SPEAKER SHOOTOUT Mackie DRM 18 vs JBL SRX 818 & QSC KS118 

Cleveland, one thing you didn’t mention is the power draw vs. output. The JBL srx818sp clearly beats the QSC when it comes to output at lower AC power draw. As you know, power at events can be challenging and the highest output using the least wattage combined with amplifier efficiency is key. The other thing most forget to consider that we should emphasize is usable frequency range before roll off. Perceived volume with enclosures designed for punchy bass and/or those that exhibit higher distortion at or below roll off can sometimes influence listeners, giving them buyer’s remorse as they hear other (higher quality) subs after their purchase. Manufacturers like Danley, JTR, and BassBoss clearly emphasize deep, accurate, and flat bass and sub bass performance, leaving the other competitors behind. With the subs you tested, the JBL wins that battle, rolling off at 29hz with the others giving up at 35-40hz. Thanks for your informative videos. Just wanted to add my 2 cents gathered over 25 years of audio engineering. I always state that saving up for Danley, JTR, or BassBoss is worth it but not always an option considering their price point.

Always a pleasure CT thank you for what you do for our industry.

Love your work bro!! Not too many people give honest and helpful tips on sound equipment like you do!!!

Thank you for the info and having 3 brands at a music store is hart to find and compare like you did... my budget allows me to get mackie at this time, but definitely you help me make my mind to spend little( 200.00) more and get DRM18...

Great video and great info. TC you never disappoint in your videos.

I just loved your honest opinion about these subs and they’re all great but to be honest the JBLs are respected just like Marshall’s are in the professional music scene for a reason and to me it sounded cleaner but you’ve got me curious about both the Mackie and QSC which maybe I’ll give a try….. nonetheless GREAT REVIEW AND COMPARISON👍👍👍👍

Omg thank you so much on the test

Thank you 🙏 my QSC came in today…I can’t wait to party 🎉

Great video, I think the SRX818 gets deeper but the KS118 gets slightly louder and is punchier. I owned the SRX and sold it for the BassBoss SSP118s and ZV28s.

Awesome review! Thanks

Thanks for the video!

Great and Honest Review.QSC rocks.

Mackie DRM Series is amazing! I own the 212 & 215s. Made of wood. SPL is 134 -135 db. Play with clarity at loud levels. No vibration.

I appreciate the information and demonstration! I own the QSC and am very pleased! Thanks!

I agree with you CT my question to you is , what do you do with the casters during an event ?

Thanks for the great information. Would love to get a recommendation on which sub to use with the Yamaha DZR12 and also for the RCF ART 910A. I have the RCF 702 and want to upgrade them to a 15” or 18” lightweight sub. Thanks

Good watch & comparison CT. I get it that it is going to be a bit difficult to hear the low frequencies via You Tube. If i need to use an 18" sub with my QSC K12.2/ K10 Legacy series speakers that is bigger than my KS112, i hire the 500W RMS/2000W peak power Beta 3 Model: MU18B. They are pretty good. Look them up, i don't know if you get them in the states.

I had the Mackie and used it few times, it doesnt spread well in rooms.. doesnt fill the place. the QSC is great, and the best JBL I used ever was a small 12" ultra compact sub and it was a lot of kick for the size.. the SRX is a vey good sub. I just realised how USA speaker lineup doesnt use the Canadian speakers. we have HUGE products here.. like PK Sound, Yorkville and Transparence (and Fane, Unisson, etc..) Personaly I use a local speaker company that made the best subs ever, everyone with huge rigs use them here. It's also used a lot in Asia for nightclubs. It's passive, but I've made modification with a 6000w poweramp with DSP in the cab so now they are amplified. its called "Nac218" for the dual 18" sub, and its in the K-Array and L-Acoustics league. it beats 22'000$+ subs two subs is good up to 600 people (and it's intense for those people.. its a serious setup. Nothing Else Matters is surprising when its starts) low power consuption with aprox 6 amp each, 12'000W bass power for the pair. 144db each for a 147db a pair. can do infra-sub bass like hell but it sounds like a studio monitor with the right kick the NAC221 is a 147DB sub alone, 150db a pair. down to 26hz and it kicks too, just insane speakers. over 600ft of full power bass with very little db lost, its just unbelievable. you can see all the tables's top moving with the bass till the back of the room, its stupid powerfull and crazy intense earthquake bass. they are small for the power, but I never lift them: only transported with wheels. I don't use my back! safety is first.. for small gigs I use the "Cube15" with a 3000W class D amp for the pair, ultra compact 15" sub that fits everywhere same company (Transparence Speakers) with EV tops most of the time, or Yorkville Paraline speakers. the JBL 932 is also a top I'm considering in the future

Could be that the JBL is more centered with the microphone, but it sounds like it’s hitting harder and is like 10% louder than the others. Only 6 min in so far so not sure if you say something similar at the end.

