jazzdoc52 Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 other than the obvious difference in wattage, does anyone out there have thoughts on the merits of the two? I was all set to buy the Mackies, but a dealer (who sells Yamaha) says that the Mackie Co has been sold and the plant has been moved to China.Says the quality is not as good. Now i know he has a vested interest in the Yamahas, but they look like a good speaker and I can get them serviced locally. Any Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 I own the MSR400 and it sounds great to me. Search the forum for the opinions of those who own the Mackie 450. Good luck. Welcome to the forum. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midinut Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 I use the SRM450's every weekend. The only thing I would consider as good, clean, or powerful would be the JBL EON15 G2's. I haven't heard the Yamahas but we use Yamahas for our mains, but they're not powered! The Mackie's have been rock solid and I've heard no mention of Mackie selling out and moving to China. I don't ever see Greg letting that happen (unless the $$$ was way too good to pass up). I remember GC having the SRM450's on sale at the Labor Day Sale for $500 each. If I would of had just a few dollars more in my checking account that day ... (I'm borrowing the ones I'm using from a DJ friend). Good luck! Kronos 88 | MODX7 | Wavestate | Crave | KeyLab 61 | CPS SSv3 | MacBook Pro | MainStage | More VSTs than I'll ever figure out www.thehenrysmusic.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Yorkville NX55P (12" woofer, 550watts) or the NX750P (15" woofer, 750watts). They blow the Mackies, JBLs, and Yammys away. I have the NX550P, which is basically the same as the NX55P (different horn in the new model) and even with only a 12" speaker, it's got plenty of low-end and is loud as hell. I've used it for everything from a keyboard monitor, to a vocal monitor, to a front of house speaker and it handles it all with ease. The Yorkvilles don't have the high-end shrillness of the Mackies or the muddiness of the JBLs. Check 'em out. Keep it greazy! B3tles - Soul Jazz THEO - Prog Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz1642606857 Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 I sold my USA made Mackie 450s and replaced them with a pair of EV SXa-360. The EVs are smoother in the mids, have a bit more power, and weigh only 36 lbs. The Mackies were 51 pounds and bulkier in size for moving, like the JBL cabinet. The Mackies did not flatter my digital piano, they do sound good playing recorded music. They sound "hyped" in the highs and lows to me, DJs love them becaused they are bright. Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and also helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Harry spends his time teaching jazz piano online and playing solo piano gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz1642606857 Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 POWERED SPEAKERS: EV SXa360 http://www.thomann.de/prodbilder/166676.jpg http://www.electrovoice.com 12 " LF driver woofer 2" HF driver 60hz-18khz at -10db 350 watt RMS LF power amplifier 150 watt RMS HF power amplifier 126 spl 129 dB maximum output capability 23.1" x 16.9" x 12.3" 36 lbs. $897 JBL EON15 G2 http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2000/EON15.jpg http://www.jblpro.com/eong2/eon15g2/eon_specs.html 15" LF driver 2" HF driver 39 Hz - 18 kHz (-10 dB) 300 watts LF power amp 100 watts HF power amp 129 dB max output 27 in x 17 in x 17.5 in. 46 lbs. $600 Yorkville NX550P http://www.yorkville.com/images/products/sm_nx350.jpg http://www.yorkville.com/products_main.asp?cat=22&id=257&type=29&show= 2-Way Bi-Amplified Active 450-watt LF amplifier 100-watt HF amplifier 12 B&C woofer, 1 Compression driver 45Hz to 18kHz frequency response 124dB peak SPL output 13.25 x 16.5 x 27.25 x 8 Treble/Bass EQ 47 lbs. $699 Mackie SRM450 http://www.parkwaymusic.com/pa/graphics/paspeaker_SRM450.jpg http://www.mackie.com/products/srm450/index.html 12" woofer two-way powered system 1.75" HF driver 45hz-20khz at -10 db 300 watt LF power amplifier 100 watt HF power amplifier 127 dB maximum output capability 26 x 15.4" x 14.8" "Contour" (Loudness switch), "Low Cut" switch 51 lbs $650 FBTMaxX 4A http://www.musikhauskaufmann.at/content/shop/images/FBT-MaxX4A-Aktivlautspreche.jpg http://www.fbt.it//sito/Inglese/pae/speaker/FBTMaxX/FBTMaxX-4A/index.asp 12" B&C woofer, two-way powered system 1" B&C high frequency driver 50hz-20khz at -6db 300 watt LF power amplifier 100 watt HF power amplifier 123 dB maximum output capability 25.3" x 16.25" x 13.2" Treble/Mid/Bass EQ 35.2 lbs $600 Yamaha MSR 400 http://www.yamaha-europe.com/picture_archiv/products/20_proaudio/Speakers/pa_speakers/MSR400_low_jpg.jpg http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%253D36725%2526CTID%253D,00.html 12 " woofer, two-way powered system 1.75" HF driver 50hz-20khz 225W/ 4Ω LF power amplifier 75W/16Ω HF power amplifier 121 dB maximum output capability 16" x 25-3/4" x 13-7/8") 2 band EQ 51 lbs. $ 549 Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and also helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Harry spends his time teaching jazz piano online and playing solo piano gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Nice comparison chart, Jazz. Moe --- "I keep wanting to like it's sound, but every demo seems to demonstrate that it has the earth-shaking punch and peerless sonics of the Roland Gaia. " - Tusker http://www.hotrodmotm.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridog6996 Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Yeah, nice chart Jazz+, but that is not the MSR 400 that you have pictured. The specs look like they check out, but FWIW I believe your picture is of the MSR 100. The back panel of the MSR 400 has only a single input and 2-band EQ. It's also cut so that you can lay it down sideways like a wedge. You also forgot to include the price, which, at $550, makes them the cheapest of the bunch. My YouTube Channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz1642606857 Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 fixed Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and also helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Harry spends his time teaching jazz piano online and playing solo piano gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzdoc52 Posted September 17, 2006 Author Share Posted September 17, 2006 man, great responses!!! I appreciate it so much!