Mackie 808S Powered Mixer (Stereo, 1200 Watts)
No longer available at zZounds
1200 Watt powered mixer.
Overview
The whole point of a powered mixer is lots of power, right? That's why there's a real FR Series High-Current, Fast-Recovery power amp inside every PPM(TM) Series Powered Mixer.
It's designed to run all night into brutally low impedances and sound clean even when driven hard. Mackie starts with a massive toroid transformer and 2 unusually large storage capacitors with 720 joules of energy storage capacity. In fact, the PPM power supply is so robust that it can run on as little as 80 volts at the end of a long, skinny extension cord during a brown-out. Then they add their Fast Recovery circuitry that reduces latching distortion so PPM Series mixers sound good even when driven well into clipping. Also included is an SCR crowbar circuit for speaker protection.
Visit a Mackie Dealer and run a side-by-side comparison with the competition. You'll be amazed by how much louder and cleaner PPM Powered mixers sound--even when driving huge PA cabinets.
Ingenious Break Switch
Mutes Channels 1-6 during set breaks so you can play music (via the tape input and stereo channels 7 or 8) without having to mess up your levels, deal with feedback loops, or risk having somebody grab a mic and start spouting existentialist poetry.
EFX Wide Switch
When you hear the PPM Series' ultra-realistic 32-bit EMAC(TM) effects, you'll be impressed. But Mackie also gives you extra effects control--via dual parameter controls and with the EFX WIDE button. It psycho-acoustically adds width and/or depth to reverbs,… read more chorus, and flange... perfect for set-ups where your speakers have to be placed close together.
75Hz Rumble Reduction
75Hz low-cut filters in both built-in 9-band equalizer sections remove microphone thumps, P-pops, and stage rumble. Sharp 18dB/octave circuitry works without cutting audible bass.
Features
1200 real watts/2 ohms from twin 600-watt FR Series High-Current power amps
Power amps switchable as stereo mains or main plus monitor
8 mic/line channels with master phantom power
Stereo line inputs on channels 7 and 8
Inserts on channels 1-6
Active 3-band EQ and stereo pan control on each channel
True stereo 9-band graphic EQ on mains
9-band graphic EQ on monitor
All PPM Series Powered Mixers Feature:
Rugged injection-molded chassis resists impacts that would destroy a rat-fur-covered wood box powered mixer. Built-in handle can be used by folks who don't have the foggiest idea of what injection molding is.
A real Mackie Designs mic/line mixer section! Based on Mackie's world-famous MicroSeries 1202-VLZ and enhanced with new mic preamps and about a gazillion ingenious extra features.
Rugged, sealed rotary controls resist dust, moisture, and other contamination.
Expensive, studio-grade, 9-band program equalizers for mains and monitor that utilize multiple summing amplifiers and precision infinite feedback band-pass filters, which yield superior linear-phase and combining properties. What this means is the graphic EQs are exceptionally low-noise, low-distortion, sound great, and don't suffer from any nasty phase-shift problems.
Level-setting control and LED on every PPM mixer channel--makes setting input levels a snap.
Mil-spec fiberglass circuit boards (instead of cheap phenolic) resist physical impact.
Amp routing switch assigns power amps to mains or mains + monitors.
Hefty 10,000uf storage capacitors for high peak power reserves.
Massive toroid transformer for high-current output.
Mega-cool die-cast heat sink. One-piece die-cast heat sink is custom-cast for maximum heat dissipation and minimum car upholstery destruction. Black coating improves efficiency by 15%. Running Man figure improves coolness-factor by 150% read less
It's designed to run all night into brutally low impedances and sound clean even when driven hard. Mackie starts with a massive toroid transformer and 2 unusually large storage capacitors with 720 joules of energy storage capacity. In fact, the PPM power supply is so robust that it can run on as little as 80 volts at the end of a long, skinny extension cord during a brown-out. Then they add their Fast Recovery circuitry that reduces latching distortion so PPM Series mixers sound good even when driven well into clipping. Also included is an SCR crowbar circuit for speaker protection.
