Mackie C300 User Manual
6
PLACEMENT
The C300 loudspeakers are designed to
sit on the floor, a tabletop, or to fit on a
standard tripod speaker stand. They can
also be suspended by the rigging points,
shown here.
standard tripod speaker stand. They can
also be suspended by the rigging points,
shown here.
You can lay the cabinet down on its side
and use the C300 as a floor monitor. The
asymmetrical trapezoidal shape of the cabinet
provides a perfect angle for aiming up toward
performers from the front of the stage.
asymmetrical trapezoidal shape of the cabinet
provides a perfect angle for aiming up toward
performers from the front of the stage.
Warning: Do not stack
speakers in a column.
This is to avoid the
danger of toppling
speakers.
speakers in a column.
This is to avoid the
danger of toppling
speakers.
As with any loudspeakers, protect them
from moisture. If you are setting them up
outdoors, make sure they are under cover if
you expect rain.
outdoors, make sure they are under cover if
you expect rain.
Room Acoustics
The C300 loudspeakers are designed to
sound as neutral as possible; that is, to re-
produce the input signal as accurately as
possible, monitoring the audio signal rather
than changing it.
produce the input signal as accurately as
possible, monitoring the audio signal rather
than changing it.
Room acoustics play a crucial role in the
overall performance of a sound system.
However, the wide high-frequency dispersion
of the C300 helps to minimize the problems
that typically arise.
However, the wide high-frequency dispersion
of the C300 helps to minimize the problems
that typically arise.
Top
90
0
Dispersion
up to 18kHz
90
0
Here are some other placement tips:
• Avoid placing loudspeakers in the
corners of a room. This increases the
low frequency output and can cause the
sound to be muddy and indistinct.
low frequency output and can cause the
sound to be muddy and indistinct.
• Avoid placing loudspeakers against a
wall. This, too, increases the low
frequency output, though not as much
as corner placement. However, if you do
need to reinforce the low frequencies,
this is a good way to do it.
frequency output, though not as much
as corner placement. However, if you do
need to reinforce the low frequencies,
this is a good way to do it.
• Avoid placing the speakers directly on a
hollow stage floor. A hollow stage can
resonate at certain frequencies, causing
peaks and dips in the frequency re-
sponse of the room. It’s better to place
the loudspeakers on a sturdy table or
tripod stands.
resonate at certain frequencies, causing
peaks and dips in the frequency re-
sponse of the room. It’s better to place
the loudspeakers on a sturdy table or
tripod stands.
• Position the loudspeakers so the high-
frequency drivers are 2 to 4 feet above
ear level for the audience (make allow-
ances for a standing/dancing in the
aisles audience). High frequencies are
highly directional and tend to be absorbed
much easier than lower frequencies. By
providing direct line-of-sight from the
loudspeakers to the audience, you
increase the overall brightness and
intelligibility of the sound system.
ear level for the audience (make allow-
ances for a standing/dancing in the
aisles audience). High frequencies are
highly directional and tend to be absorbed
much easier than lower frequencies. By
providing direct line-of-sight from the
loudspeakers to the audience, you
increase the overall brightness and
intelligibility of the sound system.
• Highly reverberant rooms, like many
gymnasiums and auditoriums, are a
nightmare for sound system intelligibil-
ity. Multiple reflections off the hard
walls, ceiling, and floor play havoc with
the sound. Depending on the situation,
you may be able to take some steps to
minimize the reflections, such as
putting carpeting on the floors, closing
draperies to cover large glass windows,
or hanging tapestries or other materials
on the walls to absorb some of the sound.
However, in most cases, these remedies
are not possible or practical. So what do
you do? Making the sound system
louder generally doesn’t work because
the reflections become louder, too. The
best approach is to provide as much
direct sound coverage to the audience as
possible. The farther away you are from
the speaker, the more prominent will be
the reflected sound.
Use more speakers strategically placed
so they are closer to the back of the
audience. If the distance between the
front and back speakers is more than
about 100 feet, you should use a delay
processor to time-align the sound.
(Since sound travels about 1 foot per
millisecond, it takes about 1/10 of a
second to travel 100 feet.)
nightmare for sound system intelligibil-
ity. Multiple reflections off the hard
walls, ceiling, and floor play havoc with
the sound. Depending on the situation,
you may be able to take some steps to
minimize the reflections, such as
putting carpeting on the floors, closing
draperies to cover large glass windows,
or hanging tapestries or other materials
on the walls to absorb some of the sound.
However, in most cases, these remedies
are not possible or practical. So what do
you do? Making the sound system
louder generally doesn’t work because
the reflections become louder, too. The
best approach is to provide as much
direct sound coverage to the audience as
possible. The farther away you are from
the speaker, the more prominent will be
the reflected sound.
Use more speakers strategically placed
so they are closer to the back of the
audience. If the distance between the
front and back speakers is more than
about 100 feet, you should use a delay
processor to time-align the sound.
(Since sound travels about 1 foot per
millisecond, it takes about 1/10 of a
second to travel 100 feet.)