By now, most of you already have a good idea what the Maul is like, so I'll keep this brief and get to the pics.
Weight: This is the heaviest saber I've owned yet. The hilt is very slim and packs on 3 AAA batteries - the blade is where the extra weight comes in, as this blade is noticibly thicker and studier than any other FX. Also, the Maul saber is fairly easy to spin since there are no "control boxes," but the weight does take it's toll of your wrists after extended use.
Sounds: Vader. Deal breaker? I thought so, but I sold my Vaders so the sounds are exclusive to my collection. I wouldn't pass up on this saber based on the sounds alone, especially if you want to go double bladed.
Illumination: Contrary to other pics I've seen, the Maul is just as bright as the Vaders. In fact, the pics I'm using in comparision are actually against my left over replacement Vader FX the uses a custom 4 AA battery pack to power the blade alone.
However, I've noticed that the Maul's blade brightness begins to decrease more rapidly than other FX's, thanks to the AAA batteries. About an hour into use, I could tell the Maul was getting dull. If I were to post pics of the Maul vs Vader right now, the Maul would lose the contest.
Overall Impression: 8/10. My favorite FX remains the Anakin ROTS, simply because I prefer blue sabers, but the Maul is a great saber that should easily break all your friends FX's in combat. ;) I'm still debating if blowing another $85 is a good idea.. once Anakin or whoever posts some good tutorials I'm sure I'll complete this tihng.