NAD: Mackie ShowBox: Final thoughts - keeping it!

[JakeStone]

As with any new release.

The big question is how does it sound and how does it stack up against the other speakers.

I haven’t had a chance to directly compare sound to my EV Everse 8.
But I will get to do a sound comparison hopefully later tonight.

In the past few months, I have extensively used the EVerse 8 at shows and in my home studio.
Honestly, the Everse works great and sounds great! Def more punch than my old S1 Pro (which it replaced).

But this Mackie SB is growing on me too!

The SB is slightly heavier and larger...
But the portability is still manageable.

Showbox/ 21 lb - 19.7 x 11.8 x 9.8 inches
Everse 8/ 16.8 lb - 15.75 x 10.83 x 10.71 inches

[GrumpyOldDude]

My unit not shipped to sam ash yet …

Can someone try an electric guitar straight in give me an idea of if it seems useable as electric guitar amp?

Rock / blues / pop does it seem ok ish like that?

Thanks John

[ZackPomerleau]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldDude

My unit not shipped to sam ash yet …

Can someone try an electric guitar straight in give me an idea of if it seems useable as electric guitar amp?

Rock / blues / pop does it seem ok ish like that?

Thanks John

I’m curious the same thing as I use a cheap Joyo pedal for lots of my gigs currently.

[Methos1979]

Originally Posted by zeeway

Hey Scott,

I want you to know that I am a fan of your reviews…they are straightforward, and have the feel of talking to a trusted friend. I am a little tempted by the Mackie Showbox, but not enough to bite (maybe…yet). But your review tells me just maybe…that I should put it on my future gear list.

Thanks, Angie! I'm always happy when my 'man-on-the-street' type reviews are appreciated by my fellow AGF'ers and YouTube Followers. As for the ShowBox, there's a lot to like here for sure. They missed a few ques for the strictly acoustic music performing crowd but I understand their desire to widen the appeal to include electric players. As to whether or not the ShowBox is right for you, it depends a lot of what you're already using or used to using as well as what type of performing and venues you typically play at. I'll have more to report after next week as we plan to use the ShowBox at several gigs that we would normally use the EV30M at. Stay tuned.

[JakeStone]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldDude

My unit not shipped to sam ash yet …

Can someone try an electric guitar straight in give me an idea of if it seems useable as electric guitar amp?

Rock / blues / pop does it seem ok ish like that?

Thanks John

Rock, Blues ?
I have tried several times to get a "decent" rock or blues sound from it.
(meaning with a little grit).

Maybe it's me?
But it's difficult to get dirty sound using any of the Amp sims..
Crunch, Fuzz, Overdrive.
Even when dialing in a tiny bit.

Again, it could be me.. the settings or my pickups?

But I will say, it sounds killer using a pre-amp (see below).

For the record... The Clean tone with my PRS with or without
using the Mackie built-in effects (reverbs, delay, chorus, Trem..
All sound good.

Strumming chords is cool and melodic.
Also I get pretty good electric guitar sound from the Mackie's Tube Amp Sim.
So that's the only "amp sim" that I like so far.

But what really works well...
I have a Positive Grid Spark Go.
It has a line output jack and I send it to channel 2 on the Showbox.
Sounds Excellent! As it does with of my other FRFR speakers!

[JakeStone]

To clarify - played my Martin Dread with it today for over an hour.
Sounds beautiful..

It appears the speaker is opening up too.

As a Solo Acoustic players system with Acoustic Guitar and Vocals it sounds fantastic.

The Mixer is handy on the mic stand.
I think I like it better than the EV tablet mixer.
It's nice not having to always grab a tablet or phone to use the speaker.

Green Cat5 doesn't bother me either!

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by JakeStone

To clarify - played with it today for over an hour.

As a Solo Acoustic players system with Acoustic Guitar and Vocals it sounds fantastic.

The Mixer is handy on the mic stand.
I think I like it better than the EV tablet mixer.
It's nice not having to always grab a tablet or phone to use the speaker.

Green Cat5 doesn't bother me either!

Jake, Thanks for all your input and comparison to the Everse 8. I use a Bose S1 Pro Plus and it can clip earlier than wanted depending on my attack. Consequently I'm interested in an alternative. I happen to like having an app on my phone or iPad. I keep them mounted on my mic stand anyway. I really don't have room to add the mixer to my mic stand. It starts getting to be cumbersome and adds setup/tear down since there are more things to connect. Just food for thought for some. I keep lyrics and song lists on my stand mounted iPad, so I'm gonna have that no matter what.

[Robin, Wales]

2 x xlr inputs but no 48v phantom power? Is that right?

[JakeStone]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Jake, Thanks for all your input and comparison to the Everse 8. I use a Bose S1 Pro Plus and it can clip earlier than wanted depending on my attack. Consequently I'm interested in an alternative. I happen to like having an app on my phone or iPad. I keep them mounted on my mic stand anyway. I really don't have room to add the mixer to my mic stand. It starts getting to be cumbersome and adds setup/tear down since there are more things to connect. Just food for thought for some. I keep lyrics and song lists on my stand mounted iPad, so I'm gonna have that no matter what.

