When I first started out playing in bands, it did not take me long to see that the lead guitar players seemed to be the ones who owned the band sound systems. I am not quit sure why this is, but a recent survey that I saw in a major publication reinforced this observable fact by saying that guitar players are the number one crossover market spender for live sound systems, and home recording equipment. Today, I am an example of this myself, with a large amount of money invested in equipment that is outside of the guitar specific market.

The first time that I went into a music store with the goal of buying a power amplifier for my bands sound system, I admit that I knew next to nothing. After talking to the salesman for some advice, it became increasingly apparent that he knew even less than I did! So, after some comparisons I decided to get a new model that had recently been introduced to the market. It was called the Mackie 1400i. This would be one of those times where I rolled the dice and came up a clear winner. Since then I have had the opportunity to try out several other power amplifiers, but I always came back to the M-1400i for my most demanding applications.

When I went to the Winter NAMM show in 2005, I was disappointed to learn from the Mackie staff that 1400i was going to be discontinued after what had been a long standing run as a bright star in the industry. Fortunately, I was also told that there was going to be a new and improved power amplifier series coming out soon. I am glad to say it is finally here and I have received my “FR Series” power amplifier for review.

FR Series Power Amplifiers by Mackie





Loud Technologies, Inc. gave me a choice of any FR- Series amplifier in the new lineup. I choose the FR-1400 (1400 watts @ 4 ohms bridged). Because of my past experience with the M-1400i, I knew that this model would have plenty of power for any situation I would use it for. These amplifiers come in two other sizes which are the FR-800 (800 watts @ 4 ohms bridges) and the FR-2500 (2500 watts @ 4 ohms bridged). All of these amplifiers have the same features other than their individual power ratings, so this review in effect covers all three models.

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Gear Guy Tip: When it comes to power amplifiers, bigger is not always better. You should choose a power rating based on your needs and not your ego. It is however okay to go a little bigger than you need for future expansion, but you by no means need to buy the biggest amplifier on the market if you do not see a future need for it.

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The first thing I noticed was that Mackie has begun to move away from their signature light slate grey façade, and in the case of the FR Series has opted for a darker grey look. The faceplate features an on/off rocker switch, and level controls for the left and right channels. The “Signal Present LED” and a “Clip LED” for each channel finish out the faceplate. This is what a power amp should have, a simple yet effective control panel.



The back panel is equally efficient. The inputs include the balanced XLR or TRS from a line level signal. You can also use an unbalanced TS cable, but they tend to not reject noise as well as balanced lines. A subsonic filter allows you to cut frequencies at the 30 Hz. This will ensure that your amplifier is only working with frequencies that your speakers can amplify. You will want to engage this switch most of the time, unless you are working with a subwoofer, or speakers that are rated for a wider frequency response.

A “Clip Limit” switch protects your speakers from the problems incurred from clipping. It is in effect a very quiet and transparent compressor / limiter. I found this to be a valuable added touch.

The FR-1400 works in three modes. Here is a quick explanation of these modes:

Stereo – This setting is probably the most common for small bands and venues. You would use this application to send separate left and right signals to two separate speakers. This gives you the most flexibility to mix and pan sounds between both sides.

Mono – Mono accepts one input, but sends that single input to two separate speakers. This would be used more for speaking-type engagements (such as seminars or lectures) where you do not need to pan different instruments to different sides such as in a stereo mix.

Bridged – In this mode you would use a single input and send it to a single output which would sum the power of both sides to double the power rating to a single speaker. I have personally seen this used by bass guitar players quite often. It is also used extensively in large venues where separate power amplifiers are used for the left and right speaker stacks for a stereo mix.

In both stereo and mono, the FR-1400 gives you 450 watts per side on a 4 ohms load. In bridged mode, the FR-1400 shakes the stage and rattles your audiences teeth at a continuous 1400 watts on a 4 ohm load.

Once the signal has traveled through the power amplifier, it exits through the speaker output section. This section gives you the choice of binding posts or Speakon connections. Speakons are the industry standard today, and you will find that more and more companies are moving away from the older ¼” outputs for both safety reasons and ease of use.

Overall this unit is well designed and built, and maintains great practicality in all of its uses. You can get more information and specs from the FR Series users Manual.

Sound Test

PA System – This test is perhaps the most important because it is the area that an amplifier is used the most. In this application it will need to cover a much larger frequency range, and convey the details of a variety of different instruments and voices at the same time. Using my Mackie Onyx1640 mixing board and a set of passive Mackie PA speakers, I began by “Ringing Out the System”.

I ran several instruments and audio applications through the system with great results on all counts. Power levels were consistent across the entire audio frequency spectrum (as opposed to some that often give heavier emphasis on bass or treble). I experienced no distortion, even at high volumes.

A great test for audio applications that I like to use to determine transparency is what I call the "Acoustic Guitar Test". What impressed me the most with this power amplifier was how my acoustic guitar sounded when run through the mixing board. I am not really sure how to describe what I heard other than it was my sound...except louder! By this I mean that there was very little coloration from pre-amp on the guitar through the signal chain which includes the power amp. The guitar sounded just like I wanted it to without any excess equalization. It is n my belief that the FR-1400 would be a great choice to power your entire band in a medium to large club situation. It has great headroom, and true sound qualities.

The Bass Rack – The high energy frequencies at the extreme low end of the audio spectrum tend to consume massive amounts of power. Because of this, it is not uncommon for a bass player to use 1400 watts or more in their rig. I decided to test the FR-1400 as the power section of my bass rack with my favorite bass preamp, the BBE BMAX-t.

The FR-1400 delivered plenty of punch to drive my Ampeg speaker cabinet. The sound was tight, deep, and very accurate. This amplifier is a great choice for the bass minded musician. It delivers a bass sound that can be felt as well as heard.

Closing Thoughts

If you think of your sound system as a biological entity, your mixing board would be the brain, and the power amplifier would be the muscle. A power amplifier has one job and that is to simply amplify any signal you throw at it. Even so, when choosing a power amplifier there are a few things you should look for. You want absolutely clean power with a pure sonic precision. The highs should be bright and crisp, the lows should be tight and defined. The mid’s should also sit in their frequency space while maintaining crystal clear and distinct properties.

Equally important is the dependability and reliability of the power amp to get you through night after night of gigging. Believe me, a power amp should be the one piece of gear that you do not need to worry about. While the FR-1400 has not been around long enough for me to do long term extensive testing, all indications show me that this amplifier series is built to meet the highest standards and will more than likely go down in history someday as another classic Mackie power amplifier. I can definitely see the benefits of moving up to the new FR-1400, which has become my new "go to" power amplifier.

As for the old M-1400i, after much use in heavy gigging and transporting, it went with another member of the band when we broke up. I still keep in touch with him and he say’s it is still running as strong as the day we bought it. That amplifier was my first Mackie purchase, but was nowhere near my last. Anyone who has seen my music room and recording area can attest to that fact, and I am proud to add another great piece in the form of the FR-1400 power amplifier. I give the FR Series overall the Rig Ready award for 2007.


Gary Allen

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