Visit a Mackie Dealer and run a side-by-side comparison with the competition. You'll be amazed by how much louder and cleaner PPM Powered mixers sound--even when driving huge PA cabinets.
Ingenious Break Switch
Mutes Channels 1-6 during set breaks so you can play music (via the tape input and stereo channels 7 or 8) without having to mess up your levels, deal with feedback loops, or risk having somebody grab a mic and start spouting existentialist poetry.
EFX Wide Switch
When you hear the PPM Series' ultra-realistic 32-bit EMAC(TM) effects, you'll be impressed. But Mackie also gives you extra effects control--via dual parameter controls and with the EFX WIDE button. It psycho-acoustically adds width and/or depth to reverbs,… read more chorus, and flange... perfect for set-ups where your speakers have to be placed close together.
75Hz Rumble Reduction
75Hz low-cut filters in both built-in 9-band equalizer sections remove microphone thumps, P-pops, and stage rumble. Sharp 18dB/octave circuitry works without cutting audible bass.
Features
1200 real watts/2 ohms from twin 600-watt FR Series High-Current power amps
Power amps switchable as stereo mains or main plus monitor
8 mic/line channels with master phantom power
Stereo line inputs on channels 7 and 8
Inserts on channels 1-6
Active 3-band EQ and stereo pan control on each channel
True stereo 9-band graphic EQ on mains
9-band graphic EQ on monitor
All PPM Series Powered Mixers Feature:
Rugged injection-molded chassis resists impacts that would destroy a rat-fur-covered wood box powered mixer. Built-in handle can be used by folks who don't have the foggiest idea of what injection molding is.
A real Mackie Designs mic/line mixer section! Based on Mackie's world-famous MicroSeries 1202-VLZ and enhanced with new mic preamps and about a gazillion ingenious extra features.
Rugged, sealed rotary controls resist dust, moisture, and other contamination.
Expensive, studio-grade, 9-band program equalizers for mains and monitor that utilize multiple summing amplifiers and precision infinite feedback band-pass filters, which yield superior linear-phase and combining properties. What this means is the graphic EQs are exceptionally low-noise, low-distortion, sound great, and don't suffer from any nasty phase-shift problems.
Level-setting control and LED on every PPM mixer channel--makes setting input levels a snap.
Mil-spec fiberglass circuit boards (instead of cheap phenolic) resist physical impact.
Amp routing switch assigns power amps to mains or mains + monitors.
Hefty 10,000uf storage capacitors for high peak power reserves.
Massive toroid transformer for high-current output.
Mega-cool die-cast heat sink. One-piece die-cast heat sink is custom-cast for maximum heat dissipation and minimum car upholstery destruction. Black coating improves efficiency by 15%. Running Man figure improves coolness-factor by 150% read less
Specs
Mixer Section
Frequency Response:
Mic Input to Main Mixer Output (Trim at 0 dB): +0, -1 dB: 32Hz to 20kHz, +0, -3 dB:16Hz to 80kHz
Mic Input to Power Amp Output at rated power output: +0, -1 dB: 32Hz to 20kHz, +0, -3 dB: 16Hz to 55kHz
Distortion:
THD and SMPTE IMD; 20Hz to 20kHz
Mic Input to Main Mixer Output: < 0.005% at +4dBu output
Mic Input to Power Amp Output: < 0.15% 250mW to rated power
Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)
at 1kHz, Trim at 0 dB: 60dB
Noise
