Mackie PA121 User Manual

Vision Series

Two-Way Speaker System

P A121

SPEAKER

■ The PA121 is an extremely versatile wide-disper-

sion, two-way loudspeaker system offering substantial
power and value for a variety of professional applica­tions that include primary sound reinforcement and
supplementary fill for larger systems.

■ The low-frequency transducer is a 12" woofer with a

sturdy 3" voice coil. The high-frequency section com­bines a modified constant directivity horn having a 1"
exit, coupled to a compression driver with a 1.75"
diaphragm assembly.

■ The system includes a high-level crossover network

that features markedly lower (than conventional)
induction values in series with the woofer. We call this
innovation LICC (Low Impedance Compensated
Crossover). The benefit is delay reduction, reduced
phase shift and superior transient response. Dynamic
high-frequency driver protection is accomplished with
a fast-response filament resistor, chosen to comple­ment the power curve of the driver. The PA121’s
crossover is easily bypassed for bi-amp or tri-amp
(with the PA180SW) operation via an installer-accessi­ble changeover block. Back panel indicators display
the current system setting.

■ The Mackie Industrial PA121 is a part of the VISION

family of loudspeaker products including full-range,
cost-effective, two-way loudspeakers and complemen­tary subwoofer cabinets. The two-way enclosures have
a trapezoidal footprint for easy array configuration. All
enclosures are constructed using 19mm void-free,
birch plywood and finished with a scratch-resistant
black coating. Transducer components are protected
from the environment by a heavy gauge metal grille.
The VISION products are eminently suited for fixed
installation, ready for suspension, via built-in M10
inserts with metal reinforcement and forged shoulder
eyebolt hardware.

■ This Mackie Industrial product is covered by an

exclusive, one-time, NO FAULT repair policy in addition
to a five year limited warranty.

Features

■ 12" high-efficiency, 3" voice-coil LF transducer

■ 90° x70° modified constant directivity horn with 1"

compression driver

■ Dual-function design: built-in passive crossover or

external bi-amp

■ Trapezoidal enclosure for array configurations

■ HF driver dynamic protection

■ 19mm birch plywood construction

■ Twelve suspension points (M10) and standard

eyebolt hardware

■ Integrated hand-carry locations

■ Exclusive Mackie Industrial — one-time, NO FAULT

repair policy

■ Five year limited warranty

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PA121

APPLICATIONS

■ Cluster Configurations

■ Live Music Reinforcement

■ High-Level AV Playback

■ Large Speech Systems

Two-Way Speaker System

P A121

SPEAKER

PA121

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Specifications

System

Freq. Range (–10dB): 60Hz–20kHz
Freq. Response (–3dB): 100Hz–18kHz
Horz. Coverage Angle (–6dB): 90° averaged

2kHz to 10kHz

Vert. Coverage Angle (–6dB): 70° averaged

2kHz to 10kHz

Directivity Factor; Q (DI): 9.5 (9.8) averaged

2kHz to 10kHz
System Sensitivity1: 99dB, 1W @ 1m
Rated Maximum SPL: 129dB, @ 1m
System Nominal Impedance: 8Ω
System Input Power Rating2: 300W RMS; 1200W Peak
Recommended Amplifier3: 450W
HF Protection: Dynamic
Crossover: 2kHz, 12dB/octave

Transducers

Low-Frequency: 12" (300mm) woofer with

3" (76mm) coil
Nominal Impedance: 8Ω
Input Power Rating: 250W AES; 1000W Peak
Sensitivity1: 99dB, 1W @ 1m
High-Frequency: 1" (25mm) throat, 1.75" (44mm)

coil diaphragm assembly
Nominal Impedance: 8Ω
Input Power Rating: 35W AES; 140W Peak
Sensitivity1: 107dB, 1W @ 1m

Physical

Enclosure: Trapezoidal, 15° side angles,

19mm multilayered birch

Rigging Inserts: 12 points; accepts M10

threaded hardware,

3 eyebolts provided
Color: Black, scratch resistant paint
Grille: Custom perforated steel grille

with open-cell poly fiber backing
Input Connectors: Speakon®NL4
Dimensions (HxWxD): 25" x 15.12" x 15.35"

(637mm x 384mm x 390mm)

Net Weight: 61.6lb. (28kg)

Options

PA-A1 Forged shoulder M10 eyebolt hardware

1

Measured on axis in the far field with 1 watt (2.83V RMS, 8Ω) input and referenced to 1 meter distance
using the inverse square law. Listed sound pressure represents an average from 300Hz to 3kHz.

2

RMS using 20Hz to 20kHz, PN Spectrum, Peak for 2 hours with +6 dB crest factor.

3

Recommended Amplifier is a power capability value thatshould be taken as a guide.

Two-Way Speaker System

P A121

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V

PA121

ertical Polars

200Hz

250Hz

0˚

315Hz

400Hz

1.25kHz

1.6kHz

2kHz

2.5kHz

Vertical Off-Axis Frequency Response (UP)

500Hz

630Hz

0˚

800Hz

1kHz

3.15kHz

4kHz

0˚

5kHz

6.3kHz

8kHz

10kHz

0˚

12.5kHz

16kHz

Vertical Off-Axis Frequency Response (DOWN)

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PA121
Horizontal Polars

200Hz

250Hz

315Hz

400Hz

1.25kHz

1.6kHz

2kHz

2.5kHz

500Hz

630Hz

800Hz

1kHz

3.15kHz

4kHz

5kHz

6.3kHz

Horizontal Off-Axis Frequency Reponse

8kHz

10kHz

12.5kHz

16kHz

Two-Way Speaker System

P A121

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Frequency response is measured on-axis at a distance referenced back to
1m at 1-watt drive. Shown as a half space (2π) enviroment.

