In the world of portable loudspeakers for DJs, live bands, and other live performers, the Mackie SRM450 has been known for its unmatched clarity, professional sound quality, and more for years. Simply put, Mackie is known for their excellent audio products –– and the SRM450 is a shining example of that legacy.
The MackieSRM450 is set apart from the rest for a few key reasons. It comes at an affordable price tag, is durable and portable enough for all of your road gigs, and is very easy to use. If you're new to speakers, rest assured that the latest and greatest from Mackie is easy to set up.
In this article, I'll highlight exactly why the Mackie SRM450 stands out amongst its peers and why you should consider adding it to your current setup. DJs need speakers they can rely on –– not only to get the job done, but to do it with great sound and unparalleled ease of use. And, based on my research, the SRM450 can do both.
Mackie SRM450 Overview and Specs
Average Overall Rating: 4.4/5
Why I Like It
- Durable and portable enough to withstand any road gig
- Easy to use and very versatile
- Comes with plenty of connectivity options
- Can easily mix multiple sources
What I Think Could Be Improved
- Could come with cables
- Not much else
The Mackie SRM450 is a powerful portable loudspeaker that allows you to play high-quality songs without any nasty feedback. When you purchase a new Mackie SRM450, you get the powered speaker. While Mackie hasn't included any additional cables or cords in the box, the speaker itself has plenty of connectivity options.
For DJs wanting a dedicated speaker mode, look no further. The Mackie SRM450 comes with 4 dedicated speaker modes to ensure you're getting the optimized performance you're looking for. The performance modes include DJ for song playback, PA for general presentation and public speaking, monitor for optimal vocal clarity, and solo for acoustic guitars or vocals.
There aren't too many portable speakers that boast as many benefits as the SRM450. If you're looking for another great choice from Mackie but want a smaller option, the SRM350 is a hit. It's another one of Mackie's SRM series speakers so it comes with a lot of the same benefits as its larger counterpart.
Mackie SRM450 Features and Benefits
The Mackie SRM450 has a handful of key features and benefits that are sure to improve your next set and make playing music a little easier. The four most important benefits and features that the Mackie loudspeaker can provide you with are high sound quality, great power and amplification, reliable portability and durability, and plenty of connectivity options.
Sound Quality (5.0)
The first reason you're probably looking at mobile loudspeakers is for their sound quality. A loud speaker sounds great, but a loudspeaker with a professional sound is even better.
The Mackie SRM450 has some of the best specs on the market. It comes with 12″ high-output LF driver and a 1.4″ titanium dome compression driver for pristine driver time alignment. It also comes with High Definition Audio Processing to provide your sets with top-tier clarity. No matter what you're playing, the SRM450 is built to make you sound like a live sound legend.
Power and Amplification (4.5/5)
A good portable speaker needs to be a powerful portable speaker. No matter if you're playing a dive bar in Denver or the coolest outdoor gig nobody's ever heard of in Sonora, your speaker needs some kick for an optimized performance.
With a 1000W amp, the Mackie SRM450 is designed to get the job done. This speaker has plenty of power for indoor gigs and can hold its own outside as well. It even comes with an automatic feedback destroyer to make sure your performance goes off without a hitch. Application-specific speaker modes will also help ensure you're getting the sound reinforcement you're looking for.
Portability and Durability (4/5)
What's the point of having a loudspeaker that's too heavy to take with you? At 29 lbs., the Mackie SRM450 isn't the lightest speaker you can purchase, but it certainly isn't the heaviest. I'll give the SRM450 a good rating in this department because the machine uses the weight so well, including amazing features like the automatic feedback destroyer and application-specific speaker modes we mentioned briefly.
The speaker's durability is another strong spot. Mackie is known for the quality craftsmanship both inside and outside of their speakers and the SRM450 shows it. It comes with a carrying handle to make transport even easier.
Versatility and Connectivity (4/5)
Another one of the speaker's strong points is in the connectivity department. While some loudspeakers have a hard time managing multiple sources, the SRM450 does it with ease thanks to its plugged options.
You can connect microphones, guitars, and even keyboards directly to the speaker thanks to its numerous connectivity options and mixers. The SRM450 also comes with RCA inputs for further options.
Alternatives
The Mackie SRM450 is an excellent powered loudspeaker that can hold its own amongst the best of them. It's not the only powered loudspeaker to come with a host of great benefits though, as there are a handful that can rightfully compete with the SRM450.
Mackie SRM450 vs. QSC K12.2
The QSC K12.2 can be seen as the premium option of a powered loudspeaker. At just under $1,000, it's around double the price of the Mackie SRM450, but you're not wasting your money. QSC has included some of the best technology in their loudspeaker, ensuring that musicians of any instrument want to take a listen.
The K12.2 features 2000W of power, double what the Mackie SRM450 has. It also comes with a rugged ABS enclosure for durability, dual cup pole mounts, and a very wide 75-degree range of coverage. If you're looking for an alternative to the Mackie SRM450 and want to spend some money on a worthwhile upgrade, the QSC K12.2 might be the powered loudspeaker for you.
Mackie SRM450 vs. JBL EON615
The JBL EON615 is a good alternative to the Mackie SRM450 for a couple of reasons: they're both priced around $600, they both have ergonomic features to promote portability, and they're both some of the best powered loudspeakers on the market.
JBL's 15" self-powered sound reinforcement speakers are great for both the stage and the outdoors. The application-specific speaker modes include speech, monitor, main, and sub, giving you four great modern tools for the best optimized performance. JBL also features a single-button interface to streamline control of the speaker, similar to Mackie's single-button interface.
Mackie SRM450 vs. Yamaha DXR12
At 1100W of total power, the Yamaha DXR12 doesn't have much more power than its Mackie competitor. What it does have, however, is a built-in three-channel mixer ready to easily mix multiple sources. Yamaha also included an ABS cabinet for added durability and a low-resonance design.
While it doesn't have an automatic feedback destroyer, it does come with a 1. 75" Neodymium HF compression driver and high-output 12" LF unit for great power and clear sound reproduction. The Yamaha DXR12 is the best alternative speaker for a touring performer.
MackieSRM450 vs. Electro-Voice ZLX-12P
The Electro-Voice ZLX-12P has Bluetooth connectivity, making it one of the easiest powered speakers to use in our article. If that wasn't enough to get you sold, it also comes with 1000W of power, multiple sizes, and 30 presets available onboard. It also comes with a digital mixer that can easily mix multiple sources.
Application-specific speaker modes can help you get unmatched clarity out of this machine. There are also three different ways you can position your ZLX-12P, giving you more options than most other alternatives. If you're looking for an easy connection and a great speaker that blocks nasty feedback, the Electro-Voice ZLX-12P could be a great fit for your setup.
Wrapping Up
The Mackie SRM450 is a great powered loudspeaker that comes with an automatic feedback destroyer, a great selection of modern tools, and a single-button interface that makes controlling the whole machine that much easier.
If you're looking for a decent alternative to the Mackie SRM450, check out the QSC K12.2. While it doesn't have an automatic feedback destroyer like the SRM, it does have a host of modern tools sure to make any DJ, producer, or live band flock to it.
