Mackie CR3 review, Professional Multimedia Monitors

When it’s about a pair of professional multimedia monitors, Mackie CR3 will never let you down. While it comes with professional-grade capabilities, it doesn’t cost you a whole lot either. Don’t worry; we will dive deep into it within a moment to help you see what it holds.

As an audiophile myself, I have been impressed by this speaker thoroughly. From the moment I heard about this one, it intrigued me. So, I had to do my research on this and give it a try myself. So, here what I will do is share my findings and my experience with this fantastic equipment.

Without wasting any more of your time, let’s get to the real deal.

Mackie CR3 specs

 Before going into the details, let’s check out some technical specifications of the speakers:

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• Frequency response: 80hz – 20000hz
• Connections: TRS, RCA, AUX, Headphone
• Cabinet: MDF
• Peak SPL: 97dB
• Amplifier: 50W
• Driver type: Polypropylene-coated
• Weight: 7.8lbs
• Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.1 x 7.1 inches

The benefits and drawbacks of the multimedia monitor

Well, why would you buy something if it doesn’t benefit you in some way? Also, if you find a deal-breaking flaw, you will not be interested in buying it, right? So, let’s check out the benefits and drawbacks of this one quickly –

Benefits of Mackie CR3

• This whole multimedia monitor setup is very much affordable
• It gives you accurate and clean sound signatures throughout
• The size of the speakers is very compact, so it fits almost any setup
• It has got good connectivity options lined up for you
• The looks are very modern to suit a hi-tech setup

Drawbacks of Mackie CR3

• It only packs up 50W amp power which isn’t that much
• You will need a subwoofer for better bass

Now, the thing about professional studio monitors is that they aren’t meant for bass. They are more about precision in the sound design. They don’t require too much power either. So, in a way, this does what it’s supposed to do flawlessly.

Related: Edifier R1280DB Review

Product details 

I get it; just knowing the benefits isn’t that convincing. So, I go in-depth into the monitors. That will help you understand what this speaker puts out for you to like or dislike. Let’s get going.

What are the speakers like physically? 

Let’s just say I fell in love with Mackie CR3 when I first saw them. And it’s not the fact that you have to see them physically in front of you. Their modern and hi-tech appearance shines through pictures as well.

The whole cabinet comes with a black finish with a green stripe on the front panel. This makes the speaker fit into modern setups. Also, the compact size makes them look much more interesting than you would think.

As for the build quality, you won’t need to worry about that at all. It has an MDF cabinet, making it suitable for durability and provides support in good sound quality. So, all in all, you get a great pair of speakers in terms of all the physical aspects.

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How are the Mackie CR3 speakers used? 

Since these are professional multimedia monitors, their primary usage would be for production purposes. Whenever you are editing videos or audio, you will get a lot of use out of Mackie CR3. Because the sound accuracy on these speakers is spot on, this helps a lot in production purposes.

Another use of this speaker is for gaming. Both these functionalities don’t require too much bass, which makes these speakers perfect for the job.

Also, you can use the different connections for different purposes. When you need balance, you can go for the TRS connection, and when you need an unbalanced sound, you can use the RCA connection. You can also use your headphones through the AUX and headphone ports on the front of the speakers.

Overall, it’s a great speaker with a variety of users based on your needs. And you can also get a Bluetooth variant of this one.

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Key features and rate performance 

Well, I don’t think you are still convinced. When just details fail to impress, ratings and numbers can do the trick. So, let’s check out some key features of  Mackie CR3 speakers and how they rate out of 5.

• Sound quality 

Coming to the sound quality of this one, I can’t complain at all. Because I intended to have a speaker that can produce precise frequencies, I would say it has the perfect sound quality if your purpose is gaming or production.

You get crisp and clear mid and highs with complete accuracy. As for the bass, it’s not the best out there. If you pair this up with a subwoofer, you get the perfect setup that you desire.

Rating: 4/5

• Ease of setup 

The speakers don’t come with any complicated connectivity options. This makes setting this up a breeze. Connect the speaker to your device using either a TRS cable or an RCA connection. And that’s it. Setting this up shouldn’t take more than 5 to 10 minutes for anyone.

Rating: 4.5/5

• Compactness 

Well, one great thing about the speakers is that they are super compact. You can use them for your desktop setup with ease. They can fit into any setup without compromising the sound quality at all. You will have no issues with space when you have this speaker.

Rating: 4.5/5 

• Value for money 

There is no going around the fact that this is a value for money speaker. The sound quality you get out of the speaker is beyond anything you expect for the cost. It’s worth your money without any questions whatsoever.

Rating: 5/5

Related: YAMAHA HS8 Monitor Speaker

Verdict

In short, Mackie CR3 is a quality speaker for anyone out there who is getting into production. It’s also suitable if you are looking for a pair of gaming speakers. While they aren’t entitled to be a gaming speaker, they can do that part without any issue at all. And something that makes it great for everyone is the excellent professional sound quality within an affordable budget.