YSM1P vs Mackie HR824 Mk1
Well, stopped by GC again today. The other "dead" monitor was the STANDBY switch was on. Both Mackie 824 powered up this time.
I asked for $350pair and the sales dewd declined quickly. Actually he caught my excitement and didn't want to sell for $400 now that he saw them working. He asked the manager for $350. The manger declined also and siad its $260 below their cost...which insinuates they pay $660 for Mackie HR824?
The GC dewd said both are under full Mackie Warranty...so thats cool. GC return policy 14days.
Anyway, I grabbed them for a test drive at the least.

14days....start the counter.
disclaimer..this is all IMO, so no offense meant just a HR gear comparison. A solo scruff songwriter HR hobbyist in a bedroom the size of a 2car garage and a 16ft ceiling. A HR bedroom test drive, room has a 16 ft ceiling and is very large size of a 2 car garage. Nice, maybe a tiny bit larger than many HR rooms, but nothing professional either.
These are the MK1, and even more interesting for this test! One is made in China (EL61106) and the other is in the US (EL61299).
Set one YSM1P opn the left and the Mackie HR824 on the right. Powered up the monitors. and playback- Just The Girl Click Five..pop, guitar band with harmonys etc..
The Mackies immediately shrilled my ears somewhat and the -2cut was done on the hi freq. The vocal clarity wasn't up to where my YSM1P's were either so I cut the bass switch 80hz. After reading articles I moved the Mackies out to 5ft also, this seemed to help a lot on the treblys...it helped a lot. So this si a "pro" line monitor I thought...the $1200 level...too cool. very nice. I forget my YSM1P setup but its there when I posted about the DYNBM5A comparison.
So various music was used and also placed into mono mode on the "virtual mixer" providing each speaker the same tones being thrown at it. Dance Mix, Spanish, Beatles ballads and Beatles Nowhere Man and some fine recorded material on the M-Audio disc of new artists which includes every kind of music.
After I tamed the shrills I noticed slight mid's were missing on the Mackies versus the YSM1P's. However, the Mackies rocked when I heard complete bass lines and drum kicks and toms I hadn't heard at all in the YSM1P's. Pauls bass on Rubber Soul really jumped out for example. So this was a huge plus for the Mackies vs YS1MP. I admit I had been missing something! wow.
Back and forth, back and forth..YSM1P on the Left, Mackie on the Right, then vice versus...music placed into MONO.back out...back and forth...flipping switches.
Summry of the first few hours....
I'd have to use SouthsideGlen's freq chart but I could hear more clarity in the upper mids on the YSM1P's, a small band of freqs seem to been missing on the Mackies like when the upper piano notes were hit, and the YSM1P's missing the lower end bass lines, lower piano chords and low drums/toms. Yet the Mackies had more of a wider range of high freq's too, imo.
I wondered? had the bass masked some of the upper mids? or is it the 6" versus 8"...anyway, it was noticeable....made me want to merge the two of the speakers! I admit the bass and gorgeous lower end was very nice to hear but missing the upper hi end of the mid freqs bothered me. Of course we want it all..
By cutting the bass and the A-b_C selector switch more bass was removed on the Mackies and a bit more upper mid was heard. It was sounding more how I like it.
There was the Mackies, ala a $1200 set of speakers retail, versus a $375-$400 set like the YSM1P's.
So the first short session was just the first few hours. I plugged both Mackies in and listened to a few songs.
***Ergonomics & Build***********
the Mackies are well built,no one can argue that...wow. So are the YSM1P's. A solid feel, pro feel and nice construction. I don't care for the hidden plug housing on the Mackies but then who really unplugs their montiors often....still not needed and I like the YSM1P's plug arrangement better as you can kind of see where your plugging into. small stupid stuff.
Very similar amp package, almost a copied look? as far as cosmetics between the two brands, however I'll be opening up the Mackies soon.

More of a China vs US build curiosity....
***China vs US sounds...
As far as listening to the China assembled one and a US assembled one I heard absolutely no difference. It is very evident as posted the parts are exactly the same between the two as far as the cabinet and amp housing and the speakers. (which aren't made by Mackie anyway). The post fomr someonme that works there said "each and every monitor is tested in the chamber".
Next stop..... is taking the amps apart and looking under the hood.....I have a feeling the amps will be identical because the amps are probably outsourced too, like the drivers are.
Another test I want to compare is
a YSM1P with a sub to the Mackie HR824.
its all in fun.,..
The Mackies are cool, its like a industry standard in my room, been around and used by many all over the place.
I'd say the positioning was the largest "tonal" factor..imo.
My YSM1p's didn't seem so temperamental, maybe its the back bass thing?? where as the YSM1P's ports are on the front so placement is less effect.
In this specific case Mackie HR824's at a demo set price of $400 ....not really a question of value, thats a slamdunk.