I need some PA speakers for house parties. I was gonna go for some Mackie SRM 450s but I can get a pair of the Tapco's for $550 a pair. I am on a budget and have heard the Tapco's are actually pretty loud and clear at all ranges.....almost identical to the 450s. Can anyone speak to this from experience? I don't feel like spending double on the Mackie 450s if I can get away with the Tapco's when playing for my drunken friends and their friends.....not like these will be for weddings.

quote:

Originally posted by Neo95gt I need some PA speakers for house parties. I was gonna go for some Mackie SRM 450s but I can get a pair of the Tapco's for $550 a pair. I am on a budget and have heard the Tapco's are actually pretty loud and clear at all ranges.....almost identical to the 450s. Can anyone speak to this from experience? I don't feel like spending double on the Mackie 450s if I can get away with the Tapco's when playing for my drunken friends and their friends.....not like these will be for weddings.

You know Tapco is the cheaper range owned by Mackie right?

I don't have experience with the Tapco speakers, but I have a lot of experience with the SRM 450s's. I cannot understand why people love them - they are some of the harshest sounding PA speakers I've ever used.

Yes, they go loud for the money and are both very durable and reliable, but the highs are really in your face and the mid and bass are just so are harsh. They don't go deep or clear on the low end, just loud. If you really jack them up they will distort, badly, and get even harsher.

If you want to buy reliable, durable speakers that setup and teardown easily and go loud then the SRM 450's are hard to beat.

If your priority is the best possible sound quality, have a look at the Yorkville NX550, JBL EON or Turbosound 12's.

One more thing, mackie are about to bring out the new version of the SRM450, cunningly named..........V2.

This thread might be useful to you as list of what's out there:


http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbth...9d90555e6e4f9dc

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Originally posted by DJ RANN You know Tapco is the cheaper range owned by Mackie right? I don't have experience with the Tapco speakers, but I have a lot of experience with the SRM 450s's. I cannot understand why people love them - they are some of the harshest sounding PA speakers I've ever used. Yes, they go loud for the money and are both very durable and reliable, but the highs are really in your face and the mid and bass are just so are harsh. They don't go deep or clear on the low end, just loud. If you really jack them up they will distort, badly, and get even harsher. If you want to buy reliable, durable speakers that setup and teardown easily and go loud then the SRM 450's are hard to beat. If your priority is the best possible sound quality, have a look at the Yorkville NX550, JBL EON or Turbosound 12's. One more thing, mackie are about to bring out the new version of the SRM450, cunningly named..........V2. This thread might be useful to you as list of what's out there: http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbth...9d90555e6e4f9dc

Yes I do know that Tapco is made by Mackie, reason why I'm debating this. I've havent heard many great reviews for the JBL EONs.....most people I've met prefer the Mackie 450's over the JBLs. I've read similar as well. I will check out the other two.

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Originally posted by Neo95gt Yes I do know that Tapco is made by Mackie, reason why I'm debating this. I've havent heard many great reviews for the JBL EONs.....most people I've met prefer the Mackie 450's over the JBLs. I've read similar as well. I will check out the other two.

Yeah TBH, I'd still take the 450's over the JBL's, but I thought I should post it as they are fairly popular and some people like them.

Don't forget, even though mackie does make some very, very good products, they also swamp the market and internets with their products, which means it's actually really difficult to find true, unbiased reviews.

I also think that part of the problem is with 450's that I don't like them in enclosed spaces - I think they sound a lot better in wide open spaces, put far apart. I was in a hotel about two weeks ago and they had the 450's as their only PA speakers - it sounded just dreadful, and that was coming straight out of a DJM800. If you got close, it was like standing next to a circular saw, and when you got far enough away from the harshness to be able to deal with it, you lost all clarity from the bass.

In all honesty, I'm actually nitpicking because there aren't many products that do as well as them in that price bracket, or will last as long or are as easy to use. It's not that they are bad, It's just I think the sound is totally overrated for what it is, especially when you look at how people evangelise over their sound quality.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Yeah TBH, I'd still take the 450's over the JBL's, but I thought I should post it as they are fairly popular and some people like them. Don't forget, even though mackie does make some very, very good products, they also swamp the market and internets with their products, which means it's actually really difficult to find true, unbiased reviews. I also think that part of the problem is with 450's that I don't like them in enclosed spaces - I think they sound a lot better in wide open spaces, put far apart. I was in a hotel about two weeks ago and they had the 450's as their only PA speakers - it sounded just dreadful, and that was coming straight out of a DJM800. If you got close, it was like standing next to a circular saw, and when you got far enough away from the harshness to be able to deal with it, you lost all clarity from the bass. In all honesty, I'm actually nitpicking because there aren't many products that do as well as them in that price bracket, or will last as long or are as easy to use. It's not that they are bad, It's just I think the sound is totally overrated for what it is, especially when you look at how people evangelise over their sound quality.

Yeah I'm sure they're over rated, just like the JBLs. Hmmm, I still think the Tapco's would be a pretty decent budget PA system that sounds decent and thumps. I don't think guitar center has these, I really want to hear them

Anyone have any experience with the Behringer 212a's or 215a's?

I've heard they're good bang for the buck, much like the rest of their speaker line.

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quote:

Originally posted by miamitranceman Anyone have any experience with the Behringer 212a's or 215a's? I've heard they're good bang for the buck, much like the rest of their speaker line.

I heard they're loud as fuck and has tons of bass, but they sound kinda shitty

quote:

Originally posted by Neo95gt I heard they're loud as fuck and has tons of bass, but they sound kinda shitty

Hmm, guess I'll have to go demo 'em in person.

Thanks.

___________________
Click the link below to stream all of my mixes past and present. New mixes go up about once a month. Enjoy!

www.mixcloud.com/jluger

To bad Martin Entertainment got out audio business and only does lights now.

http://www.martin.com/discontinued/machdiscon.asp

Because in my mobile dj business I have Martian M118T X 2, Martin CM12 X 2 and Martin CTW1 X 1. I love em but once they die I will be shit out luck so I have get new ones. Used em at house parties a lot to and it was fine as long as didn't crank em up compared to when I used for wedding or a dance at a bigger venue. I been using powersoft amps with em and it works fine.

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Last edited by wesleysnipez on Aug-27-2008 at 05:44

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Originally posted by wesleysnipez To bad Martin Entertainment got out audio business and only does lights now. http://www.martin.com/discontinued/machdiscon.asp Because in my mobile dj business I have Martian M118T X 2, Martin CM12 X 2 and Martin CTW1 X 1. I love em but once they die I will be shit out luck so I have get new ones. Used em at house parties a lot to and it was fine as long as didn't crank em up compared to when I used for wedding or a dance at a bigger venue.

Wait, are you talking about Martin Speakers (USA) or Martin Audio?

Martin Entertainment out of Denmark. If you looked at my post above you see link to the company and all to there section of speaker they no long make and support.

___________________
DJ WESLEYSNIPEZ
Inspire Create Innovate

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Originally posted by wesleysnipez Martin Entertainment out of Denmark. If you looked at my post above you see link to the company and all to there section of speaker they no long make and support.

No wonder the stopped making speakers, I can think of at least three other speakers manufacturers starting with Martin. Confusing.