TEST: Mackie Thump 12A-15A

 Never change a running system, or to put it another way, never change a box office hit, at most modify it. Similar thought processes must have gone through the minds of Mackie's engineers when they brought the current successor to the successful series onto the market with the Mackie Thump 12A and 15A. So what should you change about a well-performing product to make it a little simpler, easier or perhaps just prettier for the user? Let's take a closer look at the two protagonists in more detail.

Construction and construction

OK, I admit, I had to smile at the first thought that popped into my head while unpacking the components. Battlestar Galactica? The Cylons attack? No, the statement is of course completely exaggerated, but the rounded shapes of its predecessors are now followed by hard edges in the current series, which reminds me of the silver puppet troupe from the seventies, especially from the rear view. In return, stackability increases significantly and, even with daisy chain operation, several housings can be better put together to form a compartment.

The concept of the full-range boxes has remained the same. Depending on the version, a 12 or 15 inch speaker takes care of the bass range, while a 1.4 inch tweeter with a titanium compression driver dome covers the high frequency range. We separated at 2 kHz. The frequency response is given as 50 Hz - 23 kHz (12A) and 32 Hz - 23 kHz (15A), although we all know from practice that all products of this type have long since abandoned linearity below 100 Hz, even a newborn The hearing power does not exceed 20 kHz. But consumers love numbers and it always reads so beautifully.

Which brings us to the next power point. According to the sticker on the front, both systems deliver 1300 watts peak, with 1000 watts being delivered to the woofer via a Class D power amplifier and 300 watts to the tweeter via a Class A/B power amplifier. Here you can safely smile a second time if you take the appropriate but not specified RMS or even sine values as a reference, but see the last paragraph.

Due to the stable but comparatively light plastic housing, the boxes with dimensions of 615 x 358 x 356 mm weigh only 15.4 kilograms (12A), or 686 x 442 x 356 mm and 18.3 kilograms ( 15A). The flexible orientation in terms of operating modes has also remained, so the speakers can be operated in standard operation, in high stand mode via the internally installed commercially available 35 mm flange or, due to the trapezoidal shape, also as a floor monitor. Despite the indicated holes, flight operations are not possible with the Mackie Thump 12A and 15A, but are reserved for the next higher variant, the Mackie Thump 12BST and 15BST.

Connections and concept

To my knowledge, the plug-and-play concept has rarely been implemented as consistently in a product from the sound reinforcement industry as with the Mackie Thump 12A and 15A. Starting with a manual, which includes printing of contact addresses and all legal obligations in 4 languages with only 12 pages of DIN A4, to the fact that the products do not have any sound control. Instead, the Mackie Thump 12A and 15A have four permanently configured modes called Music, Live, Monitor and Subwoofer. In the music area there is a slight scoop, the live area is comparatively linear, the monitor cuts the bass and high mids for the purpose of feedback loops and in the subwoofer Mackie puts a very steep high pass at around 120 Hz into the frequency response. The operating modes can be accessed one after the other using a pressure switch. In addition to the pressure switch, another switch allows you to deactivate the operating LED in order not to disturb presentations that place great value on appearance.

The Mackie Thump 12A and 15A have two combination sockets as connections, each of which has its own gain control. The designations Line, U (0 dB) and Mic were printed as a rough guide; there is no exact designation or an overload display in the preamplifier. Your ears have to do it. A common master volume control regulates the final volume, which has a clip LED. To the right of the combination sockets there is an XLR out for daisy chain operation, power switch, cold device plug with integrated universal power supply (100-240V AC), and that's it.

Practice

Let's start with the basic sound of the product. In contrast to its predecessor, Mackie emphasizes that they have built more power and a more pronounced bass reproduction into their Thump products. This is correct. The previous 200 watt sine wave is now available with around 400 watt sine wave (???), which actually allows for greater headroom, especially in the bass range. Up until just before the clipping area, the bass reproduction remains concise and crisp, allowing for a voluminous sound for this size of speaker.

The treble range is a little harder and sharper, which is also due to the area of use. The Thump series is not a studio monitor, whose resolution and depth graduation are as fine as possible are a must. Rather, it's about acoustically illuminating as many square meters as possible, which is a completely different premise. Mackie succeeds in this very well, even though everything outside of around 60 degrees in the treble range is actually no longer captured. Here you would most likely get 2 pieces each. Grab boxes on each side to get the problem under control.

As expected, the 15A version has a slightly higher bass content, while the slightly faster 12-inch bass speaker captures the center hole at around 2 kHz a little better than the heavier 15-inch speaker. There is no winner, it is advisable to check both variants and choose your personal favorite.

Mackie's selling point is that it can process all signals within the Thump family without any effort, be it a directly connected microphone, a line signal such as a keyboard, a string instrument such as a bass or an MP3 player. This can generally be answered with “yes” first, but followed by a big “but”. What every experienced sound person already knows may throw some beginners back a bit in their budget planning.

The Mackie Thump 12A and 15A basically “just make noise” and they do it well. However, when it comes to sound shaping, it is actually not possible to adequately amplify a microphone with an XLR input and a gain control as well as a volume control. The principle may still work to make a quick loud announcement or to acoustically hit customers with your goods in the style of a weekly market, but within a band context with singing, this minimalism reaches its limits.

