Mackie SRM450 Active two-way loudspeaker system

If you’re tired of those beat-up, worn-out boxes you call a PA system, you might want to take a long, hard look at Mackie SRM450 Active loudspeakers. These lightweight, composite enclosures are perfect for a small- to medium-sized live rig and ideal for mobile DJ and karaoke setups. They’re portable, powerful and pack a surprising amount of punch for their size—and they’re easy to set up.

I was quite frankly amazed as I pulled them from their packaging, at how little the SRM450s weigh. After all, these are highly praised 400-Watt PA speakers with two onboard Mackie FR (Fast Recovery) power amps, built-in time- and phase-correction crossover and Active equalization.

Setup couldn’t have been simpler—I just hoisted them onto my speaker stands, ran a microphone cable from the mixer to the SRM450 and plugged in the supplied computer-style power cable. I have to say this type power cord is my favorite, since you can find them almost anywhere, should you forget to pack them or Heaven forbid, ever lose them—not that that has ever happened to me!

Just a flip of the power switch, and let the gig begin.

I run karaoke at several different clubs and have the opportunity to try out lots of new gear, but I’ve never experienced the definition and clarity the Mackie SRM450s deliver. After handing the mic over to the first vocalist, I stepped out front to survey the sound and make any minor tweaks necessary.

These speakers rock! I guess it’s the “Active” electronics that makes the difference, because the “powered” speakers I’ve tried in the past never sounded this good. There was ample bass and crisp high end, but more than anything else, the midrange, where the vocals live and die, had lots more detail than usual. (That can be a blessing or a curse, depending on which singer is on stage.) The SRM450s sound more like my studio monitors than sound reinforcement loudspeakers—and they sound good all around the room.

One thing you’ll notice right out of the box is how well everything on the SRM450 fits. The grill and electronics module integrate seamlessly into the monocoque, molded enclosure. The asymmetrical shape looks a bit unusual, but I bet it makes a great stage monitor. I can’t wait to try it out with my rock band.

There aren’t many controls on the SRM450, but they sure are well thought out. The 75Hz Low Cut switch is especially effective at eliminating mic-handling noise, and the Contour switch provides a boost in the low and high frequency ranges. I really like the Signal Present LED—it has already helped me ferret out a questionable mic cable (really handy for troubleshooting).

Although I’ve always hauled around a rather large PA system, these Mackie SRM450s have helped me step into the new millennium. Great sound, portability and versatility—the folks at Mackie seem to have thought of everything. Did I mention that it has a really cool blue LED on the front?