Mackie ShowBoxchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Numerous users report the ShowBox cannot reproduce meaningful bass, especially from drum machines and backing tracks, describing it as unusable for anything beyond guitar and vocals. This is one of the most frequently repeated complaints.

@emzeperiksz8138

it was a total waste of money for me i wanted to use it on my drum machine and it CAN NOT TAKE ANY BASS. just CAN NOT TAKE IT..I m not talking about bass guitar OH NO NO... drum machine BASS../beat Boddy/ it is useless it is good for guitar and vocal.. if i want to use my drum machine i need to take bigger speaker..la little bass and this gadget is breaking up .so it is useless for 700$ maybe for 150$ DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY..launch

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June 9, 2026

@emzeperiksz8138

if anyone need a little bit of bass for they music I MEAN A LITTLE BIT...this speaker is USELESS...it is strictly for street musician....VOCAL AND GUITAR...NOTHING ELSE. if you want to do backing tracks PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS THING it is useless you will not hear the BASS it will sound like an old megaphone on the street of the 1960'... I know i remember them..launch

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May 18, 2026

@emzeperiksz8138

it is ONLY ONLY ONLY for singalong guitarist /voice+guitar/ it will NOT NOT NOT take any bass ZERO-ZIPPO-NADA..0 0 0 0 0..It is totally useless for a DJ set up unless you have 10 of them and using a very very very low volume.....that way 10 of them just might be loud enough for DJ..it is running around 700$ i don't think it worth more than 200$..it is only good for street performing where the bass is not expected....with out a dedicated subwoofer it is nothing but a TOY..launch

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January 17, 2026

@sobota.happy.academy87

I have Mackie showbox. I played on a wedding party. I was really dissapointed, when I played more instruments it lowered the output power. When you want to buy it, just try the output power with more instruments or backing tracks...Firmware little helped. Maybe next updates will solve these problems...but I don't have time for it. I have now Yamaha stagepas 200 and no problem at all.launch

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November 29, 2024

Several reviewers say the sound gets stuffy, boxy, or distorted as volume increases, with some describing tinny effects and a lack of midrange punch that undermines the otherwise strong feature set.

@guitardog

I use a wireless transmitter on the mix out and run to 2 Bose S1 Pros. The Showbox itself is not loud and doesn’t have the quality or power of the Bose S1s, but as a mixer and engine it’s great. Battery life is about 4 hours for me, I plug it in when I can. It can stand alone for a small space, but anything medium to large, you’ll need additional speakers. Good video, mate!launch

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July 18, 2026

@brentonwhitten8131

The manual states the break away controler has a presence adjustment, but it isnt covered in this and I cannot acess the function on mine. It is a very warm speaker that is 25% quieter than the thump go at max volume. The latest firmware update was installed prior to testing. It is a bummer that the main volume can't be have its own EQ so you can't match extension speakers (2x thump go in my case) channel adjusting the eq to sound good in the showbox sounds like crap on the thump go hooked though the xlr out. Looper is a bit dissapointing as it isbthe most basic of basic when it comes to looping, but all in all the unit has a ton of potential.launch

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February 17, 2025

@demianguitar

It's a great speaker that has all the features you need for busking, but unfortunately the sound quality is not good. The speaker sound is very stuffy. It feels like some part of the EQ is missing. It feels like one of the treble speakers is missing. However, I'm using it with satisfaction because it has features that are helpful for performances.launch

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November 30, 2024

@anthonylynchmusic

This speaker is so bad unfortunately. I'm in love with the mackie freeplay which still is the best small amp for busking ever made. You should have sticked with it improving it. This amp seems like a toy. Great functionality but the quality..Oh my god it sounds so bad when the volume si up. Tons of distortion at low volume already. It's\nbig and can't manage the volume of the small freeplay. Such a shame I had to return it right awaylaunch

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November 12, 2024

Owners report notchy volume knobs, non-working effect LEDs, and plastic-feeling components on arrival, with some units needing replacement mixers costing extra money since warranty coverage was denied for non-official retailers.

@RedShirtGuitar-el8sd

great video...I had a showbox for a few months and I agree that the build quality marginal. I got mine on Amazon \"bargain\" bin for about 20% off..it arrived with the effects LED not working. the effects worked but not the LED. Mackie wouldn't warranty it because I bought it from \"not the Mackie store\"..and the tiny LED was not available as a part to order. They said I could buy a new mixer for $250 USD. So I sold it. it was okay, but I also didn't like that the knobs turned in notches..like soft clicks going from 6 to 7..and the volume difference jumped. just kind of a weird design. for the volume it puts out is should be smaller.launch

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May 30, 2026

@brentonwhitten8131

The manual states the break away controler has a presence adjustment, but it isnt covered in this and I cannot acess the function on mine. It is a very warm speaker that is 25% quieter than the thump go at max volume. The latest firmware update was installed prior to testing. It is a bummer that the main volume can't be have its own EQ so you can't match extension speakers (2x thump go in my case) channel adjusting the eq to sound good in the showbox sounds like crap on the thump go hooked though the xlr out. Looper is a bit dissapointing as it isbthe most basic of basic when it comes to looping, but all in all the unit has a ton of potential.launch

