I can crank up the gain quite a bit using DI for my guitars with this interface and barely get any floor noise.
Weirdly the headphone output does give you a hiss noise when turning up the volume (headphones are DT 770 PRO 80 OHM) Don't have another headphone to test.
The Volume being at 0 every time I turn on my computer is a good thing I suppose but I find it a bit annoying, I can't seem to be able to have the volume on as with my previous interface.
The metering does not measure the input levels, it measures the output level which seems to be the other way around in most interfaces.
The XLR at the back it might be convenient for doing send.return fx, but for day to day plugging mics on and off is a bit inconvenient tbh, I often know the usb off when doing that, if it's something you always have plugged in, so no problem at all with that.
Very happy with this interface, the filter is very handy for recording guitars and the phantom power per channel is another advantage, as the mackie onyx I had before I couldn't have it on for just one channel.
All the freebies are great too, some apogee plugins, 120 trial of strymon reverb
Good stuff, highly recommended!