Mackie ShowBox All-in-one Performance Rig Reviews
Live performers searching for a supremely capable battery-powered speaker will fall in love with the Mackie ShowBox. Sweetwater can confirm that it lives up to its billing as an all-in-one performance rig. The speaker is a sensational guitar amplifier and a seriously capable PA speaker. It has an onboard 6-channel mixer with two microphone inputs, two hi-Z instrument inputs for guitar or bass, and a stereo input for line-level sources. Speaking of the mixer, you don’t have to be behind the speaker to make level tweaks. Mount the breakaway mixer to your mic stand with the included mount adapter and tweak EQ, compression, built-in FX, looper, and more from anywhere onstage in a flash. We’re just scratching the surface of this battery-powered speaker’s amazing capabilities. Read on to discover how the ShowBox can change the way you play guitar onstage.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Great System With a Unique Approach
There are so many battery-powered systems on the market now but Mackie did something truly unique with this one with the breakaway mixer and also added a bunch of cool features.
It would be good if they developed the looper further to be a 2-button looper but this system is definitely worth checking out if you don't like using apps!
Mackie Show box
What can be improved;
1. Add Echoplex to FX
2. The removable mixer control panel box is made of plastic, feels and looks cheap. Should be made of more durable metal.
3.The green RC cable used to connect removable mixer should be Bluetooth capable as well.
4. The built in Mackie Bluetooth should be compatible with any Bluetooth speaker etc...
5. The screws that hold front screen to speaker should be better mounted as the grill can rattle at higher sound levels.
6. The tweeter needs to be better quality. The large speaker is adequate.
7. Tuner not great.
8. Looper could be better, and at this price point should include the pedal to run it.
The good;
Works well on battery power, Id say the twelve hour battery life is over stated.
More around 4-6 hours at best, with 4 hours being your safe point.
Would suggest Mackie add three way AC on-off-battery power settings, as when your plugged in for rehearsal using AC, you must remember to turn off system or it will remain on running in battery power, annoying when in a studio setting.
Would also suggest that for busking they add a power out, so one could run a series of pedals, using the same battery power from the amp, otherwise your limited to the FX settings in the PA.
Has good Fx settings, except for an Echoplex which is useful for singers.
No instructions on how to connect a pedal such as TC Helicon Acoustic Play.
I found the best sound to be sending the mic and guitar out from the Helicon to both mic in on the Show Box.
If anyone can suggest better way, then please advise, as of this writing have not heard back from the Mackie folks.
Very adequate to use as a monitor and mixer control sending to larger speaker system.
Overall the FX settings built in are very useful, the auto set gain, extremely useful.
Yes, overall a very good product, just needs further tweaking.
