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Mackie CR3 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors - Pair

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Mackie CR3 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors - Pair

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Equipboard's ranking is determined by analyzing factors such as professional artist usage, popularity, user ratings, reviews, and more.

$77.00 Price Tier: Budget

4.5 (47)

7 Reviews

Find out who is using Mackie CR3 3"

4 wishlisted

69 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated July 3, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

4.4 (27)

Used

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3.9 (52)

$77.00

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Average Price: $77

Budget/Beginner

$300

$801+

Price Tier

In the Active & Passive Monitors category, Mackie CR3 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors - Pair is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Mackie CR3 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors - Pair". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 23, 2026.

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Description

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Transform your creative space with the Mackie CR3 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors – a perfect blend of compact design and professional-grade sound quality. Ideal for both aspiring artists and seasoned producers, these monitors deliver precise audio reproduction, making them a staple for any home or project studio.

Equipped with a 3" woofer and a 0.75" tweeter, the Mackie CR3 monitors offer a crisp and balanced sound, ensuring every detail of your music is audible. The Class D amplifier provides a robust 50 Watts of power, allowing these monitors to deliver a frequency range of 80 to 20,000 Hz with clarity. Whether you're mixing tracks or enjoying your favorite playlist, the maximum sound pressure level of 97 dB ensures that your audio is always vibrant and dynamic.

Housed in durable MDF, these monitors are designed to withstand the rigors of daily use while maintaining an elegant aesthetic. The front panel conveniently includes a volume control knob, enabling you to adjust the sound to your preference without any hassle. Connectivity is a breeze with multiple input options, including 6.3 mm jack, RCA, and a 3.5 mm mini-jack, making it versatile for various audio setups.

Key Features:

3" woofer and 0.75" tweeter
50 Watts total power with Class D amplifier
Frequency range: 80 - 20,000 Hz
Max. sound pressure level: 97 dB
Volume control on the front panel
MDF housing for durability
Multiple inputs: 2x 6.3 mm jack, 2x RCA, 3.5 mm mini-jack stereo
3.5 mm mini-jack stereo headphone output
Speaker terminals for the second monitor

Videos

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Edward Smith

BEST BUDGET STUDIO MONITORS? - Mackie CR3-XBT Monitors (Unboxing) | Best Studio Monitors Under $100

Edward Smith

Mackie CR3 Studio Reference Monitors Setup, Review and Sound Test

ReviewLamp

You wish you had this SPEAKER - Mackie CR3 Multimedia Monitors

Tech Shan®

Reviews

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PROS

Compact size fits well in small studios
Exceptional value for the price point
Produces serious volume for their size
Wide functionality and ease of use
Includes everything needed for setup
Helps with detailed sound editing tasks
Clear sound aids in mixing and mastering

CONS

Sound imbalance between the two monitors
Not recommended for high-level mixing tasks
Chuffing issue at very high volumes
Limited edition colors may appear tacky to some

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mackie CR3 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors - Pair.

Comparisons

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Owners frequently suggest Kali LP6 as a superior alternative to Mackie CR3 for accurate sound reproduction, noting its flat frequency response and balanced output.
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Users experiencing noise issues with Mackie CR3-X often consider PreSonus Eris E3.5 or Sterling MX-3 as quieter alternatives.
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User experience

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A user reported that Mackie CR3 monitors are overly boomy, especially problematic with guitar frequencies, leading to unclear sound without additional subwoofer support.
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Many owners express regret over purchasing due to persistent noise, advising potential buyers to consider return policies before purchase.
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Despite noise issues, some owners find the CR3-X speakers acceptable for non-critical listening in untreated home studio environments.
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Owners appreciate the CR3s for immersive listening experiences despite their limitations in flat frequency response.
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Features and functionality

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Mackie CR3 monitors were clarified by the manufacturer as not true monitors but rather speakers, indicating potential limitations in accuracy for mixing purposes.
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The CR3-X monitors suffer from a static noise issue, unrelated to connection types, present from power-on and persisting across both balanced and unbalanced connections.
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Users note that noise issues are lessened when monitors are positioned further from power sources, though not entirely resolved.
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The CR3s' flexible powered-speaker switch allows users to select which side handles amplification, affecting channel humming.
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Use cases and applications

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Despite the CR3's limitations, users needing basic speakers find them suitable for casual listening, but not for professional mixing or monitoring tasks.
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CR3s are suitable for reference and editing podcasts or YouTube videos, but not for professional mixing.
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Build quality

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Owners report consistent white noise and hiss from Mackie CR3-X monitors, audible at all volume levels, even without any input connections.
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Setup and maintenance

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A user improved bass response by plugging the CR3s' rear reflex ports with socks, tightening the low-end frequencies.
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Balanced cables can help reduce humming issues; the CR3 offers a TRS input for this purpose.
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Value and pricing

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Some owners ultimately switch to JBL LSR 305s for better clarity and less booming, finding the price difference justified.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 7 Reviews and 47 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

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1 star

jasenlinc

almost 11 years ago

Budget low, blows loud

Small is better, in the way of the world with tech. for me these speakers are another reference for my music I record. I like working with headphones for mixing & recording, however another set of speakers helps hearing things for what they are. Getting the best studio monitors is great if u have the budget, but most of the public ain't listening to there music on the best speakers. These speakers r great for what u pay and pump out some serious volume thumbs up for me.

futurekitsune

151

about 9 years ago

Great Budget Monitors

These monitors are incredible for the price. I got them for $70 on Amazon a bit ago and they've consistently sounded INCREDIBLE. At first, I thought there was a chuffing issue, but it's just when you really blast the volume. Of course, that's to be expected with any studio monitors. Overall, these are a great buy.

hollywoodcrash

184

almost 9 years ago

Not really monitors, but work well.

These small computer speakers work well for me in recording individual guitar tracks. I don't feel they work as studio reference monitors, although I did catch a drum edit glitch on a recording master version using the CR3's. Good output, clean sounding, easy to use.

Roles:

Guitarist Drummer Composer

Genres:

Rock Alternative rock Indie rock

jacobdyke

over 8 years ago

Love these

Perfect. Just perfect. Sound amazing are perfect size for my studio and did I mention the sound is great? The functionality is awesome as well super easy to use and have a wide range of what you can do. Love these monitors. The green looked tacky so I got the limited edition gold ones.

jimmarchi1

41029

8 years ago over 8 years ago

they're so small and cute

soka

about 11 years ago

they're cool

Clear sound. Helpful with panning, and deciding which one you want the volume knob on is helpful. Good for mixing and mastering. Everything you need to set up comes straight out of the box, nothing additional needed. Sound is however lower in one monitor as opposed to the other.