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February 17, 2025

@TomBedlammusic

Genuine question because im seriously considering one but can't find one near me in person. It sorta looks plastic-y if that makes sense. Especially the breakaway. Im just concerned about build quality since I would be using this several times a week for rough and ready pub gigs. Does it feel well made and like it will last?launch

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September 27, 2024

@movievaudeville

Just arrived, have to send it back. FX1 light wasn't working. Fx worked, just couldn't read which mode. Made me wonder about durability in the street. Otherwise, seems like an okay piece of equipment, sounded good. I do wish it had 48v phantom power on at least one of the channels, but it doesn't. Funny that there are all the other functions but no phantom. I bet they add it in next generation.launch

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March 29, 2024

Multiple users criticize the looper for missing basic undo/redo functionality, and note that the loop is lost if the unit loses power or the mixer disconnects, calling this a serious oversight at this price point.

@rewardsappresearch8829

buyer beware: looper does not have an undo/redo function and the loop is lost if the power is disconnected or if the mixer is disconnected/reconnected.\n\nnote: i built a looper using a breadboard from PCB way and very minimal coding and implementing an undo function is literally just a few lines of code. this is for any looper. they are all wired exactly the same, more or less, I have opened and worked on hundreds of them. Mackie has no excuse for not adding one the price point of the Showbox when even the most basic 3-wire looper, the Ditto, has undo, redo, etc. It doesn't matter. Stop defending a company that has clearly taken shortcuts. Also a simple firmware update would do the trick, but they've refused for years.launch

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September 5, 2026

@thefix-itguyreviewer8151

I don't know how it should sound but usually Mackie stuff sounds good. The bases -3 dB at 56 hz which is pretty good base response Total output I think is 122DB. That's pretty loud. \n\nTHEY FAILED ON THE LOOPER THOUGH YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME ( THEY HAVE NO UNDO AND REDO FUNCTION WHAT!! That's like looper 101!! ) especially for this price point that's just ridiculous \n\nSo if you want to start over if you want to get rid of something you have to erase the whole thing by holding your foot down and not letting go That is just ridiculous. \n\nI don't know if it's firmware updatable but they need to put that in there or tell people it's coming soon this is what's stopping me from buying this.launch

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December 8, 2024

Users note the absence of a true stereo line out (only summed mono) and no 48v phantom power on any channel, limiting compatibility with condenser mics and stereo backing track setups.

@ROCKNROLLY

Mackie forgot to include stereo line out (this unit only has summed mono out). Stereo line out is a must for us performers using backing tracks to maintain our stereo image when we use this unit as a mixer-monitor and connected to a bigger stereo PA system. I almost transitioned from my Positive Grid Spark LIve and Edge (due to lacking inputs but has stereo line out), but when I found out Showbox has no stereo line out, i stepped on my brake. Damn, this could have been a perfect system for me due to more inputs to accomodate more mics.launch

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December 2, 2025

@movievaudeville

Just arrived, have to send it back. FX1 light wasn't working. Fx worked, just couldn't read which mode. Made me wonder about durability in the street. Otherwise, seems like an okay piece of equipment, sounded good. I do wish it had 48v phantom power on at least one of the channels, but it doesn't. Funny that there are all the other functions but no phantom. I bet they add it in next generation.launch

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March 29, 2024

One user had ongoing unresolved Bluetooth connectivity problems, while another found channel volumes wildly inconsistent between inputs, with channel four almost inaudible even at max volume.

@AnastasiosNikolouzos

Let's see !!! ok this is a basic speaker. The sound is quite good especially for external use, features are alright for me that I'm not a professional musician. I used it for Vocals Acoustic and electric Guitar and it is GOOD for home use or external , with friends ! Although I had a lot of trouble with the bluetooth, which it doesn't operate well and made it worse al long as I couldn't find solution for this problem , and never found till now. Basically I bought this Speaker in order to use it for outdoor festivals for (blood donation activities and so on) , Im trying to play some music using bluetooth and that disappoints all the users.launch

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February 15, 2026

@valeriyfilipov2355

Please help me I really need your advice. I bought Mackie ShowBox. I like it very much, but I have one very serious problem. The fourth channel has a very quiet sound. The third channel also sounds quiet but a little louder than the fourth. The loudest and most beautiful sounds are on Channel Three. And Channel One sounds louder than Channels Three and Four, but a little quieter than Channel Two. Thus, my classical guitar connected to the fourth channel is almost inaudible even at maximum volume. The Lap Steel guitar and acoustic guitar on channel 4 also sound quiet. \r\nDo all Showbox speakers have different mixer channels volume? Or did I just buy one defective copy?launch

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May 1, 2025

At least one user is frustrated that the ShowBox has no power outlet to run a wireless mic receiver, calling this a significant oversight compared to competitor busking speakers.

@FlatEarthSovereign

So they make a busking type speaker that cannot power a wireless mic like all their competitors? 😂😂😂😂😂 absolute trash. 🤮 im sure its a good speaker but thats just wild to leave out a power plug. And what kind of ceremonies you doing with a wired mic? That ceremony comment must have been satire.launch

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February 19, 2025