Mackie Reach Professional PA System: High-Quality Sound, Ultra-Wide Coverage

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The all-new Reach Professional PA System from Mackie is an all-in-one, 720W professional PA that delivers ultra-wide coverage, high-quality sound, built-in personal monitoring, and wireless streaming and control. The system covers a wide range of applications, including solo and duo performers, bands, presentations, weddings ceremonies, and much more. Reach utilizes the ARC array to provide clear, high-fidelity sound to everyone in the audience, while the built-in EarShot personal monitoring system offers performers a true, flexible stage monitoring system without the need for additional speakers and unnecessary cables. Additionally, the built-in 6-channel mixer can be controlled wirelessly via the Mackie Connect app, which features control over levels, EQ, FX, and a feedback destroyer.

The Amplified Radial Curve (ARC) high-frequency array technology in Reach utilizes three horizontally angled high-frequency drivers paired with dual vertically spaced high-output low-frequency drivers, providing 150 degrees of wide and deep coverage. The EarShot personal monitoring system utilizes a single full-range driver on each side of the speaker enclosure that further widens the total coverage to 250 degrees. The EarShot can be configured to play audio to either the left or right side, both sides, or completely off. This allows for a ton of flexibility with positioning and custom-tailoring the dispersion to address room acoustics.

The rear panel offers power and audio I/O with four combo XLR/1/4" inputs, an 1/8" stereo aux input, a headphone output, a footswitch control input, and link in/out for connecting an additional Reach for true stereo operation and expanded mixing capabilities. Furthermore, each of the combo inputs offers an overload (OL) LED that illuminates when the signal level is less than -2 dB before clipping. When connecting two Reach speakers, two ¼" cables are used to connect the link output to the link input on each speaker. This allows the summing of both input panels and creates an 8-channel mixer plus a stereo aux input. The footswitch conveniently mutes the effects when addressing the audience between songs.

The side panel offers a 15-segment bi-colored LED ladder, which provides feedback for input, FX, and output level settings. The channel select buttons allow the user to make adjustments to each of their respective inputs, including channels 1 through 4 and the aux/Bluetooth. An endless encoder is used to make the adjustments once an input or output is selected. After 5 seconds, the interface will time-out to the Main output. A multi-band feedback destroyer may be employed to hunt down and eradicate any feedback. Once engaged, the circuit starts scanning continuously until all of the frequency bands are used and the system locks. There are no stored frequencies, so turning off the feedback eliminator resets the filters. There are 16 FX available within Reach, which covers a wide selection of reverbs, delays, and chorus effects. However, the panel offers only four selections (Verb1, Verb2, DLY1, DLY2), while all of the other selections are available from the Mackie Connect app.

There are four EQ presets for particular applications including Flat, DJ, Solo, and Voice. Flat is full range with a focus on midrange clarity, while DJ offers a boost in low and high frequencies. Solo is designed for singer/songwriters who are accompanying themselves, which rolls off the low frequencies and boosts the mids and highs. The Voice setting is designed for presentations and speech applications and cuts much of the low frequencies and boosts the mid and high frequencies to increase intelligibility. Each channel input also offers a 3-band EQ, which is available from the Mackie Connect app and allows for the customization of each input.

Pairing a smartphone/tablet via Bluetooth allows the Reach to be connected to the Connect App, which not only offers wireless music streaming but provides deep control over Reach’s 6-channel mixer, EQs, levels, and more. In fact, every facet of the Reach can be controlled wireless though the Connect App (with the exception of power and Bluetooth pairing).

 

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