Overhyped by Mackie, but not a bad unit.

Features
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A well featured unit that has all the basics you would expect from a unit in this price range:

* Power, Signal & Clip indicators
* Mic/Line input level selector
* Contour switch which boosts high & low frequencies (ever so slightly).

Note: This contour switch makes an almost unnoticeable change in the tone, however, it is in addition to the built-in internal circuitry that automatically adjusts the bass up when the signal is low. The dynamic bass boost feature is automatic and does NOT have a button to turn it on/off (i.e. no "loudness" button). With the contour depressed and with the dynamic bass boost active, it can make the bass sound somewhat synthetic and unnatural.

The bass does sound quite good during playback of recorded music and for reproducing vocal tones however.

* Level Control
* Handles on both the side AND top (nice addition).
* Pole mountable.
* Flyable with additional bracket.
* Shape allows use in either FOH or on floor as monitor.


Durability/Quality
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Cabinet is a composite plastic and feels sturdy and solidly built with no carpet to tear, however, the plastic does scratch rather easily (after my 1st gig in fact). As a result, I have to say I don't like the plastic case, as I've used wooden, carpeted cabinets for years with nary a mark on them. These plastic case units will look like crap after a few more gigs unless I'm careful not to pack them next to something else in the van.

Buttons and level controls feel a bit flimsy (again, plastic) and don't produce the kind of notched control I would prefer. Nitpicking...

Metal grille, is, well, a metal grille and should last forever.


Sound
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Ah, the most important category. I've A/B'ed this unit in a studio and live setting against Yorkville Elite E160P's. Here's my opinion on the sound of the SRM350.

Loudness:

My opinion is that the SRM350 is not a loud unit. Using pre-recorded dance and pop material played back thru the unit, I was able to bring it to "clip" mode at what I would consider to be a medium sound pressure level. I could stand directly in front of the unit without being horribly bothered by the volume level when set at max(which is both good and bad).

In contrast, the E160P I tested it against (with virtually identical specs) was noticeably louder. The E160P at detent 6.5 (on a 10 scale) was the same perceived loudness as the SRM350 at full volume. Either Mackie is overstating the SPL rating on this speaker, or Yorkville is understating, because the E160P blows this thing out of the water in terms of loudness before clip.

Mid/Highs:

The SRM350 produces a very clear, intelligible sound throughout the mid/high frequency range. The unit was very pleasing to listen to, filtering out harsh mid-range frequencies, and producing zero distortion all the way up to "clip" levels. This is a unit you could sit directly in front of all night and not have to worry about ear fatigue. This is probably the best sounding unit at reproducing the vocal range that I have heard to date, both for pre-recorded and live vocals.

Bass:

The SRM350 produces adequate bass response for normal playback of music and acoustic type arrangements. The unit produces surprisingly punchy, clear bass for it's size, however, I would strongly recommend a sub-woofer for DJ or dance oriented venues larger than 50 people.


Overall:

I would rate the overall sound as "very good", although the quality of sound overall was not noticeably better than that of the E160P (which is Yorkvilles top of the line model). Best word to describe the sound from this unit is "smooth". The E160P was noticeably louder with a slightly more open sound, but, the E160P was not quite as pleasing as the SRM350 in the mid-range, and the tone of the E160P was not as flat as the SRM350. The SRM350 maintains a very precise, consistent tone all the way to clip.


Usability/Miscellaneous
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The controls are on the back of the unit and when layed down as a floor wedge, the controls are not easily reachable without tilting the unit up.

The unit comes with a detached A/C power cord. This has advantages (easily replaceable, unit transports easier) and disadvantages (can be lost, forgotten, etc).

The "contour" button and the "mic/line" button are right next to each other and look identical. Accidently pressing the "mic/line" button instead of the contour button when you are feeding it a line level source will not only knock you out of your pants, but will also awaken every cat in the neighborhood (a +45db boost, OUCH!).

The manual contains the usual witty Mackie humor.


Summary
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An above average unit with no glaring flaws.