Mackie Designs Inc. and Eastern Acoustic Works Inc. Sign Letter of Intent

February 3, 2000 – Woodinville, Wash. – Mackie Designs Inc. (Nasdaq:MKIE) ("Mackie") and Eastern Acoustic Works Inc. (EAW) announced today that they have signed a non-binding letter of intent by which Mackie will purchase all shares of EAW.

Based in Whitinsville, MA, EAW is recognized as the world's leading high-end professional loudspeaker design and manufacturing firm. It holds leadership positions in both fixed installation and concert touring markets. The company's products are utilized in sound reinforcement systems at major stadiums and arenas, performing arts centers, churches, clubs, and more recently, in the custom residential market. In fiscal year 1999, the company recorded sales in excess of $40 million.

The move unites two of the professional audio industry's most successful, dynamic developers of technology. Both sides point out that the arrangement will prove highly beneficial to each entity, while at the same time, both companies will continue to focus their primary energies on their respective core markets, products and customer bases.

"I can't stress enough that this move is a win-win for both sides. There will be a cross-pollination of our best technologies, and at the same time we both remain devoted to serving our primary markets," states EAW President Kenneth Berger. "EAW's market share continues to grow. It simply comes down to an even greater future for the company, an ideal opportunity to move forward and expand at an even greater pace.

"Both sides point out that the majority of each company's day-to-day operations will remain separate, including product distribution channels. EAW will remain based in Whitinsville, its current corporate headquarters and manufacturing site. "Mackie is a tremendous marketer and leader in the music retail marketplace, while EAW has established itself as the worldwide leader in professional installation and concert touring," Berger adds. "Putting these resources together creates an entity more powerful and effective than the sum of the individual companies."

"The synergy created by bringing our two companies together is enormous," states Greg Mackie, Chairman of Mackie. "At present Mackie and EAW do not have any products which compete. In fact, Mackie and EAW specialize in completely different markets of the professional audio world. We believe that together we can help each other grow in new areas for both of our companies.

"He continues, "The EAW brand enjoys a reputation for being the best in their markets, complementing Mackie's own reputation for quality products."

"The most critical factor in this partnership is the people we will have join the Mackie team," adds Jamie Engen, Mackie's Chief Operating Officer. "We have tremendous respect for Ken Berger and EAW management, all of whom have built an extraordinary business with quality products. Ken and the management team have created a company that fosters an entrepreneurial culture that will mesh well with our own.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including those described above and the following: changes in demand for the Company's products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, constraints on supplies of critical components, excess or shortage of production capacity, difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic and international economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

About Mackie
Mackie Designs Inc. is known worldwide as a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, affordable professional audio systems. Mackie products can be found in professional and project recording studios, video and broadcast suites, post production facilities, sound reinforcement applications including churches and nightclubs, retail locations and on major musical tours. Mackie Designs Inc. products are marketed by 54 distributors to more than 100 countries around the world.

"Mackie." is a registered trademark of Mackie Designs Inc. in the United States and other countries.

For more information please contact: Mackie Designs Inc. – 16220 Wood-Red Road N.E. – Woodinville, WA 98072 – Phone: 425-487-4333 – Fax: 425-487-4337 – Internet: www.mackiedesigns.com