Gearank

Mackie is prominent in the competitive entry level market, due to their products' impressive quality and value ratio. Case in point is the Mackie C300z, a popular passive pa speaker for small venues, which continues to best others in terms of owner ratings.

With its 12" woofer, 1.75" titanium tweeter and lower 300W RMS power handling, the C300z is meant to provide great sonic clarity at appropriate volumes fit for coffee shops, book stores, art galleries and the like.

It's also light which is great for mobile use, and can be suspended in case you want a more permanent position.

Features:

• 12" LF Driver
• 1.75" HF Driver
• Continuous Power: 300W
• Program Power: 500W
• Peak Power: 750W
• Sensitivity: (1W@1m) 98 dB
• Impedance 8 ohms
• Frequency Range: 45Hz - 20kHz
• Maximum Peak SPL: 123dB
• Weight: 46 lbs.

Pros
Reviews are replete of appreciation for its clear and detailed sound. Users who employ the C300z for both speaking engagements and band performances find it to be more than what they expected - and they gladly recommend it to others. It is also surprisingly loud for a 300W RMS rated speaker, some have even successfully used it as the main speakers for DJ gigs.

Cons
There are comments about lack of bottom end for some musical application. Some are concerned about the speaker's exterior, but the majority agree that it should be sturdy enough for regular use as long as it is properly handled.

Overall
If you are looking for a pair of FOH speakers that can fill small venues with great sound, then the Mackie C300z is one to put at the top of your shopping list.

Although this was previously on our recommended list, there are now more highly rated options available which you can see in our guide to Passive PA Speakers.