Yep you're welcome.
I totally get the ease of use with Tablets/Apps..
Look clean on stage too.
But I am finding I have multiple Apps going at same time..
Even with 2 iPads it get's confusing (I'm getting old dude! )

Sound wise - The Mackie is "punchy" and I'd say could go louder than the Everse 8.

I have yet to max out the Showbox volume -- in my space. It gets loud. But gig levels are different than studio.

Also In the end, I love my Everse and will have a dilemma
in a few weeks of which one to keep.
No need for both.

I am using 4 channels for my show. (2 guitar channels, 1 for BT Backing tracks that I use occasionally and 1 Mic). So this particular unit is appealing!

I'm going to use a 2nd mic stand without the boom for the mixer.. At least for my next show. We'll see how it pans out.

[JakeStone]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

2 x xlr inputs but no 48v phantom power? Is that right?

Correct - No 48v Phantom power.

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by JakeStone

Yep you're welcome.
I totally get the ease of use with Tablets/Apps..
Look clean on stage too.
But I am finding I have multiple Apps going at same time..
Even with 2 iPads it get's confusing (I'm getting old dude! )

Sound wise - The Mackie is "punchy" and I'd say could go louder than the Everse 8.

I have yet to max out the Showbox volume -- in my space. It gets loud. But gig levels are different than studio.

Also In the end, I love my Everse and will have a dilemma
in a few weeks of which one to keep.
No need for both.

I am using 4 channels for my show. (2 guitar channels, 1 for BT Backing tracks that I use occasionally and 1 Mic). So this particular unit is appealing!

I'm going to use a 2nd mic stand without the boom for the mixer.. At least for my next show. We'll see how it pans out.

Oh Great idea about using another mic stand just as a Mixer mount. I do however understand the appeal of mounting to the one mic stand most solo performers use. Economy of space. My needs are more 'headroom' than the S1 Pro has before it clips. It's not so much that I need something that will play louder. I just need it to deliver without any breakup at the given volumes where I use mine.

[Methos1979]

Great info, Jake - thanks for posting!

I played around a bit more today with my ShowBox and did a full gig-like practice with my wife. So that's two mics and my guitar. Sounded great! One thing I think I forgot to mention in any of the earlier posts is that Mackie wisely (or perhaps accidentally?) left enough room between the XLR channels so I can use my wireless systems side by side without the need for an adapter like I do on the EV30M and other systems I've encountered. Today I put it back up on our mini stand and now that I've got all my sound levels dialed in to my liking it sounded much better than the first time.

Envisioning the various venues we play, I tried to simulate the positions I'll have to put the ShowBox for best sound for the audience. Behind/between us on the floor is okay. You lose a little of the highs but still doable. On the stand it was too loud for us, similar when we used to put the Bose S1 Pro on a stand directly behind and between us. Then I tried it off to the left side about even and just a bit in front. Floor sounds decent with lots of low end. On a pole sounded better out front as the highs don't get lost in what will be a sitting crowd. So position-wise the ShowBox will likely be used a lot like the EV30M.

The more I use it, the more I love, love, LOVE the detachable mixer. I attach it to my tablet stand. I use the tablet for setlists and songs and also the EV30M app, so like GRoberts I always have that with me (as well as having the app also on my phone for backup). But the detachable mixer is just SO much better for me. I love the look and the functionality right at my fingertips. And SO much more intuitive than the EV30M app. I'm thinking the ShowBox is going to be a fine addition to our gear that will get the call a lot for our small to medium venues and the EV30M will service the larger rooms we play.

[Methos1979]

A few more photos

Room for side-by-side wireless mic receivers - well done, Mackie!



Check it out - ONE CABLE! Talk about fast and easy setup and no tangled mess!

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by Groberts

I happen to like having an app on my phone or iPad. I keep them mounted on my mic stand anyway. I really don't have room to add the mixer to my mic stand. It starts getting to be cumbersome and adds setup/tear down since there are more things to connect...I keep lyrics and song lists on my stand mounted iPad, so I'm gonna have that no matter what.

This is me. I have a dedicated largeish smartphone to run the EV app, whether for 30m or Everse, and a separate tablet for my setlist and chords/lyrics. I could do without the latter if I had to now. Re my app smartphone, I love just attaching it to the stand and not wrestingl with any more objects or cables.

But oh those delicious extra inputs...

[GrumpyOldDude]

Maybe it's me?
But it's difficult to get dirty sound using any of the Amp sims..
Crunch, Fuzz, Overdrive.
Even when dialing in a tiny bit.

Again, it could be me.. the settings or my pickups?

But I will say, it sounds killer using a pre-amp (see below).

For the record... The Clean tone with my PRS with or without
using the Mackie built-in effects (reverbs, delay, chorus, Trem..
All sound good.

Strumming chords is cool and melodic.
Also I get pretty good electric guitar sound from the Mackie's Tube Amp Sim.
So that's the only "amp sim" that I like so far.

***

Thanks man … hmmm i will writeup my opinions once i get mine thanks.

I would think the overdrive or fuzz may work for me good enough maybe could keep a one pedal tube screamer in play.

Is your prs the hollowbody 2 with piezo if so we have clones its the only guitar i use these days.

Been playing out with my everse 8 as guitar amp and using a nux mighty plug pro mp3 to get the high gain stuff right into the everse 8 aux input it works well enough and very loud ha ha!