10 Ways Mackie Set a New Industry Standard With SRM V-Class Loudspeakers

Mackie SRM V-Class loudspeakers are an experiment: What happens when we put everything into making the absolute best PA speakers we possibly can?

For Mackie, “everything” is quite a lot: We designed some of the most popular PA speakers ever made. We have access to the best loudspeaker components. We have the latest technology. We have the knowledge to develop that technology into industry-changing features. We have a cool “running man” logo. (Okay, the last one is a little less important.)

So, with everything on the line, how did we do? Surprise: We nailed it. 

Mackie SRM V-Class loudspeakers are a new pinnacle for PA systems. These are high-performance PA speakers with a new level of clarity and performance, for professional DJs and venues that refuse to compromise on sound. It’s all possible because we set aside the usual concerns about what’s “affordable” or “feasible” and focused on making Mackie SRM V-Class the best-in-class loudspeaker in every single way. Here’s ten of those ways.

1. SRM V-Class Is an SPL Powerhouse

Any loudspeaker starts, of course, with power. The amplifier is what puts the “loud” in loudspeaker. Mackie has designed countless high-performance amps over the years. So, we don’t put this lightly: SRM V-Class is built on our most advanced amplifier platform ever.

You can see it in the results: Mackie SRM V-Class puts out higher SPL (sound pressure level) than any 2,000W speaker in its class. The SPL even outperforms some speakers that claim higher wattage than that (ahem). In simple terms, that means SRM V-Class gets louder than the competition, while maintaining incredible stability and fidelity.

And just to push the limit a little farther, we made sure you will get this exceptional performance at any gig, in any space, even when the AC power is shaky. Power Factor Correction keeps SRM V-Class solid and reliable (and LOUD!) no matter what.

2. The Components Are Overengineered—on Purpose!

A loudspeaker can only be as good as the components you use to build it. For SRM V-Class, we didn’t want to cut it close. We overengineered the transducers on purpose, from the magnets to the motors to the custom voice coil, using oversized parts so that performance will never be an issue. Then, in the spirit of pushing the limit, we also engineered the cabinet around these large transducers, placing extra cooling vents and porting for the most heat dispersion possible. 

Think of it like a muscle car. Realistically, most of the time you won’t need to use all that horsepower. But you know that if you ever want to really open it up, that car can go 198 miles per hour. That’s how we built SRM V-Class.

3. Our Very Own Horn (and It’s Worth Tooting)

The “horn” of a loudspeaker is pretty simple, right? Just an opening around the tweeter? Not something to fixate on? Sure—if you’re lazy. 

Mackie designed the Sym-X™ horn specifically to get the flattest possible response from the high-frequency transducer in the SRM V-Class speaker. Imagine the sound of a horn or trumpet. Hear the ringing in your ears? Our horn is designed to do away with those harsh frequencies, giving you crystal-clear highs. It also ensures a symmetrical transition between high and low frequencies, creating a very smooth midrange.

A little bonus: We also designed the Sym-X™ horn to allow the high-frequency compression driver to operate as efficiently as possible. So, in addition to being more accurate, our horn is also LOUDER than the other horns. We can’t help but toot it.

4. The Filter Is More Than a Filter

It’s easy enough to add a filter to a loudspeaker and make it sound good under ideal conditions. But in the real world, when you’re gigging or building out a venue, there’s no such thing as ideal. You have to work with the space you’re given. So, we needed SRM V-Class to sound fantastic anywhere, at any volume, playing any sound. Otherwise, what’s the point? 

We accomplished this feat by developing our revolutionary Advanced Impulse™ DSP. There’s some real technical wizardry involved, combining multiband compression and FIR filtering. You can see this video for the details. But what matters most is results: perfect, clean sound across the entire dispersion zone, no matter where you place your SRM V-Class speakers.

5. The Limiter Is More Than a Limiter

Just like the filter, it’s easy to add a “brick wall” limiter to a loudspeaker, letting you get a few more dB while protecting the speaker from overloading. Most PA speakers have something like this. The downside of this approach is that the sound quality will suffer. When you reach the highest volumes, your PA system will sound like the bass has been sucked out. For a DJ, that’s exactly what you don’t want when you turn up the volume!

