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I already have the SL1 box and wanted to know if there was any performance increase (technically) with the ttm57 vs 'the box?'
The 57 absolutely sounds better than the SL-1. If for no other reason, because using a 57 eliminates all the extra interconnections that are needed with the external box. Also the audio circuitry in the 57 seems to be of higher quality.
The one thing that will make a 57 sound "bad" is to run the input gains to the point where the channel meters are in the red, That causes the internal limiters to activate, making the sound get ugly-sounding (overcompressed).
As to the possibility of a 57 upgrade: the mixer came out in early 2006, and in that time there have been several "box" updates incorporating USB 2.0 and audio improvements. Also software features have outrun the 57 hardware.
If you don't absolutely need a new mixer right away, I would wait a couple months to see what happens at NAMM.
