Mackie Onyx 4880

[Foxinabox10]

Just got back from school where we received the new Mackie Onyx 4880. There's only one word for it: amazing. Like all the reviews had said, "It's a $15,000 board for $6,000." Mackie finally realized the potential for the large-format, low price mixer. For the sake of preserving my good service I wont say how much I paid for the board, but I'll say I got it well below the MAP of $6199.

The board itself is solid as a rock. The box had been ripped in a few spots, but the board didn't have a scratch on it. A bit heavy at 149 pounds and long at around six foot long. The features are nice: 4 seperate mute groups, individual control of phantom power, 4 band eq per channel, 8 subs, talkback input, and more. The sound quality is also very nice. I had to max out the trim and fader to get any noise out of an empty microphone cable and that could be the cable.

Overall the board is sweet and I already name her: Lucy (I Love Lucy!). I also found out that the first shipment of these boards was going to the vendor we bought it from (djmart.com). And because we needed it ASAP (show next week), we had it drop shipped from Mackie, so therefore, we have the first publicly available Onyx 4880 board in the world. So sweet.

If anyone has any questions about the board, please feel free to ask.

[AVGuyAndy]

Why the untested Onyx 4880 when you could have gotten a tried and true AH GL2800 for the same price?

[Foxinabox10]

Although you say the Onyx 4880 is untested, it has been tested and refined for more than a year now from what I understand. Every review I saw for the Onyx said that it was a stellar board, and now that I have it, I agree.

[AVGuyAndy]

You said you have the first one in the world, that makes it untested.

[fosstech]

Originally Posted by Foxinabox10

so therefore, we have the first publicly available Onyx 4880 board in the world.

Mackie has given it to a few touring/sound companies already for extensive testing; I don't think it's fresh off the drawing board.

[mbenonis]

I'd also be interested in what criteria you used to select the Onyx. Was it the only one you considered, or did you look at other models as well? And if so, which ones? Finally, what features made the Onyx stand out above its competition?