Mackie ShowBox Battery powered PA system

Battery-Powered Performance Rig for Mobile Musicians

The Mackie ShowBox is a battery-powered all-in-one live performance rig combining a 400W amplifier, 6-channel mixer, effects rack, and USB-C audio interface in one 9.5 kg cabinet. A Class-D amp stage drives an 8" woofer and a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression driver for a maximum SPL of 122 dB at one metre. The ShowBox is the right choice for solo artists, singer-songwriters, and small bands who need one box that travels to the gig, sets up in seconds, and runs for up to 12 hours on the included lithium-ion battery. Switchable voicing modes, indoor and outdoor tuning, and a feedback eliminator with up to eight notch filters keep the sound clean anywhere.

What Sets the ShowBox Apart

The breakaway mix control is the headline feature: a Cat5-connected remote that docks into the cabinet or mounts to a microphone stand, putting gain, 3-band EQ, compression, snapshots, the looper, and the tuner at the performer's fingertips. Six effects engines run with one insert per mono channel and two global sends for delay and reverb, while an external FX loop keeps a player's pedalboard in the chain. Onboard Autogain sets incoming levels as hot as possible without clipping.

Amplification and Speaker Components

The Class-D amp stage and switch-mode power supply keep the cabinet light and cool while delivering serious headroom for busking and small venue work.

• Amplifier Power: 400 W peak (Class-D) — enough headroom for pub and outdoor gigs without mains power
• Drivers: 203 mm (8") woofer at 350 W plus 25 mm (1") titanium-diaphragm compression driver at 50 W — full-range response from 55 Hz to 20 kHz at -3 dB
• Maximum SPL reaches 122 dB at 1 m, enough to fill a small venue or outdoor audience area.

Mixer Architecture and I/O

Six input channels cover solo-to-small-band setups, with two mono mic inputs, two mono hi-Z instrument inputs, and a stereo line pair.

• Inputs: 2× XLR mic, 2× 1/4" instrument (hi-Z), 1× stereo 1/4" line, 1× 3.5 mm aux — covers vocals, acoustic or electric guitar, bass, keys, and backing tracks
• Channel Processing: 3-band parametric EQ (80 Hz, 2.5 kHz, 12 kHz) plus single-knob compression per channel — dialled in from the docked or detached controller
• Six effects engines run simultaneously: 1 insert per channel plus 2 global sends, with XLR mix out, 1/4" headphone out, FX send/return loop, and a 2-button footswitch port

Battery Life, Recording, and Wireless

The included lithium-ion battery pack slides into the base of the cabinet and charges through the IEC inlet, so there is no separate charger to carry.

• Battery Life: up to 12 hours on a single charge — covers a full evening of busking or a multi-set bar gig
• Battery Type: swappable lithium-ion pack (GB-100) — replace in seconds for back-to-back events
• Recording goes straight to a microSD card slot (Class 10 or better), while a USB-C audio interface and Bluetooth handle streaming to a laptop, phone, or tablet

Built for Solo Performers, Buskers, and Small Bands

The ShowBox is the right choice for solo singer-songwriters who need a guitar amp, vocal channel, and looper in one box they can carry to a pub corner or pavement spot. It suits acoustic duos, jazz trios, and keyboard-plus-vocal acts that want a clean, feedback-resistant PA without dragging a separate mixer, amp, and speaker to every show. Mobile DJs and content creators benefit from Bluetooth streaming, USB-C interfacing, and microSD recording for capturing sets on the road.

Mackie — Pro Audio Since 1988

Mackie has been designing professional audio gear in Woodinville, Washington since 1988, building a reputation for affordable mixers, loudspeakers, and studio tools used worldwide. The ShowBox pairs that mixer heritage with the company's expanding battery-powered loudspeaker family that includes the Thump GO, Thrash212 GO, and FreePlay LIVE. Designed alongside working buskers and gigging musicians, the rig reflects Mackie's focus on portable, mains-independent sound.