20Hz-20kHz bandwidth, 150-ohm source impedance
Equivalent Input Noise (EIN): -127dBu
Residual Output Noise with Main Mixer, Monitor, and Effects outputs, Channel and Master levels off: -95dBu
Main Mixer Output Noise with Master at nominal (-10dB), all channels off: -92dBu
Main Mixer Output Noise with Master and one input at nominal (-10dB and -20dB), Trim at 0dB: -85dBu
Crosstalk
at 1 kiloHertz
Adjacent Inputs or Input to Output: -90 dB
Fader Off: -90 dB
Break Switch Mute: -80 dB
Input Level Trim Control Range
0 to -40dB
Phantom Power
+15V DC
Equalization
Rumble Reduction: 75hz, -18dB/octave
Channel EQ High: +/-15dB at 12 kHz
Channel EQ Mid: +/-12dB at 2.5 kHz
Channel EQ Low: +/-15dB at 80 Hz
Graphic EQ: 9 bands, +/-15dB, Q=1.414: ISO octave centers at 63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz, 16 kHz
Main Mixer Section Rated Output
Main Mixer, Monitor, and Effects: +4 dBu
Maximum Main Mixer Section Output: +20 dBu
Maximum Input Levels
Mic Input Trim at HI (0dB): -20dBu
Mic Input Trim at LOW (-40dB): +20dBu
Line Input Trim at HI (0dB): 0dBu
Line Input Trim at LOW (-40dB): +40dBu
Insert Input: +20dBu
Stereo Line Input: +20dBu
Tape Input: +20dBu
Effects Return: +20dBu
Power Amp In :+22dBu
Input Sensitivity
Minimum Input Level to produce +4dBu at Main Mixer Output
Mic Input: -68dBu
Insert Input: -28dBu
Line Input: -48dBu
Stereo Line Input: -28dBu
Tape Input: -18dBu
Effects Return: -18dBu
Maximum Voltage Gain
Mic Input to Insert Output: 40dB
Mic Input to Tape Output: 60dB
Mic Input to Main Mixer Output: 72dB
Line Input (Mono) to Insert Output: 20dB
Line Input (Mono) to Tape Output: 20dB
Line Input (Mono) to Main Mixer Output: 52dB
Stereo Line Input to Tape Output: 20dB
Stereo Line Input to Main Mixer Output: 32dB
Tape Input to Tape Output: 10dB
Tape Input to Main Mixer Output: 22dB
Effects Return to Main Mixer Output: 22dB
Effects Return to Monitor Output: 22dB
Input Impedance
Mic Input balanced: 3 kilohms
Insert Input unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Line Input balanced: 40 kilohms
Stereo Line Input unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Tape Input unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Effects Return unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Power Amp In unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Output Impedance
Main Mixer Output: 150 ohms
Insert Output: 150 ohms
Tape Output: 150 ohms
Monitor Output: 150 ohms
Effects Send: 150 ohms
Power Amp Out: 0.032 ohms at 1kHz
Digital Effects
Resolution: 32-bit EMAC internal processing, 2-channel
Sample Rate: 31.25 kHz
Bandwidth: 15.6 kHz
VU Meters
Main and Monitor, 8 segments: Clip, +5, 0, -5, -10, -15, -20, -30
Power Amplifier Section:
Maximum Power at 1% THD, midband
(both channels driven)
2 ohms: 600W x 600W per channel
4 ohms: 450W x 450W per channel
8 ohms: 300W x 300W per channel
2 ohms: 1200W total
Continuous Sine Wave Average Output Power
40Hz to 20kHz (both channels driven at rated power)
340W per channel 4 ohms: no more than 0.15% THD
240W per channel 8 ohms: no more than 0.10% THD
Power Bandwidth
<10Hz to 30kHz (+0, -1dB) at rated power into 4 ohms
Frequency Response
<10Hz to 30kHz (+0, -1dB)
<10Hz to 55kHz (+0, -3dB)
Distortion
THD, SMPTE IMD 4 ohms: <0.15%
THD, SMPTE IMD 8 ohms: <0.10%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
<105dB below rated power into 8 ohms
Channel Separation
>75dB at1 kHz
Damping Factor
>250dB at1 kHz
