Mackie Thump 12A Review [2024] - Big Sound For The Price (2024)

This product has been discontinued by the manufacturer. To find a similar product, we suggest reading this guide.

Any artist trying to make a living from their craft needs to strike a balance between income and expenditure. Having a set of high-quality powered speakers can get expensive.

When you factor in the costs of the other equipment in your line-up it can be overwhelming how much you need to spend. In this review, we check out the budget-friendly Mackie Thump 12A.

The reimagined Mackie Thump 12A aims to offer an affordable alternative to other powered speakers. With a good selection of features, it sets itself up to be one of the best budget DJ speakers. But how good is it? Let’s find out.

Features

The Mackie Thump 12A sits in an interesting position in the powered speaker market. Let’s dive into the details and find out what this budget speaker offers.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is one area where the Mackie Thump 12A does show some flaws. It is a loud 12-inch powered speaker that can put out some serious volume. But, loudness is not a sign of good sound quality.

The low-end is meaty and should please bass lovers. Yet, the clarity behind that bass is lacking. You’ll be able to fill a room with bass.

How much you’ll enjoy that bass will be a matter of taste and perspective. You will notice the difference compared to some of the more expensive speakers available.

While the lows are hefty enough it is the mid and highs that are a little off. The clarity on the mids is not as crisp as with more expensive speakers. The highs are okay but can sound a little tinny at times. The speaker does sound good but there is room for improvement.

Considering the affordable nature of these speakers it’s hard to beat up on them too much. The sound quality is more than enough for most people.

But, after hearing so many speakers in my days there are some noticeable differences that I can’t overlook.

Build Quality

Mackie is not known for having the highest build quality. When you are trying to offer a budget speaker there are some corners cut.

While not the highest quality the Thump 12A is affordable and lightweight.

Plastic is not uncommon these days but these do feel more flimsy than other speakers. In some cases, this is a benefit as each speaker weighs in at 13.2kg. This does make them more portable but also adds to the cheap feel of the speakers.

Specifications

The Mackie Thump 12A comes with a 1300 Watt Class D amplifier. It has 1000 Watts for the low end and 300 Watts for the high end. It offers a 12-inch woofer with a 1.4-inch titanium dome compression driver.

The Mackie Thump 12A is one of the lightest 12-inch speakers available.

Frequency response comes in at 50Hz to 23 kHz at -10 dB which is plenty of coverage. Speaking of coverage it throws at 90 degrees. This makes it easy to arrange a pair of these to cover a dance floor.

Most people like loud music and at 126 dB max SPL, the Mackie Thump12A is loud. But, pushing it up to those volumes does begin to alter the sound quality.

Tuning Options

There is a range of basic tuning options available to help get the most out of your speaker. Each channel offers a gain knob. There is also a master gain knob as well.

The four available presets allow you to customize the output.

Beyond that, you can choose from 4 presets. “Music” for the working DJ. “Live” gives a flatter response for musicians. “Monitor” which is useful for vocals. The last option is “Sub” for when the speakers are part of a setup that includes a subwoofer. More options would have been great as these 4 options will restrict you. But, once you consider the price I’m still happy there are some choices.

The more expensive Thump 12BST opens up an extra two modes. Plus you gain access to the Thump Connect app for even more fine-tuning. But, at a much higher price point, you can’t compare the two.

Design

The redesigned Thump12A is a big improvement over the previous generation. It’s sleeker and professional-looking. The angular front grille looks nice both horizontally or vertically when you are using it as a monitor speaker.

The Mackie Thump 12A is a professional-looking loudspeaker with convenient transport features.

A small Mackie logo and the power light is the only other component on the front face of the speaker. The design also incorporates two handgrips on either side of the speaker. There is also an extra hand grip at the top. It makes it easy to pick up and transport.

At 13.2kg it is very light compared to other speakers. If the idea of lugging around bulky speakers is daunting these make for a good option.

Dimensions

The Mackie Thump 12A is similar in size to other 12-inch powered speakers. Where it differs is in the weight. At just 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) it is very lightweight.

12-inch speakers offer an excellent balance between power and portability.

The added handles also add to the portability appeal of the Mackie Thump 12A.

Connection Options

The Mackie Thump 12A offers two combi jacks for inputs. These support XLR or TRS connections including Hi-Z connections for instruments like guitars. A mix-out option is also available so that you can daisy-chain several speakers.

The Thump 12A has two combo jacks that support TRS and XLR connections.

There is also an extra Power Factor Correction built-in to the speaker to prevent unstable AC sources from causing issues. It also handles all types of wall power thanks to the universal power supply.

Value

The value proposition for the Mackie Thump 12A is strong. It’s a budget-minded speaker that can still put out some decent sound. While not the best sounding speaker it will get you started and able to play gigs. It’s also a good backup speaker. It does strike a good balance between functionality and price. A statement that doesn’t apply to some more expensive speakers.

What Others Have To Say

There is a range of opinions when it comes to the Mackie Thump 12A. Some people love the affordable entry-level speaker. Others are not as impressed.

Price Isn’t Everything

The adage “you get what you pay for” is not as black and white as it seems. There are many cases where you can still buy high-quality gear without paying exorbitant prices.

The powered speaker market is no different. There is a long list of options and each manufacturer is vying for your attention and dollars.

Sometimes it will be the case that cheaper products are cheaper for a reason. They can cut corners or use lower-quality materials.

Buying budget speakers can free up more money for other parts of your setup.

There is still the capacity to strike a balance between quality and price. Always read reviews for the product and make an assessment.

There is a lot of satisfaction from picking up a quality product at a bargain price. Luckily there are gems hidden among the trash.

This becomes even more important when you or your band are on a tight budget. You may need to sacrifice some quality in the short term with the goal of upgrading once you are more established. There is nothing wrong with budget gear if it means it gets you started down the path you want to pursue.

Price can be a sign of quality but it shouldn’t be a gatekeeper to following your passion.

Other Options

There are several other options available when it comes to powered speakers. Check out these other choices if the Mackie Thump 12A is not what you are looking for.

QSC K12.2 Review

If you have a lot more to spend the QSC K12.2 is an outstanding speaker. Excellent design and sound quality establish the QSC K12.2 as one of the best speakers in the market.

• High build and sound quality.
• A solid range of tuning options.
• Not budget-friendly.

Electro-Voice ZLX-12BT Review

The EV ZLX-12BT is another good speaker. Offering extra features like an LCD screen for tuning selection also makes it an easy speaker to set up.

• Mid and high frequencies are well balanced.
• Excellent range of tuning options.
• Lacking in low-end delivery.

JBL EON 710 Review

If the price tag of the other options is too high the EON 710 is another budget-friendly option. It offers good sound quality but is a little lacking in volume.

• Solid balance across all frequencies.
• Uses JBL’s Waveguide Technology for consistent response.
• The low end is not very substantial. Best for smaller gigs.

Should You Buy?

The Mackie Thump 12A is an interesting choice. The low price tag makes it an appealing option. This becomes even more important if you are starting your live performance career. While it doesn’t offer some of the bells and whistles that other speakers provide it still gets the job done. If you do have more to spend there are some better options. But, I can recommend the Thump 12A if you’re on a tight budget. They are one of the best choices in their price range.