Aspire MIXX 60W Box Mod screen when pressing Fire

The device is turned on and off by a standard five-fold press, the display simultaneously displays the set value of power (or voltage), winding resistance, supplied voltage (or power), and during operation the output current is calculated (I wonder how to see it during vaping?). The battery charge is displayed as a graphic icon.

Colors: Jet Black, Quick Sliver, Tuxedo, Orchid, Amethyst, Sapphire Blue, Toffee, Clear Frosted, Yellow Frosted, Smoke Frosted, stabilized wood in many options.

I have already told you about the key feature of all SBS mods, which include the Aspire MIXX – this is a low-lying connector. In our device, the negative pad has a diameter of 22 mm, but the free space easily allows you to install Atoms up to 24 mm here, but anything larger simply will not fit. The positive pin turned out to be gold-plated and spring-loaded. It is even surprising that it is not adjustable here, as in the old devices of SunBox themselves. On the lower plane there is a screen from the times of old boards, as well as engravings with standard pictograms and the signature Designed by SunBox. The screen is prudently recessed 2 mm into the case and covered with protective glass, so if you do not decide to crack nuts, hammer nails or bend reinforcement with your device, nothing will threaten the display. Although, of course, somewhere on the side it would be much more appropriate, IMHO. And, yes, there is no charging connector, so the mod is intended exclusively for owners of separate chargers. At the very top is the battery compartment cover, which is an old-school plug with large holes that is screwed into the pipe along the thread. Despite the large thread pitch, to get to the can, you need to make three full turns. Not the most convenient solution, especially if you need to remove or quickly replace the battery, but who said that such a device should have any conveniences? Suffer and enjoy what you have. However, it itself has a protrusion for your fingers, and there is even a slot for a coin in it if you overdo it with screwing. The positive pin inside the compartment is not spring-loaded (Aspire notes this as a positive side, like, less sagging), so try not to overdo it, you can easily press the contacts of the battery.

One of the “goodies” available to the buyer right out of the box is the ability to turn the MIXX into a box mod for an 18350 battery, and it is noticeably more compact than in its original form.

For this operation, you will need a 2 mm Allen key (naturally, they “forgot” to include it in the kit): unscrew the two upper screws, remove the “cap” from the battery compartment, and then unscrew the pipe under the battery.

The second pipe, which can be found in the box, is put in place of the first. And everything is assembled in the reverse order: put on the cap, tighten the two screws (the short ones, from the bag) and, voila, everything is ready.

Impressions and conclusions

Perhaps, such a device will please an old school lover who is chasing an SBS mod and looking for an inexpensive and beautiful example for his collection. It is quite inexpensive compared to many solutions from famous manufacturers, but compared to Chinese competitors it is far from cheap. What is good about the Aspire MIXX, except for the name of the Italian manufacturer SunBox in the title? Perhaps the most important thing is a pleasant and attractive appearance, also available in a large number of color options.

But how can such a wonderful device in all respects as a stick (or SBS, if you understand it better) be bad? And there are actually a huge number of controversial points here. Firstly, you must understand that your atomizer can be screwed onto the connector so that the airflow hole will look exactly at the wall of the mod. But this is not even the worst thing. For example, in my Brunhilde MTL RTA, the air intake is turned where it should be, exactly in the opposite direction, but can you imagine how many times I accidentally closed the airflow with my finger? But the fact that the filling hole turned out to be turned exactly into the wall requires that I unscrew the atomizer every time to refill the tank. Also not a pleasure. It’s good that in addition to the “Bruny” I have enough other tanks, I can choose something, but not every vaper has such a choice. Secondly, if your atomizer does not “reach” the top edge of the mod, then you will have to look for a high drip tip or even a gland scratcher. And it’s good if you like cold steam and strong TH, but what if not? Or is there simply no corresponding drip tip?

Thirdly, the atomizer here must be selected exactly of the diameter for which the mod is designed, here it is 24 mm, and it is best to put the tank here exactly the same, no more (it will not fit), no less (it will look even uglier than the radio). Fortunately, now the main diameter even for cigarette tanks has become exactly the same 24 mm, but what if you do not have it? Well, okay, 22 mm looks quite good on MIXX, I am rather nitpicking here (see the photo below from Kayfun [lite] 2019).

Fourthly, this is of course a non-standard location of Fire – not at all under the index finger, as many are used to. Some manufacturers put the button on the side, some, like in MIXX, in front, but already in the area of ​​​​the ring finger. No, in a few years I learned to press the mech mod button with my little finger, screw it, but the ring finger is already completely inconvenient, I had to get used to the middle one. Or even take the mod by the bottom, which is also “so-so”. In general, I quickly remembered why I refused to use the Smoant Knight V2 80, although in some moments it was more convenient than this device. The Aspire MIXX itself also has controversial decisions that can be attributed to the shortcomings of a specific design. Here, first of all, they include the lack of a charging connector, and secondly, the use of a cover with a thread. And if you are the owner of a separate charger and you do not need to recharge the only battery in the middle of the day, then you will have to unscrew the cover every time for sure.

But no matter how many disadvantages I found in the device, none of them will stop a person who has “set his eyes” on this SBS mod from buying it. In fact, there are no categorical jambs in it, and everything listed above is the “nuances” of the format itself.