Amp Input Impedance
10k ohms unbalanced, 20k ohms balanced
Continuous Sine Wave Average Output Power
(both channels driven at rated power into 4 ohms)
1.76V (+7.1dBu)
Gain
(amp in to speaker out)
26.4dB(21V/V)
Maximum Input Level
9.75V (+22dBu)
Rise Time
< 5us
Slew Rate
> 40V/us
Load Angle
8 ohms time independent: 8 (+/-jx)
4 ohms time dependent: 4 (+/-jx)
High Frequency Overload and Latching
No latch up at any frequency or level
High Frequency Stability
Unconditionally stable driving any reactive or capacitive load
Continuous Sine Wave Average Output Power
(Capable of operation from 75% to 110% of rated line voltage)
United States 120VAC: 60Hz
Physical
Dimensions (H x W x D): 11.7 x 20.5 x 13 in. (297 x 521 x 330 mm)
Weight: 46 lbs. (14.5 kg)
Frequency Response:
Mic Input to Main Mixer Output (Trim at 0 dB): +0, -1 dB: 32Hz to 20kHz, +0, -3 dB:16Hz to 80kHz
Mic Input to Power Amp Output at rated power output: +0, -1 dB: 32Hz to 20kHz, +0, -3 dB: 16Hz to 55kHz
Distortion:
THD and SMPTE IMD; 20Hz to 20kHz
Mic Input to Main Mixer Output: < 0.005% at +4dBu output
Mic Input to Power Amp Output: < 0.15% 250mW to rated power
Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)
at 1kHz, Trim at 0 dB: 60dB
Noise
20Hz-20kHz bandwidth, 150-ohm source impedance
Equivalent Input Noise (EIN): -127dBu
Residual Output Noise with Main Mixer, Monitor, and Effects outputs, Channel and Master levels off: -95dBu
Main Mixer Output Noise with Master at nominal (-10dB), all channels off: -92dBu
Main Mixer Output Noise with Master and one input at nominal (-10dB and -20dB), Trim at 0dB: -85dBu
Crosstalk
at 1 kiloHertz
Adjacent Inputs or Input to Output: -90 dB
Fader Off: -90 dB
Break Switch Mute: -80 dB
Input Level Trim Control Range
0 to -40dB
Phantom Power
+15V DC
Equalization
Rumble Reduction: 75hz, -18dB/octave
Channel EQ High: +/-15dB at 12 kHz
Channel EQ Mid: +/-12dB at 2.5 kHz
Channel EQ Low: +/-15dB at 80 Hz
Graphic EQ: 9 bands, +/-15dB, Q=1.414: ISO octave centers at 63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz, 16 kHz
Main Mixer Section Rated Output
Main Mixer, Monitor, and Effects: +4 dBu
Maximum Main Mixer Section Output: +20 dBu
Maximum Input Levels
Mic Input Trim at HI (0dB): -20dBu
Mic Input Trim at LOW (-40dB): +20dBu
Line Input Trim at HI (0dB): 0dBu
Line Input Trim at LOW (-40dB): +40dBu
Insert Input: +20dBu
Stereo Line Input: +20dBu
Tape Input: +20dBu
Effects Return: +20dBu
Power Amp In :+22dBu
Input Sensitivity
Minimum Input Level to produce +4dBu at Main Mixer Output
Mic Input: -68dBu
Insert Input: -28dBu
Line Input: -48dBu
Stereo Line Input: -28dBu
Tape Input: -18dBu
Effects Return: -18dBu
Maximum Voltage Gain
Mic Input to Insert Output: 40dB
Mic Input to Tape Output: 60dB
Mic Input to Main Mixer Output: 72dB
Line Input (Mono) to Insert Output: 20dB
Line Input (Mono) to Tape Output: 20dB
Line Input (Mono) to Main Mixer Output: 52dB
Stereo Line Input to Tape Output: 20dB
Stereo Line Input to Main Mixer Output: 32dB
Tape Input to Tape Output: 10dB
Tape Input to Main Mixer Output: 22dB
Effects Return to Main Mixer Output: 22dB
Effects Return to Monitor Output: 22dB
Input Impedance
Mic Input balanced: 3 kilohms
Insert Input unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Line Input balanced: 40 kilohms
Stereo Line Input unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Tape Input unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Effects Return unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Power Amp In unbalanced: 10 kilohms
