Originally Posted By: Diki
OTOH, few of us crank our gear up to the maximum, and really listen to how it sounds. It can get painful, and few of us have the ears to really test how distorted it's getting.

The SRM's may 'peak' at 150W, but even according to their spec sheet http://www.mackie.com/products/srm150/pdf/SRM150_SS.pdf they are 100W sustained power. But the really telling specs are, it's 10db down at 60Hz, 3db down at 100Hz. And there's a high frequency rolloff, too.

Like most hotspots, it's DESIGNED to emphasize the vocal range of frequencies, to help you hear your voice clearly on stage in a band. It's not designed to be a flat speaker system for full range sources. At what it is designed for, it's a great product (I have a pair!). And, TBH, compared to the built in speakers of most arrangers, it is quite comparable, except for maximum volume.

But that's more an indictment of the built in speakers, than a ringing endorsement of the SRM150's!

I have yet to hear ANY built-in speakers that were even CLOSE to flat, they ALL emphasize mid-range frequencies... This is why you'll find the mastering EQ's and compressors in arrangers are set up to CUT mids, and boost bass and treble. Take all that stuff off, you quickly hear what they actually sound like! Thing is, all that EQ quickly chews up your headroom, and things start to get ugly as you bump against the power amp ceiling and the design of the cabinets.

There's a REASON studio monitors are not tiny flat little 4" speakers! And there's a reason PA speakers aren't tiny little flat 4" speakers!

And, if you have the ears to hear, play your arranger through a full range stereo system at home, as loud as you can stand it, then play it AT THE SAME VOLUME through the built-ins, it's going to get ugly!

Not just the bass, but the top end gets shrill, mids get distorted, it basically just craps out. But what do you expect from 10-30W? LOL


10-15pp....low volume....= SRM 150 success!