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Yeah, nice comparison chart. I'm surprised the NX550P is listed at 47lbs, because it feels much lighter than that. My blues band uses the Mackies as FOH and sometimes the JBLs as monitors and the Yorkville seems far lighter than either of those. Maybe it's just easier to move. Both the Mackies and especially the JBLs have always been a little bulky. Keep it greazy! B3tles - Soul Jazz THEO - Prog Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Yeah but... paper or plastic? Well? Don't we all prefer the sound of wood? ...or DO we? OK, anyone who knows about these things will tell you that the best cabinet won't ring when you knock-knock-knock on the side of it. If it rings like a cinder block, then it's a great cab. My EON rings. This means that at a certain frequency it's going to sing along (vibrate) and emphasize that particular note. This adds coloration and isn't something you want to go out and pay more money to get. So, it's agreed that a stiffer, sonically dead cabinet is what you want, right? Therefore, everything else being equal, except for weight, of course, a keyboard amp or monitor with a 12" or 15" woofer that incorporates a well-built, internally braced, wooden cabinet is going to sound better than a plastic one - right? Right? "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedchord Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 youve got it gas.. or is it youve got gas?? i forget... damn... "style is determined not by what you can play but what you cant...." dave brubeck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmymio Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Mackie production has most definitely moved to China. I have an older 450 and recently replaced the woofer and Mackie sent me a replacement that was lighter, had a smaller magnet and looked really CHEAP. They swear that it performs as well but i have my doubts. Personally i think the FBT or the Yorkville listed above make much better choices. But the one that has been most highly recommended is the RCF Art 322A/325A. However they are a quite bit more expensive. JP 1935 Mason & Hamlin Model A Korg Kronos 2 73 Nord Electro 6D 61 Yam S90ES Rhodes Stage 73 (1972) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superpowter77 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I've been using MSR400 specially on small/med setups. I'm pretty happy with its sound and keep in mind I'm a demanding person regarding sound quality. I've tasted their power(mackie SRM450 w subwoofer) on a live concert. Those guys were using 4 SRM450 with 2 mackie swa1801 subwoofer. that was simply the most incredible sound I've ever listened. I'm going to buy a couple of SRM450 and 1 SWA1801 pretty soon. I don't know maybe the subwoofer makes the difference???. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmymio Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Well the sub makes a huge difference. I use a Mackie 1501 w/ a 450. Not only does the sub pump out the lows that the 450 can't handle but by using the built in x-over, the lows aren't even fed into the 450 and it can focus on the mids and highs without busting it's butt trying to reproduce low frequenices that are beyond its capabilities. An 18' sub with 2 way 12s on top is a beautiful marriage. JP 1935 Mason & Hamlin Model A Korg Kronos 2 73 Nord Electro 6D 61 Yam S90ES Rhodes Stage 73 (1972) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz1642606857 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Especialy when they are 2 way EV Sxa 360 12" on top. I replaced my Mackie SRM 450's made in the USA with the EV Sxa360s and noticed a big improvement. Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and also helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Harry spends his time teaching jazz piano online and playing solo piano gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundscape Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Originally posted by Is There Gas in the Car?: So, it's agreed that a stiffer, sonically dead cabinet is what you want, right?Well, it has to absorb the energy... just being stiff isn't the only key. Of course birch-ply has long been the standard in top sound reinforcement speakers. Originally posted by Ijimmymio: Mackie production has most definitely moved to China. I have an older 450 and recently replaced the woofer and Mackie sent me a replacement that was lighter, had a smaller magnet and looked really CHEAP. They swear that it performs as well but i have my doubts.Er, if it's intended for the exact same cabinet and crossover, it's not going to perform the same--in fact the performance is almost certainly going to be off. No reason why high quality product can't be made in China or anywhere else, though. In fact P-Audio is a professional driver manufacturer based in Thailand. Check their stuff out. http://www.paacoustic.com/Product_Speaker.asp?CatalogID=0100 If Mackie are using cheaper parts, that's another matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Originally posted by Is There Gas in the Car?: Therefore, everything else being equal, except for weight, of course, a keyboard amp or monitor with a 12" or 15" woofer that incorporates a well-built, internally braced, wooden cabinet is going to sound better than a plastic one - right? Right? Gas, I think your premise is correct. But, they must be getting better in the plastic department because I have yet to hear my MSR400 ring and I push it like a swing. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundscape Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Originally posted by ProfD: Gas, I think your premise is correct. But, they must be getting better in the plastic department because I have yet to hear my MSR400 ring and I push it like a swing. Well, there's plastic and there's plastic... I doubt birch ply is the bleeding edge of loudspeaker cabinet material development, but loudspeakers are an extremely stagnant technology. (Perhaps because cloth-eared people are happy with garbage... and it's not expensive to make garbage loudspeakers.) Actually as 'bleeding edge' loudspeaker cabinets go Celestion used to make speakers with 'aluminium honeycomb' cabinets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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