The QSC's thinner cabinet design makes it so much easier to transport and carry because the centre of gravity is closer to your body. That JBL would be a major pain in the ass to move even with castors. I think the Mackie sounded great especially for the price range I wonder what warranty it would come with.

Great Review CT 👏🏿 👌. Very informative. If you want to test BassBoss, I have VS21s...I'm in South LA.

I own the previous version of the QSC, and I am So SATISFIED with its PERFORMANCE. But... I am KICKING MYSELF, for not buying the KS 118, when it first rolled out at 1500 dollars!!! Thanks for the VIDEO, always ENJOY your HONEST and PROFESSIONAL OPINION, on the GEAR you review!

Can you take a look at the Alto TS318S and let us know what you think. For me, I trust your input on these matters!!!

hey cleveland how are you hope you doing well hey got a question for you I'm doing a wedding in the fall I have a pc basically it keeps dropping out and messing up I was was thinking about optimizing but when I do the problem still comes back so I was think about getting a used macbook off backmarket website so my question is it better get good used macbook or just stick to optimizing ? thanks for all you do

I'm researching QSC thanks for the insite

Just out of curiosity, what’s your issue with RCF? I was checking them out at Sweetwater, the sub sounded great but just looking for all the perspectives before I make my choice.

I like the qsc. I always use that one

Have you teated the Yamaha DXS 18" ? I have 2 x DXS 15" and love the punch they have in them.

I have one sub mackie thump 18 and two tops mackie thumps 15 , where would you place the sub for a vocalist with backing tracks.any advice please

I’d be curious to see what how my homemade passive 3000w peak 15” would hold up against these

I’m still running QSC HPR 181 Hands Down the BEST in its class!!

What's ur take on Alto 18" Sub CT?

QSC KS118 owner here since 2019... it's a BEAST and not "too" bad to move. It doesn't travel with me all of the time though. It actually went up in price by $500 since then.

what’s the title of the origional subwoofer comparison video???

How do you compare Pionir xprs1182s with Mackie DRM 18? What is better for electronic dance music?

I just picked up the QSC 18, one word - quality

How do you feel about alto ts line?

QSCs are BEASTS!! Trust 🔥

What about the EV etx and eks

You have to get on the Bassboss SSP118 will spank all of them right there. And I have the QSC also. One SSP118 sound like 3 or 4 of the QSC together, maybe even better.

The QSC sounds the best overall. Especially on the mic you recorded with. On the video the Mackie sounded the worst. It had some nasty vibrations. The JBL sounds like an EV which isn’t surprising. If I had to buy one of these three it would be the QSC hands down

Love that Sunny Record you used on the extra gain test😊

What about the Electro Voice EKX or ETX 18?

cool comp Vid, i know its hard to get "IT" for bass on a Mic'd Video - I did just buy a Mackie Thump 15" sub but i hated the digital crossover with it dipping the sound when moving to the next value. I seriously gambled on a Turbosound Milan 18" and im a pig in Sheet with that thing I love it i'm not asking for a review but just a slow and bouncy if anyone wants to consider that dollface. Now im looking for a Strong 12" sub to take smaller gigs in Smaller cars and smaller bars where i don't like just rocking through 12" Mains and calling it a day, I wanna call it a night and bump a bit more - send some reco's I would prob spend more on a 12" sub considering I would be asking it to do a whole lot in a smaller factor.

HOPEFULLY EV / RCF QSC THANX GREAT REVIEW👍👍👍

I wish you could test a VRX918SP with these subs to see how it fares...