Output Impedance
Main Mixer Output: 150 ohms
Insert Output: 150 ohms
Tape Output: 150 ohms
Monitor Output: 150 ohms
Effects Send: 150 ohms
Power Amp Out: 0.032 ohms at 1kHz
Digital Effects
Resolution: 32-bit EMAC internal processing, 2-channel
Sample Rate: 31.25 kHz
Bandwidth: 15.6 kHz
VU Meters
Main and Monitor, 8 segments: Clip, +5, 0, -5, -10, -15, -20, -30
Power Amplifier Section:
Maximum Power at 1% THD, midband
(both channels driven)
2 ohms: 600W x 600W per channel
4 ohms: 450W x 450W per channel
8 ohms: 300W x 300W per channel
2 ohms: 1200W total
Continuous Sine Wave Average Output Power
40Hz to 20kHz (both channels driven at rated power)
340W per channel 4 ohms: no more than 0.15% THD
240W per channel 8 ohms: no more than 0.10% THD
Power Bandwidth
<10Hz to 30kHz (+0, -1dB) at rated power into 4 ohms
Frequency Response
<10Hz to 30kHz (+0, -1dB)
<10Hz to 55kHz (+0, -3dB)
Distortion
THD, SMPTE IMD 4 ohms: <0.15%
THD, SMPTE IMD 8 ohms: <0.10%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
<105dB below rated power into 8 ohms
Channel Separation
>75dB at1 kHz
Damping Factor
>250dB at1 kHz
Amp Input Impedance
10k ohms unbalanced, 20k ohms balanced
Continuous Sine Wave Average Output Power
(both channels driven at rated power into 4 ohms)
1.76V (+7.1dBu)
Gain
(amp in to speaker out)
26.4dB(21V/V)
Maximum Input Level
9.75V (+22dBu)
Rise Time
< 5us
Slew Rate
> 40V/us
Load Angle
8 ohms time independent: 8 (+/-jx)
4 ohms time dependent: 4 (+/-jx)
High Frequency Overload and Latching
No latch up at any frequency or level
High Frequency Stability
Unconditionally stable driving any reactive or capacitive load
Continuous Sine Wave Average Output Power
(Capable of operation from 75% to 110% of rated line voltage)
United States 120VAC: 60Hz
Physical
Dimensions (H x W x D): 11.7 x 20.5 x 13 in. (297 x 521 x 330 mm)
Weight: 46 lbs. (14.5 kg)
Documents and Manuals
For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-898-3211
Email: support@mackie.com
Web: https://mackie.com/en/support/contact
Phone: 800-898-3211
Email: support@mackie.com
Web: https://mackie.com/en/support/contact
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
(117 ratings)
Submitted April 9, 2006 by a customer from hotmail.com
"For me, this is the best around."
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
In my current set up, this remains the pinnicle. I did pay extra for the stereo, and for my guitar fx and the stereo backing this was a choice well made. (It does mean I now have to carry a small power amp extra for the FoldBack). Only if I lost/stole/broke this one would I look at a small boutique style desk with some powered EV SRX or G2s, but until that day, this will do me fine.
Sound
I use this mixer in my duo with recorded backing and live guitar and vocals. The sound is the "crispest" of any mixer I have ever used, with exceptional front end gain and chanel eq. With smart use of the chanel"input gain" knob,the chanel headroom is great with fantasticaly low noise. Clever use of the graphic is required to get the best out of your speakers, especially if you want to "warm up"the sound. I run this head with JBL Eon1500p's, and find I need to Cut 250 hz and 4Khz by approx 3db to reduce harsh and boom. The secret to the sound on these things is the Master eq, very musical and rich.
