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DJ Tech Reviews

Mackie C300z

A passive 12-inch two-way PA speaker sold since 2005; it needs an amplifier, and only one review exists to weigh.

Mackie C300z passive loudspeaker, front three-quarter view

Photos: Mackie

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Only 1 professional review so far, 1 recommending it

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An early read

This page rests on 1 professional review and no owner reviews, too few to be sure. It is recompiled as more reviews appear.

Best for
Rigs that already have a power amp or powered mixer with 8-ohm outputs.
Skip it if
You want a self-powered speaker, or deep bass without adding a subwoofer.

The Internet’s Opinion

From 1 professional review: not much evidence yet.

Only one professional review was found: Amazona rated it good, for a soft, full Mackie sound, clear speech at high volume and easy handling, and said it needs a subwoofer for full-range PA use. No owner reviews were available to read.

1 recommend0 mixed0 avoid

See the 1 reviews behind this

1 professional review (1 recommend, 0 mixed, 0 avoid); 0 owner reviews read: Guitar Center lists none and Thomann no longer lists itCompiled 2026-11-04How this is compiled

Prices

Before you buy

Released
January 2005 (announced; shipping from Q2 2005)
Status
Current

Works with

  • Speakon NL4 or 1/4-inch inputNL4 or 1/4" TS

    Input and thru on both a Speakon-style NL4 jack and a 1/4-inch TS jack, wired in parallel; use only one of the input connectors Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie (owner's manual)), checked 2026-10-11

  • A second speaker via the thru jackTwo per amp channel

    The thru connector links a second cabinet; Mackie's maximum is two C300z in parallel per powered-mixer or amplifier channel, each 8 ohms nominal Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie (owner's manual)), checked 2026-10-11

  • Mackie powered mixers and amplifiersPPM or FRS series

    Mackie pairs the C Series with its PPM Series powered mixers or FRS Series amplifiers Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie), checked 2026-10-11

  • Pole, stand or floor wedgePole socket built in

    Integrated pole mount on the bottom of the cabinet; the asymmetrical trapezoidal cabinet lies on its side as a floor monitor Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie (spec sheet)), checked 2026-10-11

  • FlyingTen M10 points

    Ten integrated M10 rigging points take the optional PA-A1 eyebolts; Mackie warns never to suspend it by the handles Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie (owner's manual)), checked 2026-10-11

You’ll also need

  • Power amplifier or powered mixerPassive: needs an amp

    For full output Mackie recommends an amplifier rated at twice the 300 W continuous rating: 600 W per channel into 8 ohms Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie (owner's manual)), checked 2026-10-11

  • Speaker cablesNot instrument leads

    Use speaker cable with NL4 or 1/4-inch TS plugs; Mackie warns that coaxial instrument cables are not built for amplifier current and can overheat Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie (owner's manual)), checked 2026-10-11

  • Subwoofer for deep bassOptional

    Frequency response is 55 Hz to 18 kHz (-3 dB); Mackie shows it pole-mounted on an SWA1501 or SWA1801 powered subwoofer for a fuller system Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie (owner's manual)), checked 2026-10-11

  • Pole mount or eyeboltsSold separately

    Mackie lists the SPM200 pole mount and the PA-A1 forged eyebolt kit as options Manufacturer spec sheet (Mackie (spec sheet)), checked 2026-10-11

Key specs

Configuration
2-way passive loudspeaker, 8 Ω, asymmetrical trapezoidal polypropylene cabinet
Woofer size
12 in
LF driver
12 in (300 mm), 3 in (75 mm) voice coil, ferrite magnet
Max SPL
123 dB @ 1 m (long-term)
Low-frequency extension
55 Hz
Frequency response
55 Hz – 18 kHz (-3 dB); 45 Hz – 20 kHz (-10 dB)
All 15 specifications
Inputs
Speakon NL-4 and 1/4" TS (input / thru)
Weight
20.9 kg (46.0 lb)
HF driver
1.75 in (44.5 mm) heat-treated titanium compression driver, 1 in horn exit
Power handling
300 W RMS / 500 W music / 750 W peak
Nominal impedance
8 Ω
Crossover
1800 Hz, 24 dB/octave
Coverage (H x V)
90° x 45°
Dimensions (W x H x D)
406 x 663 x 376 mm (16.0 x 26.1 x 14.8 in)
Tweeter size
1.75 in

15 of 15 figures sourced; hover one for its source

Our take

Dex JonesWritten from the sources on this page, not from a loan unit.

Only one professional review exists: Amazona rated it good in 2010 for a full Mackie sound, clear speech at high volume and easy handling, and said it needs a subwoofer for full-range PA use. Thomann and Guitar Center carry no owner reviews. It is a passive 12-inch two-way box, and Mackie recommends an amplifier of about 600 W per channel, so consider it only for a rig that already has one.

What it is

Status, October 2026: current. Mackie still lists the C300z in its C Series of passive loudspeakers.

What it is

The C300z is a passive 12-inch two-way PA speaker from Mackie. It was announced at NAMM in January 2005 as an updated version of the earlier C300, alongside the 10-inch C200, with shipping from the second quarter of that year (Synthtopia). Mackie describes the C Series as passive versions of its SRM powered speakers, designed to pair with its PPM Series powered mixers or FRS Series amplifiers.

It has a 12-inch woofer with a 3-inch voice coil and a 1.75-inch titanium compression driver on a constant-directivity horn, split at 1.8 kHz by Mackie's Low Impedance Compensated Crossover. Mackie rates it at 300 W continuous, 500 W music and 750 W peak into 8 ohms, with a maximum SPL of 123 dB at 1 m, a frequency response of 55 Hz to 18 kHz (-3 dB) and 90 x 45 degree coverage.

Because it is passive, it needs an external amplifier or powered mixer; Mackie recommends 600 W per channel into 8 ohms for full output. Inputs are a Speakon NL4 and a 1/4-inch jack, each with a parallel thru connector for a second cabinet.

The asymmetrical trapezoidal polypropylene cabinet has a pole socket on the bottom, ten M10 rigging points for Mackie's optional PA-A1 eyebolts, and lies on its side as a floor wedge. It measures 406 x 663 x 376 mm and weighs 20.9 kg (Mackie spec sheet). Mackie's owner's manual does not list the box contents; the amplifier, speaker cables, stand and eyebolts are bought separately.

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