Thanks so much for your review of the subs. Perhaps a Dumb ? Cleveland i do have two QSC K12 2 i'm in need of a 18 in sub should i just stick to the brand and pick up the QSC KS118.

I have heard all these subs as I shoot a ton of weddings in NY. Hearing hundreds of different DJ setups, only 3 subs have given me the WOW factor, well maybe 4...2 QSC KS118s, 2 yorkville ls 18s, 2 srx828s and 2 RCF TTS 18-A II's. As far as price and size goes, the KS has no bussinus being in the conversation with the others in this range, BUT IT IS. And they SLAM. Dollar for dollar and pound for pound nothing touching them, to my ears. I picked up a refurbished model for $1600 and it still impresses me when I turn it up. Im no DJ, just like quality, loud music. If price and size weren't an issue, the srx828s are probably it overall. It only makes sense...double the sub area. The yorkville are LOUD, but not the deep bass I prefer out of a sub. The RCF is obviously top of the line and sounded amazing. I dont think the DJ was turning them up nearly what they could have done and I was still impressed with those lows out of 2 single 18s. The KS118 pushes 1800rms whitch is almost double the other subs in its category. Cant go wrong unless you need deep deep lows, then id go with the SRX 828 or RCF TT.

Im here in Chicago and as of 11/26/2023 Guitar Center is selling the QSC for 1700 - Damn GINA

A 20 amp outlet can handle 2400 watts max i ran qsc subs on 15 amps and tops that means rms is around the 800 watts 3600 wats on pink noise for 1 secondsat one meter

Can you do the Ld icoa sub 18 review

I have qsc bottoms much tighter it thumps love them.

thanks for the video. Would a single KS118 be enough for a party of under 100 people? thanks again

I’m probably the only one with the odd ball Yamaha Dax xlf18 have a pair of them. I love them but super heavy

I have 4 k12.2s and 3-ks118s. Omg 3 -18- sound crazy… contemplating even if I want the 4th. School events 600 kids NP.

The JBL is only 1000W???

Nice review but i will like to listen them with some highs too so we can hear a musical difference low high and mids. I like jbl better

I would buy the jbl but passive never power sub, great test .

Dude, I would love to hear how the DXS18XLF compares. It sounds so nice. I picked it over the KS118 purely on SQ. The KS118 did go a bit louder tho.

I could deal with the caster rattle. It makes me think of a licence plate on a trunk

So, that QSC, to me, seemed like a cleaner deeper base. The JBL sounded a little louder and the Mackie didn't impress...

I’d like to see the winner of this shootout against the ETX18sp

Got 2 of the QSC KS118s sounds best outdoors at 100hz...But listen running the QSCs thru the Aux of a Touchmix is next level...🥴🥴 Although I love the KS118s I'm thinking Bassboss VS21s 😁😁

Hello Bro, Pls Am having issues with my Rane twelve, When I press play, it starts slow. I don't know how to rectify it.

good job looping the song and taping the wheels would help you.

I hope QSC fixed the issue with the KS118 woofers burning out and that's only having played them at the one or two oclock position past the 0db which is at 12 oclock....when I bought mine when they first came out they cost 1500...but I had to take them in for repair even though they have a six year warranty ..myself and few other dj's had to take them in for repairs. The authorized repair after some prodding admitted QSC had bad batches of early manufactured KS118's....The bass does sound a little deeper but its not a super difference between the KS118 and the KW181 ....so if any DJ's are on the fence of upgrading keep your KW181's they will hold up and play louder without the peak light coming on. What I have found once I got my KS118 back from being repaired keep them at 0db and do not put them on Deep Mode or the peak light will be coming on playing today's hip hop. Before I forget the peak light on the KS118 comes on very easy you will not have to play them hard or long when it comes on, once again I don't know was that an issue with the ones that were produce in the early release of the KS118's....mine were purchased when they were first released. Other then my experience with the KS118 great video on comparison.

I’ve always liked QSC … and for good reason. Original K12’s over KS118…. Awesome sound

Hello there Which one do you recommend BOSE SUB 2 Vs SRX 818SP ?

What about the Yamaha DXS18 or DXS18XLF?

Based on my perception, the JBL goes deeper in bass, the QSC seems very accurate in the punchiness, unfortunately the Mackie sounds muddy to me.

