As the birthplace of Jimi Hendrix, the launch pad for the careers of Ray Charles and Quincy Jones, and the epicenter of the grunge rock movement, Seattle has seen its fair share of musical innovations over the years. When Mackie unveiled the new DLM series of powered PA speakers at a music venue in the hip Capitol Hill neighborhood this August, the Emerald City witnessed yet another sonic step forward. Along with a bevy of other insiders from every corner of the music gear world, I was eager to witness exactly what Mackie’s newest speakers had in store. None of us were disappointed.

Mackie kicked things off with an overview of the DLM speaker series, which consists of 12-inch and 8-inch full-range models, plus a 12-inch subwoofer. All three speakers pack impressive technical specs and pro-level features, including 2000 watts of efficient class D power. The DLM8 and DLM12 full-range speakers utilize Mackie’s state-of-the-art TruSource (tm) drivers, which incorporate a high-output woofer and tweeter in a common-magnet design that makes for a much smaller cabinet than a traditional two-way speaker, along with a myriad of innovative and intuitive DSP controls. As Mackie product manager Matt Redmon explained to me: “Normally you’ve got a volume knob on the back of a product and not much else. But for coffee shops or users that want to bypass a mixer, you’ve also got 3-band EQ over lows, mids, and highs, and access to up to 16 different effects, six different user voicings, and built-in alignment delay, so the range of users is extremely broad.”

The event continued with demonstrations of how well the system handled various styles of music in various configurations. Culminating with a performance by Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket, the DLM speakers filled the room with robust, balanced sound. The venue was filled with trained ears, sound gurus, and other audio professionals, and we were all impressed with the vibrance and clarity put forth by the DLMs.

Check out this video from Mackie for more information about the DLM series:

But what impressed me most of all about the DLM series was its extreme versatility. From lonesome singer-songwriters and DJs to full bands, theaters, and churches, there’s a DLM setup to suit every imaginable sound reinforcement situation. Better still, the integrated DL2 digital mixer on the back of each speaker enclosure allows intuitive and flexible control of your sound. Say you’re a solo performer heading to a gig at a bar, a single DLM 12-inch powered speaker packs enough power to fill the house, with a built-in DL2 mixing preset to bring out the best in your guitar and vocals. Now say later in the week, you’ve been hired to DJ a party. Pair your DLM12 with a DLM12S subwoofer, and you've got an ultra-portable full-range PA system that can rock all the way down to 30 Hz. All three speakers include alignment delay and mounting options for use in installed systems, and the two mains even sport a tilt-back kickstand to double as stage monitors.

The evening was rounded out by a performance by Seattle rockers The Presidents of the United States of America, using a full complement of Mackie pro audio gear, including the DL1608 iPad-controlled mixer. Drinks were spilled and floor tiles scuffed as we rocked out to such hits as “Peaches” and “Lump.” Having seen the DLMs in action, and now watching the sound engineer mix the band from an iPad in the middle of the crowd, one thing was clear: Mackie really has tapped into the "new shape of sound."

  - Dan, Live Sound Merchandiser