MACKIE M800 - Manual (Page 3)

3 Part No. 820-079-00 Rev. B 3/2000
©2000 Mackie Designs Inc., All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
INTRODUCTION
amplifier to handle is clipping. Conventional
designs use lots of negative feedback to provide
stability and lower distortion. When clipping
occurs, this “feedback” causes high-frequency
sticking, keeping the amplifier “latched” in the
clipping state longer than necessary. This re-
sults in painfully audible distortion. Our Fast
Recovery design eliminates this high-frequency
sticking and allows the amplifier to remain
stable when powering highly reactive loads at
high volume levels.
You may wonder why a power amp even
needs an owner’s manual. After all, you just
plug in a few cables and power it up. Well, it’s
almost that simple. There’s just a few things
that we’d like you to be aware of, and we’ll dis-
cuss those right away — please see the Quick
Start on the next page.
Then go ahead and read the entire manual. The
M•800 amplifier has a wealth of useful features,
and each of them is explained in loving detail.
Please write your serial number here for
future reference (i.e., insurance claims, tech
support, return authorization, etc.):
Purchased at:
Date of purchase:
Thank you for choosing a Mackie Designs
power amplifier! We appreciate your vote of
confidence for the folks in Woodinville who
specialize in awesome and affordable audio.
The Mackie Designs M•800 power amplifier is
designed to fulfill the amplification needs of al-
most any type of application. It boasts a wealth
of features you’d expect to pay extra for — like
low cut filtering, constant directivity equaliza-
tion, speaker-protecting limiter, and
ultra-clean power, to name a few.
Perhaps the most important feature of the
FR Series™ power amplifiers is the attention
to detail in every aspect of the design. At Mackie,
we know what it takes to be roadworthy. After
all, our equipment has traveled all over the
world under the worst of conditions, and we’ve
applied what we’ve learned to the mechanical
design of our amplifiers.
Roadworthiness is only part of the picture.
We know that reliability is paramount to sound
reinforcement. That’s why we use double-sided
thru-hole-plated fiberglass printed circuit boards.
That’s why our engineers have subjected the ampli-
fier to the most rigorous and fiendish tests
imaginable, to fine-tune the design and extend
its limits beyond those of ordinary amplifiers.
Fast Recovery — where the “FR” comes
from — is more than a buzzword. It is based on
real, proven design principles. The result is an
amplifier that performs better than conventional
designs when presented with adverse conditions.
One of the most difficult things for a power
Lend Me Your Ears
Exposure to extremely high
noise levels may cause per-
manent hearing loss.
Individuals vary considerably
in susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, but
nearly everyone will lose some hearing if exposed
to suffi-
ciently
intense
noise for a
period of
time. The
U.S.
Government’s
Occupa-
tional
Safety and
Health Ad-
ministration (OSHA) has specified the permissible
noise level exposures shown in this chart.
According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of
these permissible limits could result in some hear-
ing loss. To ensure against potentially dangerous
exposure to high sound pressure levels, it is recom-
mended that all persons exposed to equipment
capable of producing high sound pressure levels
(such as this
amplification
system) use
hearing protec-
tors while this
unit is in op-
eration. Ear
plugs or pro-
tectors in the
ear canals or
over the ears
must be worn
when operating this amplification system in order
to prevent a permanent hearing loss if exposure is
in excess of the limits set forth here.
Duration Per Day Sound Level dBA, Typical
In Hours Slow Response Example
8 90 Duo in small club
6 92
4 95 Subway Train
3 97
2 100 Very loud classical music
1.5 102
1 105 Patrice screaming about deadlines
0.5 110
0.25 or less 115 Loudest parts at a rock concert