15.35" (390mm)

Beamwidth vs. Frequency

14.19" (360.6mm)

7.71" (195.9mm)

5.89" (149.7mm)

9.44" (239.8mm)

8.19" (208.2mm)

TOP

13˚

12.65" (321.4mm)

15˚

2.68" (68mm)

Directivity Index

8.36" (212.4mm)

2.68" (68mm)

12.59" (320mm)

19.75" (501mm)

12.48" (317mm)

2.68" (68mm)

8.74" (222.2mm)

SIDE

25.00" (637mm)

15.12" (384mm)

FRONT

15.51" (394mm)

4.33" (110mm)

5.23" (133mm)

REAR

2.68" (68mm)

19.75" (501mm)

2.68" (68mm)

PA 121

VISION
SERIES

IN-OUT IN-OUT

CONCEIVED, DESIGNED, AND MANUFACTURED BY MACKIE INDUSTRIAL • MADE IN ITALY • COPYRIGHT ©1999

THE FOLLOWING ARE TRADEMARKS/REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF MACKIE DESIGN INC.:

"MACKIE", "MACKIE INDUSTRIAL", & THE "RUNNING MAN" FIGURE

+1/-1

CAUTION:

SUSPENDING THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE DONE BY QUALIFIED

FULL RANGE

300W-8

TECHNICIANS FOLLOWING APPROPRIATE SAFETY STANDARDS

SERIAL NUMBER

MANUFACTURING DATE

HF +2/-2LF +1/-1

BI–AMP

HF 30W-8
LF 250W

-

8

Two-Way Speaker System

P A121

SPEAKER

PA121

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Architects’ and Engineers’ Specifications

The two-way loudspeaker system shall be self-contained
and consist of the following components: (1) a 12-inch, low­frequency driver; (2) a high-frequency section consisting of a
constant directivity horn and compression driver; (3) a two­way crossover network; (4) a vented enclosure.

The low-frequency transducer shall be a cone type loud­speaker having a cone diameter of at least 12 inches
(300mm). It shall have a voice coil of at least 3 inches
(76mm) in diameter. It shall present a load impedance of 8Ω.
Sensitivity shall be at least 99dB when measured at 1m with
an input of 1 Watt and have a power rating of at least 250
Watts (AES), 1000 Watts peak.

The high-frequency section shall have a compression driv­er with a diaphragm of at least 1.75 inches (44mm) in diame­ter. It shall present a constant impedance load of 8Ω. It shall
be connected to a constant directivity horn having a throat
diameter of at least 1 inch (25mm) and a nominal coverage
pattern of 90° horizontal by 70° vertical. Sensitivity shall be
at least 107dB when measured at 1m with an input of 1 Watt
and the power rating shall be at least 35 Watts (AES), 140
Watts peak.

The system shall be crossed over by an internal, high­level, passive network having a response of 12dB/octave.
The nominal crossover frequency shall be 2kHz. The low-pass
section of the network shall have minimum inductance in
series with the low frequency driver. The high-pass section of
the network shall be equalized to optimize the performance
of the constant directivity horn. A dynamic high-frequency
protection circuit based on a low-value, low-mass filament
resistor shall limit the current available to the compression
driver. A connection option shall be provided to disconnect
the crossover network, but not the high-frequency protection
circuit, from the drivers to allow bi-amp operation.
Connections to the loudspeaker shall be Speakon

®

NL4

connectors.

The enclosure shall be a vented design with an internal
volume of at least 1.94 cu. ft. and a vent tuning of 60Hz. It
shall be constructed using 0.75 inch (19mm), void-free birch
plywood and finished with black, scratch-resistant paint. It
shall be trapezoidal shaped with 15° angled sides. A full
size, detachable, perforated steel grille, finished in black
scratch-resistant paint shall be provided. At least 12 rein­forced threaded metal sockets (M10) for attaching mounting

hardware, three eye bolts and two hand-carry locations shall
also be provided. The overall dimensions of the enclosure
shall not exceed 25 x 15.12 x 15.35 inches (637mm x
384mm x 390mm).

The performance of the two-way loudspeaker system shall
be as follows: long-term power handling, at least 300 Watts
RMS; peak power handling, at least 1200 Watts; frequency
response, 100Hz–18kHz at –3dB; maximum SPL, 129dB
(anechoic–1m); sensitivity, 99dB SPL (1W/1m anechoic);
–6dB coverage, measured average 2kHz–16kHz, 90° hori­zontal by 70° vertical. The two-way loudspeaker system shall
be a model PA121 manufactured by Mackie Industrial.

www.mackieindustrial.com

16220 Wood-Red Rd. NE, Woodinville, WA 98072 USA

888.337.7404, fax [phone], [e-mail]

UK +44.1268.571.212, fax [phone], [e-mail]
ITALY +39.0522.354.111, fax [phone], [e-mail]
FRANCE +33.3.8546.9160, fax [phone], [e-mail]
GERMANY +49.2572.96042.0, fax [phone], [e-mail]

Electronic files for this product available at:
www.mackieindustrial.com

This Specification Sheet PA121.PDF

Mackie Designs continually engages in research related to product improvement. New material, produc­tion methods, and design refinements are introduced into existing products withoutnotice as a routine
expression of that philosophy. For thisreason, any current Mackie Industrial product may differ in some
respect from its published description, but will always equal or exceed the original design specifications
unless otherwise stated. © 1999-2001 Mackie DesignsInc. All rights Reserved. and are
registered trademarks of Mackie Designs Inc. Mackie Industrial is a trademark of Mackie Designs Inc.

part no. 910-151-10 Rev.B

(continued Architects’ & Engineers’ Specs)