Mackie CR Series: A Studio Monitor and Hi-Fi Speaker in One?
Multi-purpose monitor systems for the modern creator.
3,5 / 5,0 | 
Mackie CR Series: A Studio Monitor and Hi-Fi Speaker in One? · Source: Mackie
Mackie CR Series · Source: Mackie
With the Mackie CR Series, there is a range of options from 3.5-inch to 8-inch monitors and subwoofers with Bluetooth connectivity available.
Now that Mackie has merged with RODE, the manufacturer is focussed on solutions for the next generation of musicians and content creators. The name of the game is accessible gear that connects with your current setup from laptops to mobile devices.
Mackie CR Series
The design of the new CR Series is clever, as Mackie has considered the many situations in which the range of monitor speakers will be used. On the front panel, you’ll find tone and volume controls, as well as a conveniently placed headphones port.
This allows you to make adjustments depending on the type of audio material or project you’re working on, and quickly customize the settings to your liking. With the tone knob, you can switch from analytical monitoring to party-mode, or anything in between.
In addition, the monitors have a location switch with bookshelf and desktop modes. With this useful function, you can switch from working as you would with a nearfield studio monitor to a bookshelf hi-fi speaker for entertainment. This function is intriguing, and I’m curious how it affects the audio being played back.
What’s more, the CR3.5 with its single passive speaker, can be adjusted so you can configure the main active speaker as either the left or the right channel. This simple addition adds to the flexibility because you never know how close you’ll be to a power source.
Connectivity includes unbalanced stereo minijack input, unbalanced RCA inputs, and combination balanced/unbalanced TRS inputs. Meanwhile, the Bluetooth-equipped models include the 3.5-inch CR3.5BT, the 4.5-inch CR4.5BT, the 5-inch CR5BT, and 8-inch CR8BT, and the 8-inch CR8SBT subwoofer. All models besides the CR8SBT subwoofer are sold as pairs.
When we introduced CR in 2014 they were an overnight success. Over time we noticed the speakers extending beyond their intended purposes with musicians and content creators, appearing on bookshelves, or hooked up to vinyl record players. So, we baked that right into the product. This iteration of CR balances the nature of work and play by giving flexible features that shape your sound based on your use case. They are perfect for any situation, and are truly your ‘everything’ speakers.
Ty Vaughn, Product Manager
Pricing and Availability:
The Mackie CR Series is currently available for order on Thomann, with stock arriving in the next few months.
More about the Mackie CR Series:
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