Short answer: the EAW MKC80. It ranks #10 of 47 8-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $980; the Meyer Sound Ultra X40 ranks #14, rated 3.8/5, and costs $5,600, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The EAW MKC80 is the more accurate choice. A light passive 8 inch coaxial speaker with good, balanced sound and a rotatable horn for horizontal or vertical placement. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.08 against 2.73 for the Meyer Sound Ultra X40. The catch: Bass reaches only about 85Hz (-3dB), and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.321, so the tonal balance is less even than the best 8-inch models.
The Meyer Sound Ultra X40 is the deeper-bass choice. A powered PA speaker with two 8 inch woofers, wide even coverage and networked processing, easy to fly or pole mount. Its bass reaches about 65Hz before falling 3dB, against 85Hz for the EAW MKC80. Watch for: The 3.8dB reference band and 0.66 listening-window deviation make its tonal balance rougher than the Meyer Sound Ultra X20’s, with a 2.73 standalone score.
Buy the EAW MKC80. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Meyer Sound Ultra X40 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| EAW MKC80 | Meyer Sound Ultra X40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $980.00 Passive | $5,600 |
| Ranked | #10 of 47 in 8-Inch PA Speakers | #14 of 47 in 8-Inch PA Speakers |
| Passive | Yes | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial PA speaker | Self-powered 2-way concentric loudspeaker |
| Drivers | 8” cone woofer with 2” voice coil, 1” exit compression driver with CSA coaxial loading | 2x 8” cone woofers, concentric 3” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) | 56Hz - 19kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 16.6”H x 10”W x 10.5”D (422 x 255 x 267 mm) | 22.3”H x 12.5”W x 14”D (567 x 318 x 356 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification within the 450W handling rating | 1,950W peak, 3-channel Class D |
| Power Handling | 450W at 8 ohms (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 132dB (manufacturer specified) | 127dB linear peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° (rotatable) | 110° x 50° Constant-Q horn |
| Sensitivity | 93dB | - |
| DSP | No (passive) | Yes, Galileo GEN-1 networked processing |
| Rigging | Integrated M10 mounting points, pole mount | 11 x M8 inserts; 35mm pole-mount receptacle |
| Weight | 22 lbs (10 kg) | Under 55.1 lbs (25 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 65Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.08 | 2.73 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.10 | 5.43 |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 56.8Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Network Control | - | Galileo GEN-1 networked audio and DSP control |
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