mackie c300

[mark karaoke]

i'm after some new speakers and i prefer the passive route --- i was wondering if anybody has experience or knowledge of the mackie c300's --are they a passive version of the srm450's or are they an inferior unit???
many thanks mark

[Steve James]

are they a passive version of the srm450's or are they an inferior unit???
many thanks mark
Yes, these as a passive version. They use a less powerful driver than the srm's. As for quality, get a decent amp & they should run like a steam train.
Btw, I run the 450's as do many others on the forum & I can't fault them.

[Steve James]

Yes, these as a passive version. They use a less powerful driver than the srm's. As for quality, get a decent amp & they should run like a steam train.
Btw, I run the 450's as do many others on the forum & I can't fault them.
Just to add to this - These also use a 12" driver & the cabs are plastic (same as the 450's) so if your looking for extended bass it may be worth looking at buying a sub. Best of luck :)

[Charlie Brown]

I agree that you will need a sub.

What's your reason for choosing passive over active? :)

[rob1963]

i'm after some new speakers and i prefer the passive route --- i was wondering if anybody has experience or knowledge of the mackie c300's --are they a passive version of the srm450's or are they an inferior unit???
many thanks mark

I've been using the Mackie C300's for a couple of years now.

I'm very pleased with them. I believe the max SPL is about 123db & they sound great.

Only slight downside is the weight...23kg I think, which is quite a lot for a passive cabinet with a 12" cone.

[spin mobile disco]

They are not inferior to the 450 in fact in many ways they are superior. I ran a pair with rse amps for several years and they could really pump it out never had to clip them either. I tried them alongside a pair of mackie srm v1's and the powered ones where clipping my c300s were only about 2 thirds up.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm not sure how you can say that the 300z are superior when the amp has been specially built to match the speaker on the 450s.

I have had both and would say the 450 sound better.

[mark karaoke]

thanks for all your advice,please keep it coming
charlie --- the reason i am going the passive route is that i already have a dynacord powermate 600 and an fbt pickup 14a so it wouldnt make sense to buy the powered speakers and go out and but a passive mixer on top,and i have found athe c300's at what i believe to be a bargain price (£480 apair including stands on thomann)-- is this a bargain???

[spin mobile disco]

I'm not sure how you can say that the 300z are superior when the amp has been specially built to match the speaker on the 450s.

I have had both and would say the 450 sound better.

They were made by mackie to match however other manafacurers make amps of much better quility than mackie did. Also they had to sacrifice things like thermal control etc to keep weight down.
Besides its just an opinion I have heard both side by side on many occasions and prefer the c300's to the 450.

[soundscapes]

i ran c300's and found them to sound a tad harsh compared to the 450's