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Mackie ONYX 3280 32-Channel/8-Bus Live Sound Console

This item does not qualify for free freight

When it comes to live sound, the margin for error is tight. Nobody knows this better than regional sound professionals, medium-sized venues, and houses of worship. Unlike the major touring and live sound companies, these hardy folks must make a difficult choice when buying a live sound console; it's the age-old tradeoff between channel count and sound quality. Pay for quality, and you have to find some way to cram all your mics and instruments into 16 or fewer inputs. Go cheapo, and you know it's only a matter of when not if the console fails at some crucial moment.

As of today, that age-old tradeoff has gone the way of grunge and dial-up modems. Introducing the new Onyx 80 Series 2480, 3280, 4080 and 4880 Premium Live Sound Consoles the best value in the history of live sound from Mackie, of course.

A NO-COMPROMISE DESIGN

Priority one for the Onyx 80 Series was to create a live sound console that made absolutely no sacrifice in sonic integrity at any stage of the design. So the Onyx 80 Series engineers started with the highest quality analog components available from premium op-amps to IC chips costing exponentially more than previous designs. By utilizing semi-discrete eight channel modular circuit boards, the Onyx series combine the flexibility of single PCBs for each channel, with the cost advantages and minimal cabling of large-scale integrated circuit boards.

No corners were cut; Every Subgroup, Left, Right and Center main bus is electronically balanced for an uncompromised signal from input to output. All-new summing bus circuitry was designed from the ground up to maximize master section headroom, while minimizing noise and crosstalk. And most notably, we developed premium Onyx mic preamps and Perkins EQ circuitry specifically for optimum performance within the total Onyx system.

We also went overboard on the "toughness" factor, even by Mackie standards, building the Onyx 80 chassis with beefy aluminum extrusions and steel bulkheads for over-the-top physical protection of the technology inside.

ONYX MIC PREAMPS

Creating our flagship Onyx mic preamps presented a unique challenge. On one hand, we wanted to deliver traits more commonly associated with boutique studio mic preamps: a tight, focused high end, superior ambience retrieval, detailed lower bass octaves, and highly textural midrange no matter what you plug in. On the other hand, we knew Onyx mic preamps would have to function in the real world of live performance, which often includes high levels of radio frequency and microwave energy, long cable runs and the occasional hot-patched cable.

ALL-NEW PERKINS EQ CIRCUITRY

Before we tell you about the Perkins EQ section, we should probably introduce you to its designer the legendary Cal Perkins. Along with Greg Mackie, Cal was the driving force behind Mackie innovations like XDR mic preamps, HR Series monitors and more... not to mention his 30-plus years of experience designing classic audio gear for other big names in the business.

To create his all-new Perkins EQ, Cal started with the Wien Bridge circuit topology a very musical design inspired by the hallowed British desks of the 60s and 70s. This design essentially trades boost/cut capability for a wider, highly musical Q filter. But Cal, ever the perfectionist, decided that live sound engineers deserve a better bargain.

INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE

As important as great mic preamps and musical EQ sections are, they are only part of the reason we can confidently call the Onyx 80 Series a "premium" live sound console. Equally as important, though admittedly less sexy, is the Onyx mixers proprietary negative-gain architecture and minimized signal path.

For those of us who don't speak electrical engineer, negative-gain architecture means that by running at internal levels of -6dB, Onyx mixers can handle up to four times the number of hot signals of regular mixers before clipping. Minimized signal path, on the other hand, is the reason the Onyx mixers EQ section is above the Aux assignments - creating a linear signal path from the mic preamp to the EQ, through the Aux sends and on to the channel faders - resulting in a 50% shorter path (and less noise) than many of our competitors mixers.

THE MOST FLEXIBLE FEATURE SET IN ITS CLASS

The Onyx 80 Series mixers break the you get what you pay for adage by offering more channels and features than any other mixer even remotely close in price. These features include eight pre/post-switchable, stereo-linkable Aux Sends for in-ear monitoring and effects routing plus eight Stereo Aux Inputs (yes, that's 16 line inputs), each with 4-band Perkins EQ. This means you'll no longer sacrifice mic inputs to accommodate effects returns and playback devices. We've also added new features that any hardcore live engineer can appreciate, like a Monitor Flip function; a 10x2 Matrix Mixer; four Mute Groups; and an optional redundant power supply.

POWERFUL AUX/GROUP FUNCTIONALITY

Who wants run-of-the-mill Aux and Group sends? Not our customers; they've come to expect more value when it comes from Mackie. That's why each of the Onyx 80 Series eight Aux Sends become stereo pairs when the stereo switch is engaged, reducing the amount of head-scratching when asked to provide four stereo mixes for IEM (in-ear monitor) systems.

Aux/Group Flip switches flip the controls for the Aux Sends and the Group Sends, so that the Group Faders control the Aux Send levels, and the Aux Send GAIN controls adjust the Group levels. The Group signals still appear at the Group Send outputs and the Aux Send signals still appear at the Aux Send outputs. This allows you to use the 100mm long-throw Group fader to make more precise settings for the Aux Sends.

"BUILT-LIKE-A-TANK" CONSTRUCTION

Extreme chassis rigidity is achieved in the Onyx 80 Series from the tough-as-nails modular monocoque design, then reinforced with beefy aluminum extrusions, plus strategically placed steel bulkheads. Then, the console is torture-tested for impact, shock, heat, vibration and humidity it's even dropped repeatedly from a height of three feet! So a block of onyx stone is gonna flex before an Onyx 80 Series chassis does.

CHANNEL STRIP FEATURES:

• Premium Onyx microphone preamps on all 32 channels
• 4-band Perkins EQ with hardware bypass
• 48V Phantom Power, Mic/Line, 100Hz High-pass, and Polarity switches
• 8 Auxiliary sends with Pre/post switches
• Aux. Stereo Link feature for IEM applications
• Direct Outputs on DB-25 connectors (8 channels per connector)
• 4 segment LED level indicators
• Smooth, long-throw 100mm faders
• Mute and PFL Solo switches
• Balanced XLR mic and 1/4" line inputs

MASTER SECTION FEATURES:


• 8 Stereo Aux Inputs w/60mm faders, 4-band fixed Perkins EQ and 4-segment LEDs
• 8 Aux. Send Masters with balanced 1/4" output, 1/4" insert, Mute and AFL Solo
• 8 Groups with 100mm faders, balanced 1/4" output and insert, Main Mix assign, Pan, Mute, and AFL Solo and 4-segment LEDs
• 8 Aux Master / Group Flip switches
• 10 In x 2 Out Matrix with balanced 1/4" outputs
• 4 Mute Groups
• Balanced XLR Talkback Mic input with routing to all Aux Sends, Groups and Main Mix
• Dual 100mm Main Mix faders
• Phones / Monitor section with Solo, Monitor and Phones level
• Main Mix to Monitor / Phones switch
• Big pair of 12-segment tri-color LED meters dedicated to Main Mix and Solo levels
• Power Indicator LEDs for +15V, -15V, +48V and +12V power supply rails
• Rude Solo Indicators

POWER FEATURES:


• Built-in "Real World" power supply 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz, 105W
• Optional rack mountable redundant power supply

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We've all been there: you pick up the latest gadget only to see it advertised by that same retailer one week later at a 25% discount. Well, with PowerMax you don't have to worry about feeling duped.

If you see a reduced price on an item you've purchased within the last 10 days just let us know and refund or credit the difference back to you.

For full details please take a look at our Returns & Errors page.

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