Mackie vs RCF:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Mackie had more branded searches than RCF among PA systems worldwide. Mackie had about 40,500 branded searches, while RCF had 2,400. Mackie made up 39.6% of all PA system searches we track, and RCF accounted for 2.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about PA systems, Mackie and RCF each appeared in two of the five answers. RCF was mentioned before Mackie in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Mackie, about 17 searches for every 1 for RCF
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
RCF, named ahead of Mackie in 2 of 2 answers
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Top PA systems in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Mackie and RCF were each mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. RCF was listed before Mackie in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
QSC1st
Bose2nd
Electro-Voice3rd- RCF4th
- Mackie5th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- QSC4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Electro-Voice3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Bose3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Mackie2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- RCF2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about PA systems
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which PA system should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best PA system brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best PA system for live events?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pa systems”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“portable pa system”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Mackie or RCF more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Mackie and RCF by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five PA systems we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Mackie, RCF. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Mackie | QSC | Electro-Voice | RCF | Bose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 32.6% | 36.9% | 26.7% | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 30.6% | 40.8% | 25.1% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.1% | 38.2% | 23.5% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 30.3% | 41.2% | 24.8% | 2.2% | 1.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 30.1% | 41.7% | 24.7% | 2.1% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 32% | 42.6% | 21.5% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.5% | 38.2% | 23.1% | 2.5% | 1.7% |
| May 2026 | 35.1% | 37.6% | 23.5% | 2% | 1.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 35.1% | 37.6% | 23.5% | 2% | 1.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 35.1% | 37.6% | 23.5% | 2% | 1.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.1% | 37.6% | 23.5% | 2% | 1.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.6% | 34.7% | 21.7% | 2.3% | 1.6% |
How has the Mackie and RCF comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Mackie was ahead of RCF in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mackie’s share of searches among PA systems worldwide moved from 32.6% to 39.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 33.1K to 40.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RCF’s share of searches among PA systems worldwide moved from 1.9% to 2.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9K to 2.4K.
How did search popularity change for PA systems worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Mackie overtook QSC to become the leader among PA systems worldwide, with 39.6% of the searches.
Estimated monthly branded searches for RCF worldwide rose 26.3% over 12 measured months, from 1.9K to 2.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mackie’s and RCF’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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