CR-X Series, 3.5-Inch Multimedia Monitors with Professional Studio-Quality Sound - Pair (CR3-X)

I like how quickly and quietly it pairs with my phone. No “connect to iPhone” or weird beep. It just illuminates green when connected and white when not. Also, the rca still gets sound from the pc when connected to Bluetooth. Sound quality is as expected. Super crisp and clean sound. Definitely need a sub if you like base. I probably would have better off with the 4” to save space had I known that a sub would be mandatory. I used the left channel speaker output for connecting the sub.

When I was in school my friend was way into Mackie products. They had to have Mackie mixers, wanted nothing more than Mackie PA speakers, and nothing else would suffice. I on the other hand didn't care to much as long as things worked. Yamaha became my go to, and I have a really nice pair or JBL monitor speakers. Eventually this friend fell in love with Yamaha products and other brands. For the longest time though because of all the hype this person built around Mackie, I decided to ignore it, thought it was overpriced and not necessary, at least for my application. Recently I fixed up my record player (Yamaha from 1979) that needed some parts. Among those parts were speakers. I don't have a receiver, let alone one that has a record preamp, so I got that, and wanted some active speakers. These fit the bill due to their small size, connection options, and the single volume control on the speaker. I also know it is quality thanks to that friend. I will say my first impression was quite surprised. They do sound great for the application I am using them for. The bass is nice but not too boomy, and the highs are not so ear shattering loud. I am not an audiophile at all, but I can appreciate good audio products and for the price I paid, these exceeded my expectations. I think these would work well for small spaces that needs decent monitor speakers, or even for my application to listen to records, or other media devices. I have not encountered any "hiss" from them but I am also not sitting right in front of them. When I listen to anything I am sitting in a chair probably 6 or 7 feet away relaxing. By the way, I am still friends with that person. I showed that person the speakers, and the response was "I thought I would never see the day..."

The Mackie CR5-XBT 5-inch Multimedia Monitors with Bluetooth are an outstanding choice for anyone seeking high-quality sound in a versatile and stylish package. These monitors strike the perfect balance between professional-grade audio and consumer-friendly features, making them ideal for music production, video editing, gaming, or simply enjoying your favorite playlists. The 5-inch polypropylene-coated woofers and 0.75-inch silk dome tweeters deliver a clear, balanced sound with tight bass, detailed mids, and crisp highs. Whether you’re monitoring audio or enjoying music, the soundstage is expansive and accurate, with minimal distortion even at higher volumes. The 50-watt power output ensures plenty of headroom, making them well-suited for small to medium-sized rooms. One of the standout features is the built-in Bluetooth connectivity, which allows for seamless wireless streaming from your phone, tablet, or computer. This makes the CR5-XBT not only great for studio use but also perfect for casual listening without the hassle of cables. The monitors also include multiple input options, such as TRS, RCA, and AUX, giving you flexibility to connect a wide range of devices. Additionally, the convenient front-panel volume knob and headphone jack make them highly user-friendly. Overall, the Mackie CR5-XBT delivers professional-grade sound with the added convenience of Bluetooth and versatile connectivity, all at an accessible price point. Whether you're a content creator or a casual listener, these monitors are a fantastic investment.

UPDATE: The "Dreaded" Hiss!! I love these monitors! Yes, they hiss as so many complain about. But these are budget speakers and the hiss is so slight, it is hardly a detriment. I'll reduce the rating from 5 to 4 for the hiss. Original review below. Again I love these and, for the price, can't complain one bit. Now for the actual hiss data (I've never seen that on any other review): Listening position: These are desktop a mere two feet from me. Hiss Volume (subjective): the same regardless of volume setting, any cable configuration, or no audio cables hooked up. VERY quiet. Far quieter than a computer fan. I am playing ANY audio whatsoever, even at the lowest volumes the hiss is inaudible. Hiss Volume (Metered): My sound level meter's lowest band is 60dB (measures above 50dB). A versus C weighting did not have any appreciable difference. Used the Fast Response setting. NOTE: I HAD TO HOLD THE SOUND METER **ONE INCH** AWAY FROM THE TWEETER DOME FOR THE HISS TO BE LOUD ENOUGH TO MEASURE IN THE 60dB BAND - Powered Speaker: 53dB - Passive Speaker: 57dB Again that's at ONE INCH away from the tweeter dome. It is below 50dB (where my meter stops registering) just 3-4 inches away. I'm listening from two feet away. Now I have a raging case of tinnitus (high frequency ringing) so I'm not going to be as sensitive to the hiss as normal hearing people. I can hear in my listening position at two feet. At four feet I can't, though I'd expect most people could in a quiet room. My meter doesn't do any lower than 50 dB so I can only guess that the sound level is around 40 dB at two feet and probably falls to the 30 - 20 dB range at three to four feet and beyond. Just a guess. Someone with a more sensitive meter can check :) Still this is a very quiet hiss, these speakers sound AMAZING, and they only cost $90! I really don't see how anyone could complain. If you need perfectly quiet powered speakers for professional recording, why would you be looking at the CRX line? These are perfect for the bookshelf, computer desk, or mini bedroom recording studio ORIGINAL REVIEW: I only just received these (CR3-X, 3 inch, non-bluetooth) as monitors for a little recording "nook" I've setup in my bedroom (approx 10 ft x 15 ft). I had low expectations for a powered monitor that was this small. I couldn't have been more wrong! Some users are complaining about hiss. UPDATE: I finally confirmed hiss, took a long time because it's so slight - details above. All I know is these tiny speakers CRANK. Unbelievably loud for such a small setup! And they sound beautiful! They really wake up with a little power behind them. I have no way of evaluating their frequency response other than to just listen. They seem very linear, no booming or blooming as far as someone who's willing to spend only $90 for powered monitors can tell :) If you need ultra high fidelity, why would you be looking at budget monitors?! They're tiny, inexpensive, and they will definitely be able to irritate anyone within two rooms of you if you turn them up! What more could you want?! I'm already in love with only an hour of listening and I haven't even used them as recording monitors yet! As I use these over time I will update this review. But out-of-the-box I am tremendously impressed at the quality for the price. I have no idea what the bigger versions are like... but if I needed bigger monitors I'd probably not be looking at a budget line. The 3 inch are perfect (so far) and exactly what I needed. Thank you, Mackie!!

The product is great. The only complaint would be that the speaker wire could have been longer, it is around 6ft only. With the right arrangement, the sound quality is amazing! with deep powerful bass. There are a few others points to take note of: # The speakers need a large desk or some side tables/stools/stand to keep it on. # Also, with these large 8" driver speakers, your general room acoustics matter more. For me, initially, the bass tended to boom in the corners of the room, while the center got less bass (because of the standing waves canceling at the center). Then I rearranged the setup a bit and now its better. So you will have to experiment with the speaker placement in the room to find the right setup. This arrangement needs a bit more experimentation than the regular HiFi speakers sold in the market.

Suena bastante fuerte, supero mis espectativas, sonido claro y de calidad, ha sido una excelente compra!!! Vienen el par de monitores, activo y pasivo.

Good monitor, awesome sound, excellent work for music 💯

Awesome quality

Los tengo desde hace más de dos años y siguen funcionando perfecto. Los utilizo para realizar mezcla de cortometrajes, producción musical y gaming. Estoy muy feliz con ellos