My littlle review of the FTB 4a's vs the SRM450 Mackie speakers

[drumstix]

Hello all! Well Im still searching all the info I can for the subs but this weekend I rented a set of FBT Maxx 4A speakers. I have a set of Mackie SRM450's but after finding this web sight and reading all about several different speakers out there that I didnt know existed, I just had to try to see if I have been missing something. Well, looks like I have!
We played out at the LA Rescue Mission on friday, I personally didnt get to hear the sound even though I was told they sounded great, being the drummer as well as the sound guy-so today I brought in one SRM450 and a 4a speaker in our small studio for a sound check. We used a keyboard, guitar and vocals for our test-plugged into a old Mackie DFX, (I didnt feel like lugging in the Mixwiz) used the left right mains up and down with the speakers side by side.
Hands down the FBT is much louder, in fact there is some speaker hiss, where as the 450 is quiet at normal settings but if you crank it up it does hiss abit to. I brought the gain up to about 3 and set the volume down to about 2 on the FBT and the hiss went away, but the speaker is still much louder then the Mackie. Man, this speaker is light too! An honest 32 pounds vs the 45 pound Mackie, I did a weight check on a bath scale.

The 4a has a more fuller sound, much more low end and yet has good highs and mids, the Mackie is reall nice and smooth at a moderate volume, has great mids and highs for accustic work, in the past we tried to run a bass through them with no luck, just doesnt have the low end punch, maybe its me! Our guitarist, bassist, and my wife all agree that the FBT sounds better, including a members wife who doesnt know much about speakers or what brand is what, but she clearly liked the FBT over the Mackie. The Mackie is still a good speaker, and I would take it over alot of other speakers out there including a EV SxA 100+, I have one of those as a monitor. Before that I have tried an American Audio, took it back the next day too.
The FBT has great sound, it has a low,mid and a high EQ on the cabinet even if you dont need it, I kept the settings pretty flat on the speaker. Ive used the Mackies as our mains for over a year now with no problems at all, hows the durability on the FBT's? I can only hope that they would be as good, the place I rented them from has 20 of these, they as well did a test and chose the FBT's over the list of who's who of powered speakers, even the NX550P, I sure would like a crack at them next for my own ears, just dont know where to find them yet. They will weigh the same as the SRM's so no weight savings or ease on the back thier, but if they sound even better than the FBT's that would be a SWEET speaker, so now back to the sub search, anyone what to buy a set of clean-one-owner-hardly-used set of SRM's?

[KPAudio]

I also own 2 sets of FBT MaxX4A and a set of SRM450. Just wanted to say, that I'm of the exact same oppinion as drumstix. My SRM450's are now for sale. Switched to the FBT completely, and never looked back.

[Randy Focht]

Both of these are 65 lb subs and supposedly do 127db:

I am on the verge of purchasing a FBT Maxx9sa sub, 900 watts rms. Some kind of synthetic box. I've had good recommendations on this sub, and that it was supposed to be tight, not boomey. It was compared as having better definition than the Mackie 1501 15" . Certainly lighter than the Mackie 15" sub.

The other sub that I was considering was the DB Technology Opera 4115. It uses a light paper coned whoofer and 400 watts rms. It is a wood box, and advertised as going down to 30 hz -3db. No one seems to know if this is actual or a misprint, since there are numerous misprints on their website including weight. One place says it only weighs 40 lbs. Another says 53 lbs. Neither of these weights are correct. It is actually 65 lbs.
No one seems to know anything about this sub except for a hand full of dealers say it is a good sub. The only comment that had any value was that it would probably do what I needed for smaller to medium sized gigs, but the JBL Mpro 418s which I also own, blew it away. Ps. the 418s only goes to 40hz -3db and supposedly to 131 db.

I am guessing that the FBT speakers are better than the DB technologies.

[Randy Focht]

The Maxx6a goes to 40hz -6db, where the sub goes to 40hz -5db. Not much difference.

It almost sounds like it would be smarter to buy two of the 6a's instead of the sub, for larger audiencies. I have read posts that said they used the 6a's without subs.
Price: 6a $1050 700 watts rms to the whoofer
9sa $925 900 watts rms to the whoffer
Both weigh 65 lbs.

The advantages is that the 6a can also be used as a full range speaker when I needed a 4 or 6 speaker system. (2 4a's, 2 6a's, 2 Yorkville nx550's)

What about putting the 6a on the floor facing up on the sides of the dance floor acting like a sub (for the dance floor area only) in addition to the 4a/mains on poles above everyone's heads. I don't care about booming the room, just the dance floor.

I also have ordered Yorkville nx550 which should be arriving soon, I hope.

Should be an interesting comparrison.

I am selling 2 brand new Mackie 350's in the Hawaii area.