Mackie SRM V-Class loudspeakers use a more precise kind of protection, leaving the music transparent and clear even at maximum volume. It’s done by constantly analyzing the audio signal, compressing only the frequencies that are causing issues. By applying compression so precisely while leaving the rest of the signal untouched, SRM V-Class can run right up against maximum operating volume while keeping remarkable sound quality.

6. We Got the Bass a Smart Manager

Believe it or not, bass can actually be quite subtle. Especially in genres like EDM and hip hop, the difference between a hit song and a dud often comes down to getting the low end just right. So, when audiences hear the song live, they will expect to hear (and feel) those detailed low frequencies in all their glory. Instead, club speakers often produce a mud puddle of bass, with no space or definition. It takes a certain intelligence to manage the low end in a way that keeps all the complexity. Bass needs a smart manager.

Intelligent Bass Management™ knows how to keep the bass in line, but tastefully—keeping it punchy and impactful but never overwhelming, even when you crank the speaker.

7. The Full (and Full Color) Mixing Experience

It’s typical for a loudspeaker to have a couple inputs so you can connect a DJ mixer and maybe a microphone. But what if you want to monitor all your levels at once, visually, like you would on a digital mixing board? What if you want to connect a passive instrument that needs a high-impedance (Hi-Z) input? What if you want to connect two mics and a stereo playback device at the same time? What if you want to make precise EQ adjustments? 

Normally, to get all those benefits, you’ll need to purchase a separate mixer. But for a gigging DJ or a venue with limited space, more gear comes with real downsides. So, the perfect loudspeaker would have all those perks without needing more equipment. That’s the approach of SRM Mix Control™—a bona fide 4-channel digital mixer built into each SRM V-Class speaker. Instead of just managing inputs, SRM Mix Control™ gives you the tools to actually craft a mix. Tweak the levels. Shape the sound with EQ. Switch between voicing modes depending on the venue and application. Get the full mixing experience with a full color screen, and when everything is perfect, save a user preset—you can save up to ten!

8. We Added More Ways to Connect and Control

When you’re running a venue, or working as a DJ or performer, convenience isn’t just a luxury—it saves valuable time. We took convenience seriously with SRM V-Class, creating a high-performance loudspeaker that’s as easy to use as a Bluetooth® speaker. 

Connect your smartphone and use the SRM Connect™ app to control the speaker wirelessly. Anything you can do with SRM Mix Control™ mixer on the back of the speaker, you can do from the middle of the dance floor with the app. No wasting time running back and forth. You can also use Bluetooth® to stream audio from your phone. (It’s an especially handy backup if your DJ equipment fails. Nobody will be any the wiser.)

Oh, and one more thing: everything we just said? You can do it all for two SRM V-Class speakers at the same time, in stereo or dual mono, connected wirelessly with Bluetooth®.

9. These Loudspeakers Sound Like Studio Monitors

Mackie SRM V-Class is the latest evolution of the iconic Mackie SRM Series, dating back to the SRM450. The goal with the original series was to create a PA speaker that sounds like a studio monitor—meaning a flat, clear frequency response. Instead of “hyping” the music like typical club speakers, SRM loudspeakers would reproduce the music in an honest, transparent way, the way the artist intended it to sound. SRM450 went on to become the most popular portable loudspeaker in the world, essentially defining the category.

SRM V-Class can only be a worthy successor if it improves on the original. Combining the latest technology and new innovations, we created loudspeakers that deliver on the goal of taking studio-quality sound to the stage. SRM V-Class loudspeakers might as well be giant studio monitors—though they might take up a bit too much space in your studio!

10. It’s Our Most Premium Loudspeaker—and It’s Still a Bargain

As you can tell by now, the goal of SRM V-Class was to make the best loudspeaker possible. Performance, not cost, was the top priority. But even still, wouldn’t the best loudspeaker have a competitive price? Simply put, SRM V-Class outperforms any other loudspeaker you can get for the price. It even outshines some speakers that cost more. (We won’t name names,)

Choose the Best SRM V-Class Speaker for You

Every Mackie SRM V-Class speaker outperforms the competition in all of these ways. The portable 10” SRM210 and 12” SRM212 are especially good for touring musicians and mobile DJs. For permanent installations, there’s the beefier (but still portable) 15” SRM215. For even more pronounced low end that shakes the floor, check out the compatible SR18S subwoofer.

And, through May 31st, you can save $150 on SRM212, SRM215 and SR18S. So these loudspeakers can save you money, too. Is that an 11th way?