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[John Roberts {JR}]

The more rigid the cabinet the less energy lost to spurious resonances and retransmission.

Years ago I saw some prototype carbon fiber cabinets and they were very good about managing back/side losses (emissions).

I recall one plastic box I was product manager for (last century) where we used an internal wooden strut/brace to stiffen up the box, made a measurable difference in bass output in the important direction (if the cabinet is vibrating that is sound energy wasted). 

Plastic can be made rigid if you don't mind the weight/cost.   I doubt that is what was bothering the OP, distortion from overload is a more likely suspect.

JR 

[Debbie Dunkley]

Regarding the Mackies.....There seems to be such a love affair built around these speakers yet every single one I have heard sounds like an ice pick to the forehead. They also thermal very easily.
I have  a friend who runs a popular Karaoke service - has done for many years. She replaced her 12 year old, well used Thumps based on my advice (she went to ZLX12's for budget purposes AND loves them) and she put the Mackies on CL. I believe she got $300 for the pair and the guy couldn't get there fast enough.
They were the most battered tatty scratched up pair of speakers I have ever seen - NEVER seen covers and thrown in the back of her SUV.
Maybe that's why - they are built to last forever ?

[Tim McCulloch]

Regarding the Mackies.....There seems to be such a love affair built around these speakers yet every single one I have heard sounds like an ice pick to the forehead. They also thermal very easily.
I have  a friend who runs a popular Karaoke service - has done for many years. She replaced her 12 year old, well used Thumps based on my advice (she went to ZLX12's for budget purposes AND loves them) and she put the Mackies on CL. I believe she got $300 for the pair and the guy couldn't get there fast enough.
They were the most battered tatty scratched up pair of speakers I have ever seen - NEVER seen covers and thrown in the back of her SUV.
Maybe that's why - they are built to last forever ?

We still have 6 SRM450 in inventory.  Not selling for $150 ea as they're in VGC with carry bags but we seldom use them any more for the reasons you cite.  They're heavy, too.

[Ken Braziel]

Regarding the Mackies.....There seems to be such a love affair built around these speakers yet every single one I have heard sounds like an ice pick to the forehead. They also thermal very easily.
I have  a friend who runs a popular Karaoke service - has done for many years. She replaced her 12 year old, well used Thumps based on my advice (she went to ZLX12's for budget purposes AND loves them) and she put the Mackies on CL. I believe she got $300 for the pair and the guy couldn't get there fast enough.
They were the most battered tatty scratched up pair of speakers I have ever seen - NEVER seen covers and thrown in the back of her SUV.
Maybe that's why - they are built to last forever ?

The original C300's they were based on were wonderfully over-engineered speakers, a guy I used to play with still uses the set he got in the late 90's & they sound like new. We used to run full-band mixes through them outdoors, including kick mic (no subwoofer in the setup). But I think he got the ones made before they got cheap with the manufacturing (made in Italy), the self-powered 450's have WAY smaller magnets on the woofers & do tend to shut down regularly in hot conditions.

Edit: back on topic, I also used to have the Mackie 15" passive wood-cabinet mains from the same era (S500), they were heavy beasts that pushed plenty of sound for the gigs I was working at the time. But I wouldn't go back, now that I'm in deep into the QSC K-series ecosystem...

[Steve Loewenthal]

Regarding the Mackies.....There seems to be such a love affair built around these speakers yet every single one I have heard sounds like an ice pick to the forehead.

For the SRM450, I believe there is a big difference between those that were manufactured in Italy by RCF (for Mackie) in the early 90's, and all those that came after.

I still have 2 of the made in Italy ones and think they sound quite good.

[Steve Loewenthal]

I still have 2 of the made in Italy ones and think they sound quite good.

I also have some QSC HPR 152i that sound better, but I only use them on the floor because they are too heavy to lift onto a pole.

While it is probably more than just the wood cabinet that makes them better, they are probably the best sounding speaker in my personal inventory.

[Robert Lofgren]

When I read up on the turbosound iq-speakers I was surprised to learn that they are fiberglass reinforced.

The iq8 weights 32lbs and I can tell you that the amp module weights next to nothing compared so the chassis is quite heavy by itself.

[ProSoundWeb Community]