Today I stopped at GC to pick up a cable and saw that they had just received the SRM350s. This is a speaker that has had a fair amount of hype so I was excited to check it out.

We A/B the speaker against a JBL EON10 G2. Fair comparison... both ~ the same size, same price, and both with a 10" speaker, tho the JBL weighs 23 lbs and the 350 ~ 33 lbs.

IMO, the SRM outperformed the JBL, in terms of overall high fidelity sound quality, by a notch or 2. We also compared the Yamaha MSR100, which ran a distant 3rd, IMO.

I must add that considering price, size, and convenience along with performance, the MSR100 is hard to beat. But again, I was only considering sound quality, which at best is very subjective. What I personally look for is much the same as what I would look for (actually LISTEN for) in stereo speakers... a good smooth spectrum of high fidelity sound that has little coloration, but good clean highs and solid, not mushy, bass.

I was impressed enough to purchase the 350. I will giving it a good A/B comparison against the EON10 and EV SxA100 over the next few days.

The horn in the Mackie is the truest of them all. I like the high end response best in the 450s.

Uncle Dave,
You once said if you had a separate mixer
and power amp, you would prefer the unpowered
Mackies and a powered subwoofer.
What model subwoofer would you recommend?

For the last few days I've been testing the SRM350 and really like it. I've had it in my living room sitting next to my SxA100 and EON10G2... playing and singing (SD1 & Senn 855), running midis, mp3s, and spending a fair amount of time listening to comparisons, I am convinced that the 350 is an excellent speaker choice.

Only downside, it has slightly less volume than the other 2 speakers. On the plus, it has better clarity/fidelity. Within the next few days, I should be comparing it with the new EV SXA360 and possibly Barbetta Sona 32.

[This message has been edited by GlennT (edited 09-16-2004).]

Don't overlook Sona 31C. It's smaller than the 32C, but it sounds absolutely fantastic. I have Hank The Lurkers 31s in the club. The only advantage I can see to the 32s is that they have a longer throw and are better for extremely large areas.
DonM

Actually the SRM350 has a higher dB (SPL) rating than the JBL EON10G2 does. And the ElectroVoice SX100 just squeaks (sorry Squeak_D ) past the SRM350 in maximum sound output. But you have to realize that the SX100 has a 12" woofer vs. the SRM350's 10" woofer so you are not really comparing apples to apples. But I agree with you Glenn that the JBL EON10G2 and or the ElectroVoice SX100 would make great choices for Speakers also. Plus with the ElectroVoice SX100/+ you save around $200 per speaker vs. the Mackie SRM 350's.

But the ElectroVoice SX100/+ is a passive Speaker, am I correct? So the Mackies, being an Active Speaker, cost more because they are Bi-Amped. Which is only natural that they would cost more because of the built-in Amplification system. Soooo, to that I say, - touché.

Best regards,
Mike

I think 10s to 12s is a fair comparison, and in most cases a ten (in the right enclosure )will out perform a twelve inch speaker.

10s give a defined, tight, full bass, while 12s tend to splat. My sb120 used to do plenty of splatting whenever I played modern music at any decent volume for a party.

Personally,if there was no Bose system - my rig would be 2 eon10G2s with the ROland subwoofer from the KC series.

Yes you are, but my mistake... I should have identified my EV as SxA100 (the A stands for active). My comparisons include only active speakers.

Do you mean the Roland KCW-1 powered subwoofer?

Hi Glenn,

How much less volume does the SRM350's put out compared to the SxA100's? How large a venue including # of people do you think the SRM350's can handle and still sound good.

The new Mackie SRM350's certainly sounds appealing especially for it's size and weight, and knowing from our private conversations in person, how much you appreciate a smooth natural unhyped sound. I'm really anxious to hear your comparison report of it to the Sxa360's. - Scott