Mackie 450's how long before they overheat?

So how hard do you have to push these speakers for them to overheat? How many hrs of play if the level nob on the back is set to midnight?

If you run the level nob so it is set at 11:00, will it make it so they never overheat?

It would be really embarrassing if the sound cut off in the middle a gig.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Would really depend on how clean and powerful the input signal is being supplied to them.

If you supply a clean, non clipping, line level, signal to them, they shouldn't go into therm at those positions.

If you supply a weaker signal such as that of a Phonic Wireless speaker speaker reciever that transmits closer to a Mic level, you'll be able to crank the gain up to about 3 O'clock with the same clean signal without issue.

How rapid is rapid? How quick is quick?

Mine have been going for over 3 years and still haven't overheated!

I bought mine in 2001 and have never a single problem. I run mine from 12 to 1 most of the time. I will also say that speakers are not made to clip or go into thermal shutdown, it is a safety precaution only. Taking a phrase from my hero Dirty Harry, "somtimes a man has got to know his limatations"...thx

I have a Pioneer DJM 3000 mixer. Is that considered a clean signal?

So when you say clipping, I guess u mean when the meter levels run into the red?

Sorry, I'm a rookie at this kind of stuff. Thanks for your help!

Overheating components many things have to be considered.

Ambient temp, electrical power level, signal input strength, air movment over the cooling fins, frequency being reproduced (if it is bass heavy it will work the amp harder)

And last but not least the componet itself, if it has been run hard before it may overheat a little quicker, build quality, thermal protection parts quality (a $3 part could cause an overheat shut down if it is bad to begin with.

I don't know where I got this, but had it saved for a while.

First out of the chute was a pair of Mackie SRM450's- cooked. Turned them on and about 3 minutes later all I heard was a low-volume hum and then smoke coming from the ports. Nice.

There are others I could post, but statements like this is the reason I never bought Mackies. Too many thermal issues. Is this a fair assessment of Mackies? I don't know, but wasn't willing to take the chance.

If you are running a sub with your system that will take some strain from off of the Mackie tops.
Run your dials at 11:00. I don't own the Mackies but a club that I play at has them. They do shut off when they get too hot. You just have to watch how much of a signal you are sending to them from your mixer.

I've had 2 pairs & used them since 2000 & have NEVER experienced any overheating or shutting down.
Keep the volume at 12:00 (straight up)

I gotta be honest, I thought this thread was just another opportunity for folks to crow about how much they love their Bose speakers, or for non- Mackie owners or folks that have never used them to chime in about the Mackie horror stories they heard.

Personally I know about 6 other local DJs that use them too ...and have NEVER experienced a problem.

I've had 2 pairs & used them since 2000 & have NEVER experienced any overheating or shutting down.

I gotta be honest, I thought this thread was just another opportunity for folks to crow about how much they love their Bose speakers, or for non- Mackie owners or folks that have never used them to chime in about the Mackie horror stories they heard.

Sure is nice. ain't it...:sqrolleyes:

I had four Mackies from 1999 to 2006, and only one ever went thermal. That's because I was outside under a tent in the sweltering Atlanta heat, and the afternoon sun had gone down to the right angle to beat down mercilessly on it.

I simply turned it off for 3 or 4 minutes and it powered right back up.

Then again, I never abused them.

I have ran mine for four yrs exclusively and have had two instances of Thermo. Both being my fault. I had setup for a College gig early in the afternoon at the Bellingham Port ( Awesome building ) Glass eyerywhere I was in a dome room. After setting up the sound and lighting I turned the sub down then powered down everything. Upon powering up I forgot to reset Sub levels and overdrove the tops which only one turned off I powered it down for 3 minutes and realized my issues once proper levels were GAINed I continued on the rest of the night without issue.

2nd time was in a small narrow room I had to run a speaker to the other end of the room in a corner I couldnt see well. apparently the Dancefloor slid up agianst the tripod pushing the speakr into the corner allowing no space around the vents to gain cooling sitting right against the wall. Once I found the situation I turned it off for 2 minutes relocated it and finished out the night. nearly 40 gigs per yr and only two situations which the speaker was compromised causing them to thermal. I too have always made certain I didnt make them do more than they were truly designed to do.

If the brand name is Mackie. I have blown them up.

A Pair of 450's and 6 SWA-1501's later. I will never buy another powered Mackie Speaker as long as I live.

One of the bars I used to work at has 4 dead 450's and 2 SWA-1501's collecting dust.

