Mackie's Onyx BlackJack Recording Interface Review

Mackie ONYX Black Jack

The Mackie ONYX BlackJack is a rugged bus-powered USB audio interface that is small with great sound quality and versatile monitoring, making it an ideal portable companion to a laptop but equally at home in a fixed location such as a personal studio.  

Mackies ONYX BlackJack offers the quality preamp so recognized in their higher priced line of Onyx Mixers. The BlackJack features two Onyx preamps, having mic/line inputs on combination XLR / ¼” jacks, with individual DI switching for using the line jacks as high-impedance inputs, and switchable global phantom power. The monitor outputs are on balanced quarter-inch jacks, governed by the Monitor level control, and there’s a headphone output and accompanying level control on the front panel.  

The Onyx preamps are designed to go beyond standalone microphone preamps in headroom, transparency, and fidelity. Additionally, the Onyx preamps have a full 60db gain, improved radio frequency (RFI) refection and an ultra-wide dynamic range. Onyx preamps rival even the most expensive boutique mic preamps for sound quality a good part due to the Cirrus Logic converter. Power for the circuitry comes from the USB port, so there’s no need for a separate PSU. The 24-bit Cirrus Logic converter is capable of a 114dB dynamic range (A-Weighted), which is way beyond the signal-to-noise spec of most studio gear. Importantly, the gain staging within the unit means that the preamp circuitry is correctly matched to the A-D conversion, to sustain headroom while minimizing noise and distortion. Zero latency recording is possible by routing the input directly into the monitors and into the computer simultaneously, reducing any audible delay form player to computer (allowing the computer buffer to be directed towards the CPU). It also allows you to track in mono or stereo.  Overall, comparable interfaces do not possess this sound quality, and audio interfaces that do typically cost ten times as much as the Mackie Onyx Blackjack.

The Onyx Blackjack’s overall design is rugged and due to the unique 25 degree angled structure making it easy to see the controls, extremely user friendly. On the front there are five knobs, two gain (-20dB to +40dB), one “To Mon”, Monitor, and Phones knob. The gain knobs are linked to an LED light that remains green to show a healthy signal and blinks red when it is experiencing overload. The Monitor knob offers Mute to Max control with a Mono/Stereo button. The “To Mone” knob sends the input signal directly to the monitor outpurs for no-latency, analog monitoring. The Monitor and Phones knob also is Mute to Max with a 48V Phantom power button to drive condenser mics and then a headphones ¼” jack port to the far right. The sensible lay-out of the components, add to the usability of this unit. The back of the Onyx Blackjack has a USB port, R/L Monitor Outputs for balanced or unbalanced ¼” jacks, and two XLR & ¼” combination mic analog inputs. This unit is built like a tank and we give the overall usability an A+.

Overall the Onyx BlackJack is considered a real bargain and a very affordable interface and delivers both superior sound quality and flexibility. If you want to make high quality recordings this is the unit for you.

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Review: Theater Solutions B1 Two Way Bookshelf Speaker

The Theater Solutions B1 Two-Way Bookshelf Speaker is a part of Theater Solution’s Reference Series speaker line, steady performers that offer warm and precise sound reproduction in a most reasonable price range. As I scan the specifications, I am impressed with the stated frequency response range of 45Hz to 22,000 KHz which is lower than many bookshelf speakers in its class and the highs are considerably higher than many of its competitors. Also, the Theater Solutions B1 measures a modest 9.5" x 5.875" x 6.25" making it very compact and versatile, which ultimately is the grand appeal of bookshelf speakers in general. Upon closer review, the specifications appear above average for the over-all size of the speakers and price, but let’s open the box and take a closer look.

At first glance the packaging is disappointing; however, as I open the box, they are tightly secure with thick Styrofoam completely surrounding the speakers. As, I unpack the speakers the cabinets feel well constructed with solid MDF construction and a light black woodgrain finish. 

In terms of sound I must admit, I was completely caught off guard. The Theater Solutions two-way bookshelf speaker is very responsive and produces clear, precise tones across the frequency response range. Its enclosure utilizes a bass reflex design, which basically means it is ported to the rear. The four inch woofer sustains low end sound surprisingly well, while the 1” titanium tweeter sparkles. The woofer and tweeter are shielded magnetically so that they can be safely placed on a shelf close to a television screen. As suggested with any bookshelf speaker, these would have to be paired with a subwoofer to recreate truly full-range sound, this is true with even top brands such as Boston Acoustic or Pioneer.

The Theater Solutions B1 Two-way bookshelf speakers would be perfect for enjoying stereo music or being used as main surround speakers in a home theater arrangement. They have a respectable sensitivity rating of 89db, allowing even a modest amplifier to work to within its comfort zone. Over-all I give the Theater Solutions B1 Two-Way Bookshelf Speakers a 4 /12 Star Rating out of 5 Stars because of their versatility, clean sound, and the Life Time Manufacture Defect Warranty.