Features
Inserts- Love em !! (Yamaha Heads are yet to do this).Main Inserts /returns- Smart- Insert gear or take main mix from here.Power amps - he onboard LED meter only shows level @ mixer out, and I drive the master well into the yellow constantly, and havent seen the "clip" leds come up yet. With the master @ unity, there is still approx 17db of headroom b4 power amp clipping, which is protected by on board compressor anyway. I find… read more it more than enough power for my duo @ 8ohms to easily cope with a room of 300ish people, but you may find it lacking if your speakers arent as responsive. This hi current amp will happily drive another set of (8 ohm) bins (total of four ohms/ch ) doubling the FOH Spl if push comes to shove. I personally have not had any of the overheating problems that some others suggest- and I run this pretty hard. The heat sink DOES get hot, as its supposed to, but It is HUGE and I have felt hotter heat sinks on ducted fan amplifiers. I always leave about 6" behind it (as recommended) and all is fine. The FX are a bit limited, I would swap the flanger for a good reverd/delay combo, but are simplicity itself to adjust. I generally run Delay x 2 across the vocals with a slight lift in the presence, really nice. Break switch - Way cool. Monitor send is Pre fad AND PRE-EQ which is the only Major gripe with this head. This should have been a switched choice to allow you to send the chanel strip ed'd sig to the Monitor Bus. Sure, you can eq the monitor bus via the onboard graphic, but this has a global effect on the Monitor Output. (I have worked around it but it should have been thought out better). Splitable Main Stereo / Main+mon - For me this means "small paying gig" or "Large blow'em away gig", the less gear I have to carry the better.
Ease of Use
Once you understand how Mackie thinks, then the ease of use is a snap. The unity gain points (U) on all of the knobs seem to have been optimized for standard use, and produce a great sound straight up. This is also on the FX controls (I find I have only tweaked them a touch). The pre-chan gain trim is FANTASTIC, sing and adjust until the yellow led starts to blink, set chan gain to unity,(do the same on all chans for all inputs) and virtually a perfectly ballanced mix from the word go. (No more "Bass on nine" , "Vox on 3", "Git on 4.5" ETC".)
Quality
The unit looks, feels and sounds great out of the box. I immediatley purchased a soft cover for it (as I do)and it has had a few solid bumps. It has never let me down. The sockets are all genuine "Neutrik" and the pots have a very smooth "pro" feel to them, much better than my yamaha. Everything looks put together very well, and the look and finish is very pro, much better than the behringer,yami, and a world away from phonic, alto and wharfdale.
Value
For my particular situation, nothing touches it. To have a HEAD that sounds this "clean" with inserts and "large desk" quality sound in a package that can fit on a bar stool, its great. I always get comments on our sound, and about how clear we sounded. It was expensive when I bought it, but the new price points can not be beaten.
Manufacturer Support
Never had a warranty claim, and I seem to know alot more about this mixer than the dealers who I bought it from. Having said that- to mackie's credit- when I was researching the 808s pre-purchase, mackie responded to all of my emails, and I actually got to talk to one of the engineers in the states when discussing specs, that was way cool. We have a 3 year warranty here in Aus, I dont know if that is the same anywhere else.
The Wow Factor
Nothing touches it, (not yet anyway) but I know some companies are trying. Still the best, and people still say "wow, a mackie !!" (I kid you not).
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Diso and Classic Hits with a bit of rock. read less
Sound
I use this mixer in my duo with recorded backing and live guitar and vocals. The sound is the "crispest" of any mixer I have ever used, with exceptional front end gain and chanel eq. With smart use of the chanel"input gain" knob,the chanel headroom is great with fantasticaly low noise. Clever use of the graphic is required to get the best out of your speakers, especially if you want to "warm up"the sound. I run this head with JBL Eon1500p's, and find I need to Cut 250 hz and 4Khz by approx 3db to reduce harsh and boom. The secret to the sound on these things is the Master eq, very musical and rich.
