While not the best, the Mackie CR3-X speakers are the perfect entry point for most beginner DJs and content creators in their home studios.
There’s a popular saying that goes as follows: “A man is only as good as his tools.”
That saying, while true for almost any profession, perfectly encapsulates what it is to be a DJ. Without a computer or stereo setup, you can’t play music. Without a mixer or controller, you can’t play your favorite tunes.
However, a functioning laptop and a below-average mixer or controller can still work if you’re good enough and skilled enough.
The one area that a DJ and musicians simply CAN NOT falter in, the one place where he must have good tools is in his speakers.
Are the Mackie CR3-X monitor speakers any good? (in short)
They are in no way going to compare to one of the larger speakers but they’re not meant to. Despite its small size, the Mackie CR3-X puts out some pretty good sound. Its mid-range and high-end levels are both very solid and are even impressive in some instances. Great value for money.
Mackie CR3 X: Overview
Without a quality set of studio monitors or speakers at the side of your desk, you could have the best laptop, mixer, and controller you want; it won’t matter if the people can’t hear the music or they are dealing with grating quality music.
The same is true for faulty speakers, monitors, or even multimedia monitors.
If your speakers aren’t up to par while working on a track, you’re likely going to miss the proper timing and improperly place your loops and effects. This will dramatically reduce the quality of your DJing or production.
This is where the Mackie CR3-X studio monitors come into play. These speakers ask the question of whether an affordable, entry-level passive speaker option can compete with the big boys providing studio-quality sound currently in the field.
And while there are a few caveats that need to be discussed and considered before making your final decision, the answer that I came with while reviewing them was, “surprisingly, yes!”
Let’s get into it!
First Impressions on the Mackie CR3-X
First taking a look at the Mackie CR3-X build quality and design cosmetics, you’ll already notice that the Mackie CR3-X does a lot right.
Despite its more rugged look and slight heft to its small frame, these home DJ monitors aren’t overbearing or difficult to handle.
The materials themselves, on the other hand, are a bit less than ideal. Even if we excuse its price point and the fact that it’s meant for newbies in the space, you will need to be a bit extra care to make sure nothing comes loose or breaks apart.
You should be careful with your speakers, however, these, in particular, need extra kid gloves to keep from accidentally jostling something loose or cracking the body.
But saying that, the all-wood cabinet is definitely better than low-grade plastic designs.
Again, while you shouldn’t expect high-end material, its quality is a bit too low for me personally. But, I am a sucker for a sleek design and the metal panel look!
There have also been several reports that have noted the left/right switch on the back having issues. While we haven’t experienced these issues personally, it has been something consistently talked about by others and should be something worth keeping in mind both before and after getting it.
Ultimately, from first impressions, there’s a lot to like about the build but also a lot to be wary of. If I was just starting, I’d feel this was a steal and it would be. I’m older now, and this isn’t enough for what I need from my speakers.
That said, if you’re starting, and know that these speakers can’t be tossed around willy-nilly or mistreated you should be all good.
Mackie CR3-X Specs
The Mackie CR3-X studio monitors impressively leverage every bit of its 3-inch polypropylene woofer. You aren’t playing at stadiums or even mid-sized venues. However, if you’re working in a small studio or engaging in some near-field listening position, these are an awesome option just from the volume control perspective alone.
They have a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter and a frequency response range going between 80Hz and 20kHz (-3dB) which gives them a pretty wide dynamic range of frequencies for a clear sound. Similarly, as mentioned before, they can get pretty loud for their size. They have a max volume control reach of 97 dB.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Mackie CR3-X comes with speaker cables which is a nice touch. While you shouldn’t expect them to be absolutely top of the line, they will allow you to get started pretty much immediately.
Spec Breakdown
- Length: 8.1 inches
- Width: 5.5 inches
- Depth: 7.1 inches
- Woofer: 3-Inch
- Tweeter: 0.75-Inch
- Frequency Range: 80Hz – 20kHz (-3dB)
- Weight: 7.8 lbs. (3.5kg)
The Design
If you’re in the mood for something short, sweet, and to the point, the Mackie CR3-X is the speaker set for you.
Perfect for smaller studios, desktop speakers, or simply sitting on your bookshelf, these compact studio monitors have a small footprint and can be carted off with you no matter where you’re going.
In terms of their physical look, they hold to Mackie’s green and very distinct outline, instantly giving it the Mackie personality. The box is covered with a matte vinyl coating which similarly helps it to distinguish itself from other, more drab, and generic speakers.
A neat feature that I found was that the convenient front panel volume knob turns green whenever the speakers are on. I thought that was pretty neat and was something I haven’t seen in even some of the more expensive studio monitors on the market today.
It’s a small feature but one that will have you scratching your head as to why others haven’t used it.
Taking A Deeper Look – Features & Sound Quality
Now that we’ve gone over some of the Mackie CR3’s first impressions, let’s get into the speakers’ different features and see whether their features make it worth your time.