Mackie has also recently gotten really tight on their warrenty and repair.

I've never blown a speaker myself, but I have been present when other issues have arisen with powered speakers, like when the bass dies. That's one of the reasons why I'll never use powered speakers, whether they're Mackies, JBLs or what have you. Besides, I like having my amps and EQs separate from the speakers. I mean, I know any speaker can die...I've just never had it happen under my watch (and I hope it never does happen).

I think I purchased mine in 2001. I had some thermal issues to begin with, but it was because I was driving my mixer output too hard, causing clipping. Once I rectified that problem, the thermal issues went away. Other than a tripod leg on my ultimat stand giving out and dropping one to the floor from 6', I've never had any problems with them. Ultimate did purchase me a new Sub cone to replace the one that hit the floor during the performance at nearly full volume level.

The Blue LEDs are even still functional!

If you abuse them, they will die!

the blue LED issue is a totally different beef. I dont want to discuss it lol.

If the brand name is Mackie. I have blown them up.

A Pair of 450's and 6 SWA-1501's later. I will never buy another powered Mackie Speaker as long as I live.

One of the bars I used to work at has 4 dead 450's and 2 SWA-1501's collecting dust.

Mackie has also recently gotten really tight on their warrenty and repair.

I think any speaker is gonna go if you are pushing them too hard/abusing them, or using the wrong speaker for wrong type of an event. Heck, A couple fellow DJ friends of mine have destroyed JBLs, TOA & Peaveys.

There is something to be said for inexpensive, Chinee-made components: They're inexpensive for a reason.

If it works for your shows, fine. But it's not a risk that we are willing to take.

I like them! I don't push them! I have never have had any problems with them! That's my story & I am sticking with it...:sqbiggrin:

Its all about having a clean signal... Too many DJs turn the volume up on their mixer, when they should be turning up the gain on the speakers/ amp... Unless you have an amazing A&H mixer, you should probably never crank your Numark Mixer volume over 8 or so, because It will send a distorted signal to your speakers...
You can tell the quality of your signal by the "White Noise" it makes when you crank the mixer up with no music playing... If its really loud, you know that its a dirty signal...
Also make sure your power wires and audio wires do not run parallel, if they do, they cause a 60Hz white noise... Always run audio 90 degrees to power...

Its all about having a clean signal... Too many DJs turn the volume up on their mixer, when they should be turning up the gain on the speakers/ amp... Unless you have an amazing A&H mixer, you should probably never crank your Numark Mixer volume over 8 or so, because It will send a distorted signal to your speakers...
You can tell the quality of your signal by the "White Noise" it makes when you crank the mixer up with no music playing... If its really loud, you know that its a dirty signal...
Also make sure your power wires and audio wires do not run parallel, if they do, they cause a 60Hz white noise... Always run audio 90 degrees to power...

The master volume or the channel's volume?

I usually run my channel's all he way up, then the master on like 2 or 3. Good? Or no good?

I have a Pioneer DJM 3000 mixer.

Have had for over 2 years. No overheat yet, but have had to replace HF driver on two (of 4).

For what it is worth, I have some Italian made Mackie SR1530s. Done numerous outdoor events up to 5 hours during peak sunlight hours, and no issues, mileage may vary. My mackies are work horses, although I do suggest not to run them outside for days at a time like I do.

Depends on your mixer... I usually have my channel at 8 or so... Just play with it... Do the white noise test and play with your system until you find the perfect setting for high volume, yet low white noise...
Usually your channels are just bypass, controling the volume of your input signal... so it depends on the input, not the channel... the pre amp it on the master channel, so thats the one to keep lower for sure..

I gotta be honest, I thought this thread was just another opportunity for folks to crow about how much they love their Bose speakers, or for non- Mackie owners or folks that have never used them to chime in about the Mackie horror stories they heard.



As a Mackie 450 owner and a Bose L1 owner I have to say I love both speakers. My Mackie 450's have never gone thermal on me. I always have ran them at straight up 12:00. But I also don't push them beyond the crowd they were meant to serve. At the same time I will tell you a friend that uses them for monitors at many outdoor festival in the summer has definitely had them go thermal, but one factor I believe makes this happen more is the heat sink is sideways, and the thermal airflow through the fins is not very effective the the speakers are on the side.

Don't push them beyond the crowd they were meant to serve.

If all djs; especially younger ones will heed this advice, you will enjoy your equipment for a long time...thx Great advice!