Features
Inserts- Love em !! (Yamaha Heads are yet to do this).Main Inserts /returns- Smart- Insert gear or take main mix from here.Power amps - he onboard LED meter only shows level @ mixer out, and I drive the master well into the yellow constantly, and havent seen the "clip" leds come up yet. With the master @ unity, there is still approx 17db of headroom b4 power amp clipping, which is protected by on board compressor anyway. I find… read more it more than enough power for my duo @ 8ohms to easily cope with a room of 300ish people, but you may find it lacking if your speakers arent as responsive. This hi current amp will happily drive another set of (8 ohm) bins (total of four ohms/ch ) doubling the FOH Spl if push comes to shove. I personally have not had any of the overheating problems that some others suggest- and I run this pretty hard. The heat sink DOES get hot, as its supposed to, but It is HUGE and I have felt hotter heat sinks on ducted fan amplifiers. I always leave about 6" behind it (as recommended) and all is fine. The FX are a bit limited, I would swap the flanger for a good reverd/delay combo, but are simplicity itself to adjust. I generally run Delay x 2 across the vocals with a slight lift in the presence, really nice. Break switch - Way cool. Monitor send is Pre fad AND PRE-EQ which is the only Major gripe with this head. This should have been a switched choice to allow you to send the chanel strip ed'd sig to the Monitor Bus. Sure, you can eq the monitor bus via the onboard graphic, but this has a global effect on the Monitor Output. (I have worked around it but it should have been thought out better). Splitable Main Stereo / Main+mon - For me this means "small paying gig" or "Large blow'em away gig", the less gear I have to carry the better.
Ease of Use
Once you understand how Mackie thinks, then the ease of use is a snap. The unity gain points (U) on all of the knobs seem to have been optimized for standard use, and produce a great sound straight up. This is also on the FX controls (I find I have only tweaked them a touch). The pre-chan gain trim is FANTASTIC, sing and adjust until the yellow led starts to blink, set chan gain to unity,(do the same on all chans for all inputs) and virtually a perfectly ballanced mix from the word go. (No more "Bass on nine" , "Vox on 3", "Git on 4.5" ETC".)
Quality
The unit looks, feels and sounds great out of the box. I immediatley purchased a soft cover for it (as I do)and it has had a few solid bumps. It has never let me down. The sockets are all genuine "Neutrik" and the pots have a very smooth "pro" feel to them, much better than my yamaha. Everything looks put together very well, and the look and finish is very pro, much better than the behringer,yami, and a world away from phonic, alto and wharfdale.
Value
For my particular situation, nothing touches it. To have a HEAD that sounds this "clean" with inserts and "large desk" quality sound in a package that can fit on a bar stool, its great. I always get comments on our sound, and about how clear we sounded. It was expensive when I bought it, but the new price points can not be beaten.
Manufacturer Support
Never had a warranty claim, and I seem to know alot more about this mixer than the dealers who I bought it from. Having said that- to mackie's credit- when I was researching the 808s pre-purchase, mackie responded to all of my emails, and I actually got to talk to one of the engineers in the states when discussing specs, that was way cool. We have a 3 year warranty here in Aus, I dont know if that is the same anywhere else.
The Wow Factor
Nothing touches it, (not yet anyway) but I know some companies are trying. Still the best, and people still say "wow, a mackie !!" (I kid you not).
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Diso and Classic Hits with a bit of rock. read less
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- No Credit Check4 x$125.00
Yamaha DXS15MKII Powered Subwoofer Speaker (1x15")
$1,049.99
- 12 x$87.50
- 8 x$131.25
- No Credit Check6 x$175.00
- No Credit Check4 x$262.50
Gemini UHF 6200M Dual Wireless Handheld Microphone System
$199.95
- No Credit Check6 x$33.32
- No Credit Check4 x$49.99
JBL JRX212 2-Way Passive, Unpowered Loudspeaker
$329.00
- 8 x$41.13
- No Credit Check6 x$54.83
- No Credit Check4 x$82.25