The lack of even rudimentary filters cannot influence the sound of the signal in terms of microphone coloring or the vocal context, not to mention further dynamic signal processing such as compressors. It is therefore urgently advisable to include a suitable multi-channel mixer and suitable peripherals in your financial planning; this is the only way the speakers can show off their strengths. The “Live” preset, which is set almost linearly at the factory, in conjunction with the “U” position, speaks volumes.

If you ultimately only leave the volume to the Thump series and see the remaining presets as a good bonus for quick use, the speakers are really convincing, especially for this price.


Conclusion

With the Mackie Thump 12A and 15A series, America's best-known mixer manufacturer impresses in many ways. Conceptually designed for plug-and-play, almost all sound sources can be connected and amplified within seconds, with improved bass management and higher power output making its predecessor pale.

If you now take the time to optimize the signals present using external mixers and signal management, the Thump series can fulfill its actual function of “making loud” in the best possible way.

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Additional Informations:

## The History of 2-Way Loudspeakers in the PA Industry: A Comprehensive Overview

Two-way loudspeakers have become a staple in the professional audio (PA) industry, providing clear, high-quality sound for a wide range of applications, from live concerts and music festivals to conferences and corporate events. Their widespread adoption can be attributed to their ability to deliver a well-balanced soundscape that caters to both low and high frequencies, making them versatile and suitable for various acoustic environments.

The evolution of 2-way loudspeakers in the PA realm is an intriguing narrative that intertwines technological advancements with the ever-changing demands of sound reinforcement. To fully grasp the significance of these speakers, it's essential to delve into their history, understanding the factors that shaped their design and contributed to their dominance in the PA landscape.

### The Early Days: Laying the Foundation for Two-Way Sound

The concept of two-way loudspeaker systems can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the invention of the first electrical loudspeakers. These early designs were rudimentary, often consisting of a single cone driver responsible for reproducing the entire audio spectrum. However, as the demand for higher-fidelity sound grew, the limitations of these single-driver systems became apparent.

In the 1920s, advancements in loudspeaker technology led to the development of multi-driver systems, paving the way for the emergence of two-way loudspeakers. These early two-way systems typically employed a combination of a woofer (for low frequencies) and a tweeter (for high frequencies), each specialized to handle their respective portion of the audio spectrum.

### Pioneering Efforts and Technological Milestones

The 1930s and 1940s witnessed significant advancements in two-way loudspeaker technology, driven by the efforts of pioneering engineers and companies. Altec Lansing, JBL, and Electro-Voice were among the early innovators, introducing groundbreaking loudspeaker designs that pushed the boundaries of sound quality and performance.

A notable milestone in the history of two-way loudspeakers was the development of the coaxial loudspeaker in the 1940s. This innovative design placed the tweeter directly in the voice coil of the woofer, resulting in improved dispersion and phase coherence. Coaxial loudspeakers quickly gained popularity in PA applications, particularly for vocal reinforcement.

### The Rise of Two-Way Loudspeakers in the PA Industry

The post-World War II era saw a surge in the popularity of two-way loudspeakers in the PA industry. This was fueled by several factors, including:

* **Improved Sound Quality:** Two-way loudspeakers offered a significant improvement in sound quality compared to single-driver systems, providing a more balanced and detailed soundscape.

* **Versatility:** Two-way loudspeakers proved versatile, suitable for a wide range of PA applications, from small venues to large outdoor concerts.

* **Portability:** Advancements in loudspeaker design led to more compact and lightweight two-way systems, making them easier to transport and set up.

As a result of these factors, two-way loudspeakers became the go-to choice for sound reinforcement professionals, replacing single-driver systems in many applications.

### The Modern Era: Refinements and Innovations

The modern era of two-way loudspeakers has been characterized by continuous refinement and innovation. With the advent of new materials, manufacturing techniques, and computer-aided design tools, loudspeaker engineers have been able to push the performance boundaries of two-way systems.

Key advancements in modern two-way loudspeaker design include:

* **Improved Driver Technology:** Woofers and tweeters have undergone significant improvements in terms of efficiency, power handling, and frequency response.

* **Advanced Crossover Networks:** Crossover networks, which divide the audio signal between the woofer and tweeter, have become more sophisticated, ensuring seamless transitions between frequency ranges.

* **Speaker Enclosure Design:** Enclosure design has evolved, with a focus on optimizing airflow, reducing resonances, and improving overall sound dispersion.

### Conclusion: Two-Way Loudspeakers – A Cornerstone of PA Technology

Two-way loudspeakers have firmly established themselves as a cornerstone of PA technology, providing a versatile and high-quality sound solution for a diverse range of applications. Their ability to deliver clear, balanced sound across the frequency spectrum has made them indispensable for sound reinforcement professionals worldwide.

As technology continues to advance, two-way loudspeakers are poised to remain at the forefront of PA innovation, with further refinements and advancements in driver design, crossover technology, and enclosure materials. The future of two-way loudspeakers is undoubtedly bright, ensuring that they will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the soundscapes of live performances, events, and installations for years to come.