Hey bro, love the videos I’m in the process of buying some subs. I have the DRM Mackie 15 top what would 2 drm 18subs sound like a crowed of 250

During the second song, the JBL went the lowest, and didn't sound nearly as one note as the other two. The low 808 was just as loud as the high 808. Whereas on the other two, the higher note was much louder and the lower didn't shake the room as much. Which was the loudest to you? I find the KS118 can get quite loud, it just doesn't sound as nice as some others I have tested. I haven't personally gotten to compare it to JBL or Mackie tho.

Where are you located CT? I have bassboss ssp118 and rcf sub8004 that you can test if near VA. Why not test the subs right as they start to clip and see which is loudest, and has best sound quality?

Watts is just a Marketing Pitch, and QSC fell into that trap with all the new QSC models. K12.2 , KS118 etc... whereas the old models just stated the RMS which is what you need to speak about. Now keep in mind, I have a Yamaha DXS18 which is a 800 Watts RMS and own QSC, EV, Yorkville and few other subs, and I can tell you that they Definitely are more powerful than many of the other High wattage subs including the KS118, KW181 and by far the SRX

I got 2 drms subs and qsc subs i love em both

Just saw this and I have the RCF 708 ASII If you want to compare? I'm near Hollywood Hills.

Wear Headphone 🎧 And Do Full Volume

Bro if you want an RCF I will ship mine to you for the comparison!!

jbl by a mile !!!!! thank you CG...... i own a 828srxp. and am gonna buy a single 18 2day for my studio...... the jbl is also shorter and will fit under a desk...... thank u for the vid :)

Gotta try the RCF 8003

I'm not a fan of these simple box subs as I find them underwhelming in anything other than a very small room. I sold my pair of QSCs and purchased a pair or JTR Orbit Shifters (integrated 4KW RMS amps) and never looked back. Only one required for small to medium sized rooms and two for large to massive venues. My system has been banned by some local halls as it loosens lamps and disables room lighting. Always a good time!

RCF SUB 708-AS II vs the qsc 18

Why not RCF ?

Awe man dj solstice gonna look down you cause he said the Qsc has no bass lol! I wish you had the etx it’s same price as the qsc and specs say it’s goes way lower frequency wise! To my ears sounded like the JBL went super low frequency wise! The qsc was probably louder but they do that by having a higher frequency 60-70hz as oppose to that 40 hz or the jbl!

Qsc all the way

ev etx the only way to go

Should use SRX 918 and see the difference srx818 is old

Try Yorkville

Mackie has more of a mid range hump thump.. not the best and explains where some of that wattage may be going in respect to why the JBL sounds better - and the Makie ends up sounding flabby - it could be how it's ported as well.. and indeed I recorded the audio with hijack and looked at the spectrum and my ears were correct.. and spike in dB at 1000HZ range on the mackie. - the JBL also has well rounded Midrange but the dB's are lower and don't cause that cardboard type effect. Leave it to JBL to do it right once again !! :) And then the QSC is kind of like both of them put together from what I hear and see on the sonograph. Having rattly parts as well on a subwoofer in 2023 is pretty sad - I guess you should have some old bicycle tubes around to wrap the wheels in... they are excellent for containing vibration especially in the lower frequency range.

You should put a disclaimer on this video: WARNING SINGLE OPERATORS MOVING THIS EQUIPMENT WILL RISK BACK FATIGUE, ORTHOPEDIC KNEE ISSUES, HERNIATED DISK OR DEATH

Never play subs only it's pointless, just play in a regular setting with tops if you trying to do a comparison.

Jbl has a better crossover. Sounds best

Never liked mackie. The many times ive worked with any mackie speaker it has been way too punchy. They can take a beating and for the price it might not be bad but there is no smooth bass! Music always sounds low quality thru mackie speakers in my opinion! Cant go wrong with JBL nor QSC tho!

Your neighbors love you like mine love me

How come no one ever plays songs something with major Slap.. maybe some going back to cali by LL or posse on Broadway by mixalot.. i wanna hear that hard hitting west coast or Miami bass songs.. then we will know who can handle the BASSSSSS........ Mmmm 🤔 how about Dj Magic Mike.. "feel the bass"

dangggg a shootout … sub on sub on sub crime! LoL …. great job!

What about the EV EKX SP18?