[drumstix]

the shop that had the FBT 4a's is a pro rental shop that does sound setups for small - very large events, they got the FBT's mainly for a large event in Islands somewhere. I think it was a Red Bull event. They have like 20 of these speakers but no other in the FBT line including the subs. The other speakers do look impressive and I sure would like to hear them. A very light sub sure would be nice. Reguarding the 6a, man its hard to imagine a more powerful 4a! That speaker just flat kicks! Incredible lows and mids for a 12" speaker.
My wife can be hard to please, she loves the vocals sound in the SRM450's, and with one or two subs Im sure that they will sound better. I will probably rent the FBT's again and hope to be able to spend more time with the EQ and effects to get the vocals where she likes them. I will somehow listen to the NX550P's sometime, if not the NAMM show, I will search out a store or a private party to hear them, intell that time however I will just use the Mackie's. Then perhaps I will make a new perchase, Yorkie's or FBT's.
Sofar it seams that the Yorkville LS800p, 700p and the EV SB760 are my subs to choose from, maybe even the FBT, if I can find one. I have been told that the new EV 760 (powered 15") just rocks, and covers alot of freq. that some subs cant, could be store hype too, and the Yorkville still seems to be the favorite here, I dont know if the 18" will hit some of the higher freq. that the 700p's dual 10's can, or even the 15", Im still searching that info out.

[abzurd]

Originally posted by drumstix
I dont know if the 18" will hit some of the higher freq. that the 700p's dual 10's can, or even the 15", Im still searching that info out.

How high do you need? You're generally crossing over somewhere around 100 Hz. Subs aren't supposed to hit "higher freq".

[drumstix]

Originally posted by abzurd


How high do you need? You're generally crossing over somewhere around 100 Hz. Subs aren't supposed to hit "higher freq".

I asked a SR guy some seems to have a good record about subs, he told me I dont need a 18" or rather want an 18", and that I should only look at 15"ers. Then I came here and found that most of you guy's use 18"s. I just want to get the best I can get so I dont have to upgrade later. He told me with an 18" sub there will be holes in the sound and with a 15" I wont have that problem.

[abzurd]

Originally posted by drumstix


I asked a SR guy some seems to have a good record about subs, he told me I don't need a 18" or rather want an 18", and that I should only look at 15"ers. Then I came here and found that most of you guy's use 18"s. I just want to get the best I can get so I don't have to upgrade later. He told me with an 18" sub there will be holes in the sound and with a 15" I wont have that problem.

Pretty ignorant and arbitrary statement from the "SR guy" if you ask me. It's not really driver size that matters, it's the quality of the driver itself, combined with the design of the sub-woofer box. There are many variations on bandpass and horn loads. Even front loads have different types of porting.

You can generalize the characteristics of some designs, such as a 15" front load will have a "tight" sound, but at the expense of of "throw" and possibly low frequency response. But even within the same design types you'll have variations in sound from different manufacturers. To say that 15's are better because they go higher and "fill holes" is just plain silly.

Any "holes" in subwoofers would be within their operating range. For instance 40 - 100 Hz, you may have a particular design that is a bit less efficient at 60 Hz due to the horn design. Not really a matter of driver size. Not going "high enough" though is never really a concern as both 18's and 15's can go well past what's needed for a typical crossover point of 90 - 120 Hz.

[Jazz+]

I owned Max 4A's, Max 2A's and Mackie SRM450 speakers and I agree with drumstix' review.
Then I heard the EV SXa360's side by side and they clearly trumped my FBT Max4A's. By the way, the EV SXa100 is nothing like the EV SXa360. I sold the Mackies the FBT 2As and bought the EV SXa360s and still like them. I also still have a pair of the Max 4A's at the studio and they are nice, but not as nice as the EV SXa360's.

[Randy Focht]

Hi Jazz,

Ok, you've heard and owned the Mackie 450, the FBT Maxx4a, and now the EV SXa360. And the EV is better. How would you describe the "Better" part?

ie. Does it have more bass? a smoother midrange? more volume? more kick?

How does the EV compare with the Yorkville nx550 if you have heard them for comparrison?

For good or bad, I just ordered the FBT Maxx4a and 9sa yesterday.

Someday I hope to get a chance to compare the 4a, the nx550, and the SXa360 side by side, but until then, I appreciate your reviews.
Randy

[Randy Focht]

I did look at the EV Sxa 360 before, but because of it's 65x65 degreen horn, did not think that it would do well in a reception ballroom where tables are to the direct right and left of the speakers.

Also, it looks as if the low frequency rolls off quite high as it's -10db point is 60hz. The -3db point might be between 70-100hz.

It does go quite loud, possibly because it's not carrying much bass. I'm guessing that It would be great with a sub, but not without a sub.

[drumstix]

Originally posted by Jazz+
I owned Max 4A's, Max 2A's and Mackie SRM450 speakers and I agree with drumstix' review.
Then I heard the EV SXa360's side by side and they clearly trumped my FBT Max4A's. By the way, the EV SXa100 is nothing like the EV SXa360. I sold the Mackies the FBT 2As and bought the EV SXa360s and still like them. I also still have a pair of the Max 4A's at the studio and they are nice, but not as nice as the EV SXa360's.

Thats a pretty impessive review of the EV's, I think I wouldnt mind a looksey. Its just another speaker that I cant hear though, the only EV dealer around is Sam Ash and the highest level they carry is the SXa250. I dont want to special order any without hearing them.

Are you runnig a sub at all?

Thanks Bob