Sound Quality
At first glance, you wouldn’t expect a pair of 3-inch speakers to have all that much sound to work with. And, while in most cases you’d be right, the CR3-X seems to buck that trend.
The only place that does suffer, unfortunately, is its deep bass. Because of its small size, you’re not going to be able to put out any real low-end frequencies without supplementing it with a subwoofer.
Again, the key is that you understand exactly what you’re getting here. For their price and where they stand, so long as you’re not expecting a pristine and premium audiophile experience, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what these little guys have to offer.
They offer very good clarity even while cranked up to the higher volumes and offer a sound that is quite flat without much interference cutting in.
Unless you’re someone that’s already experienced some of the clarity from the more expensive studio monitors, there’s a good chance you probably won’t even notice the few instances where the sound quality dips.
Features Offered
Connection Options
One of the areas that make the Mackie CR3-X studio monitors stand out as a great option is its connectivity options. You’re pretty much not going to find this many options unless you’re willing to spend twice as much on a larger set of speakers.
The front face has an AUX and a headphone output jack. This means you can connect your phone or music player speaker cable connector directly into the speaker, offering you a ton of flexibility with music options as a result.
The backside of the speakers has balanced as well as unbalanced rear ports as well as a left/right selection switch. Again, this inclusion is something that the tiny speakers normally don’t offer and grants you a lot of flexibility on which speaker is where and which speaker does what.
Tuning Options
If you were hoping that the Mackie CR3-X would have any options for tuning, unfortunately, you’re going to be disappointed. Mackie speakers have rarely had these features and the Mackie CR3-X is no different.
For those that do want to make any changes to the sound, you’re going to have to go through your audio interface or software and tweak things there.
If there’s any silver lining here, it’s that most speakers with tuning options are going to be much more costly than the Mackie CR3. Only the more expensive studio monitors ever end up with tuning options, so it’s not a huge shock that they aren’t here.
Final Thoughts – Is it Worth Your Time?
Mackie’s CR3-X is useful for a very specific group of people. If you’re a professional or someone that’s gotten a year or two under their belt, this is probably not going to be a good choice on your end. While it is priced aggressively and does offer some neat features, you’re simply going to need something with more going for it.
That said if you’re just starting, and only have your computer’s speakers as a sound good option, there’s no competition.
Put simply, if you have just gotten into the DJ or production fields, and don’t want to break the bank while cutting your teeth, this is the set to use. It does everything you need to get started and even a bit more. And while it’s not perfect, the things it does right greatly surpass the things it doesn’t.
How Important is the Size of Your Speaker?
The big question that many may be asking is, “just how important is speaker size?” After all, one of the biggest selling points and drawbacks to the CR3-X is that it’s pretty small. On one hand, its tiny size can put out an impressive amount of sound. On the other hand, because of its small size, you’ll be hard-pressed to expect it to put out anything near an 8-inch woofer.
The reality is that, while bigger does mean “louder,” it doesn’t always mean “better.”
For example, one determining factor for whether you even need a larger speaker is the purpose you’re going to use it for. In the case of the CR3-X, you are most likely not going to be performing at any events or in a large area. In reality, you’ll likely be mixing music at home, and that’s where a smaller set shines. By having a smaller set of studio monitors, you can use their full potential while not having the volume so loud that it becomes deafening.
A larger studio monitor set will cost more and be too loud to effectively use in a small setting.
Ultimately, you need to know what you are using the speakers for. If you are just starting and are simply planning to mix in your small beginner studio, spending too much on a large set of speakers can be a waste of money and resources.
You should only worry about the larger options once you have gotten enough experience and the space you use for your studio has grown. Similarly, you shouldn’t have to worry about larger speakers until you begin performing and “need” to have larger speakers.
Getting A Subwoofer Supplement
Something that you should consider is a good supplemental set of subwoofers. These can help smaller monitors deal with lower-end bass frequencies. This can help deliver a stronger sound profile and make your music-making process that much better.
Again, you don’t want to put the cart before the horse. Start small and with a relatively low investment. If you are starting, just using a studio quality sound monitor set and understanding the basics of DJing should be your first mission. After you’ve done that, you can work on adding supplemental speakers or simply getting a larger monitor that already can handle their lows.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Impressive Volume Considering its Small Size
- Nice-looking Design
- Impressive Sound Quality
- Affordable Option For Those Starting Out
- Front Panel Input Options Available
Cons
- Lacking Bass
- Quality of Build is Not Great
Mackie CR3: Final Verdict
There is a lot to love about the CR3-X from Mackie. It’s got a good sound, useful features, and a great design. While it’s not the most long-lasting of studio monitors, it does its job and it does it well considering its affordability.
If you are someone that is starting and need a good initial speaker set, picking up Mackie’s little green box is probably one of the better investment decisions you can make.
