Monitors are different from speakers. Though they both produce sound, the speaker is geared to augmenting and molding soundwaves, whereas the monitor is designed to alter nothing. The multimedia monitor is designed to reproduce the sound you recorded as perfectly as possible during playback, which is why they are so useful for today’s podcasters, YouTube uploaders, film and video production. This Mackie CR3 review will introduce you to one of the finest multimedia monitors on the market today.
You May Choose This Mackie CR Series CR3 For The Following Key Specification:
- 50 watts of powerful, clean stereo sound.
- 3 Inch polypropylene coated woofer.
- Audio inputs: Balanced TRS jack, unbalanced RCA jack.
- Powerful multimedia tool for podcasts and video uploading.
- Acoustic isolation pads.
Mackie CR3 Review with Features
Introduction to the Outstanding Mackie CR3 Multimedia Monitor
If you are looking for a desktop, bookshelf multimedia monitor set, one that will help you along with your podcasts, game walk through videos, or simply enjoying your favorite music, then the Mackie CR3 is for you.
Designed specifically for today’s multimedia user, the Mackie CR3 monitor is fun and easy to use, simply plug it in and play.
Designed to be compact and portable at 8.5 x 15.3 x 11.5 inches, the Mackie CR3 Multimedia Monitor is easy to position on your workspace for optimal performance. In the name, ‘Mackie CR Series CR3’, the initials CR stand for Creative Reference.
The CR3 monitors are in direct keeping with Mackies ambitious and high performance CR series, and the CR3 has been designed with multi-tasking multimedia users in mind.
In today’s world, bloggers, youtube video uploaders, podcasters and video editors need a tough, solid sounding monitor to create their multimedia projects, and the Mackie CR Series CR3 fits that bill quite nicely.
Mackie realizes the need to have a speaker which can handle the tasks of todays multimedia user, and has created the CR3, a monitor which is ultra-compact, affordable and makes it super easy to switch up from editing your videos to simply listening to your favorite music as your surf.
Designed to Be Versatile and Powerful
The Mackie CR Series CR3 has been designed and developed using professional grade components for that special, surround sound feel, giving you 50 watts of killer power and ultra performance.
These 50 watts are the force behind the 3 inch polypropylene coated woofer and 3/4 inch ferrofluid cooled silk dome tweeter, giving it a super wide frequency range of 80Hz to 20 kHz.
This gives you studio grade performance, no matter what you are working on, providing you with crystal clear, true to life playback.
Each Mackie CR Series CR3 monitor has been constructed using only the highest quality components available. With controls on the front of the panel, you are guaranteed ease of access for your multimedia creating pleasure.
If you are not tech savvy, it’s good to know that the Mackie CR Series CR3 comes with all the cables and isolation pads you need, and easy to follow instructions.
When you open the box, you’ll find you have all you need to get started: Acoustic Isolation pads and tilt control, 1/8 inch to stereo RCA connector for your PC or Mac, 1/8 inch to 1/8 inch cable for your smartphones, MP3 players and other devices, and a speaker to speaker cable.
Overall Sound Quality
The smooth waveguide design is responsible for evenly spreading the sound throughout the room, no matter if you are listening at the lowest level, or have your CR3 cranked to the max.
The Mackie CR3 has a crisp, fresh and transparent treble, and a comfortable, powerful base that never gets ‘boomy’. The overall effect is that the Mackie monitors offer true to life playback, which is necessary when creating your podcasts or videos.
In addition, the acoustically designed isolation pads work to reduce any annoying, thumping bass build up.
Premium Internal Components
The Mackie CR Series CR3 is manufactured with only the best components available. These include high output drivers, a studio monitor waveguide system, all encased in a natural wood speaker cabinet.
CR3 comes with an Aux input on the front panel so you can connect your mobile devices, such as smartphone or tablet, and a headphone out.
It also has a volume knob which not only controls the volume but also the power. If you need to choose which side has volume control, you may use the left/right speaker placement switch.
Rear Panel Features
Your rear panel of your powered speaker, or master speaker has your signal inputs, a left and right balanced TRS jack, and left and right unbalanced RCA socket, where you connect to a signal source, such as a computer or mixer.
To ensure you get the best quality sound, try not to connect more than the one, chosen signal source at any one time to the input jacks.
Toward the bottom you have a power switch that comes with a standby mode, and by pressing the right side of the power switch, the speakers will not function but they will still be ‘alive’, so to speak, while the Powered Speaker Position Select Switch allows you to choose if the powered monitor is to be on the left or right side of your workspace, counter or bookshelf.
Finally, the rear panel of the passive or slave speaker simply takes in the input from the powered speaker.
Front Panel Features
What we like about the CR3 is the convenience it offers the user. Instead of having the Aux input at the back, they have it placed on the front panel, so you can easily hook up your devices, such as your smartphone or MP3 player, any signal source which uses an 1/8 inch connector.
You have a balanced TRS jack, which provides output to stereo headphones. You can control the volume with the volume control knob, which not only controls how loud your speakers are, but also can be used to power them off.
The Final Words (Summary)
All in all, from our Mackie CR3 review, its easy to see why this monitor is a top choice among multimedia users everywhere.
The Mackie CR3 is an absolutely perfect portable monitor offering 50 watts of sound power, 3 inch polypropylene coated woofer, 3/4 inch ferrofluid cooled silk dome tweeter, TRS balanced input jack and a unbalanced RCA input, Aux-in mini jack, phones socket mini-jack and acoustic isolation pads.
We find the Mackie CR3 an affordable, and perfect monitor for multimedia users as the playback produced is accurate, precise and true to life audio.
