We’ve covered a lot of battery-powered PA speakers here at The DJs Guru but what we’re talking about today is a little bit different. Over the past few years, the trend for manufacturers of portable PA cabinets has been minimalization. Companies have shrunk down their speakers with smaller 6.5″ or 8″ woofers. But what if you need both battery power and a full 12″ woofer? That’s where the new Mackie Thrash 212 GO comes in. Recently, DJs Guru fam member Jordan Nelson took a look at the Thrash 212 GO on his YouTube channel. Here are a few of his thoughts on this new battery-powered PA.
What on earth is the Mackie Thrash 212?
Mackie has been selling speakers for a long time, and they have a good variety of offerings for every budget. The Mackie Thrash line is relatively new and caters to those who are either on a budget or looking for simplicity. Straightforward inputs and outputs, Bluetooth capability, and a rugged cabinet are all standard. The new Thrash 212 GO takes this well-loved PA cabinet and adds a rechargeable battery for maximum flexibility. You don’t have to worry about running out of juice – the Thrash GO can last up to 10 hours on a charge.
Mackie Thrash 212 GO – Build Quality
The cabinet on the Thrash 212 GO is a robust plastic design with a scratch-resistant exterior. The grille is up-to-date and modern and will blend into any environment. One of the best aspects of the Thrash series is the four handles around the edge of the speaker. You’ve got 2 on the sides, a top handle, and a bottom handle. These make getting the speakers up onto speaker stands a piece of cake. There are also dual monitor feet on either side so that the Thrash GO can be used as a stage monitor. Of course, you’ll find a stand speaker mounting hole on the bottom for throwing this up on a stand.
The Mixer
As we mentioned before, the name of the game in the Thrash series is simplicity. The mixer section is composed of 2 combination XLR and 1/4″ inputs, each with its own level control. Channel two is where you’ll find your Bluetooth connection buttons. Not only can you pair the Thrash GO to your phone but you can even link two Thrash GOs together for a completely wireless stereo setup. There’s also a main volume control and a mix output for additional linking.
Sound Quality
Despite the Thrash series being the most affordable of Mackie’s lineup the sound quality of the Thrash 212 GO is nothing to scoff at. Mackie has done a great job of EQing the woofer and tweeter for a smooth response and surprising low-end response, especially at lower volumes. The downfall of any standalone 12″ speaker, however, is the bass. When you push the Thrash 212 GO to its limits the low frequencies start to fall behind, but not any more than I’ve seen in other speakers of this price category.
His first time getting the Thrash GO out to an actual event was at a 1000+ person college dance. The Thrash came in clutch as a stage monitor in a very large, echoey ballroom. He had the speaker playing music from the start of setup through takedown and the battery kept on chugging. There was plenty of volume to help with mixing despite the sound of a thousand people, 4 dual 18″ subs, and 4 dual 15″ tops in the main system.
He also took the Thrash 212 GO out to a smaller private event to use as a background music speaker. It excelled in this setting, with full range output even at the lower volume levels. While he’s not the biggest fan of online audio demos, you can hear a short audio demo of the speaker in the video below.
Mackie Thrash 212 GO – Final Thoughts
The Mackie Thrash 212 GO is a great solution for a variety of scenarios. Whether you are a newer DJ or band looking for a no-hassle speaker for your practice space or a seasoned vet looking for a backup option, the Thrash 212 GO is a worthy choice. You get all the benefits of a full-size PA speaker with the addition of a battery capable of holding 10 hours’ worth of juice – plenty for almost any DJ gig.
