PROS: Fantastic performance, good price.
CONS: May require a little tweaking per location and room size.
PRICE: $199/each
The cliché is that monitors are the ears of any home studio system; in most cases they’re the heart. Mackie’s new MR6mk3 monitors are a great place for a starter studio or a full-blown commercial facility.
With a 6.5” subwoofer and a 1” tweeter, they’ll fit in even the most cramped studio desks. The rear panel is where the action is, with low frequency filters that can even be bypassed or engaged with a +2 or +4 dB. The high frequency filter can boost +2 dB over 3.25Khz, meaning boosting the musical highs, and not any spiky, unmusical frequencies. Connections for RCA, 1/4” TRS and XLR are also located here.
So with all the tech specs aside, how do they sound? In a word: amazing. Mackie’s build quality translates to sound quality. For most music, out of the box, plug-and-play, there are no problems. These bad boys recreate the entire frequency spectrum with ease, allowing you to listen to a beautifully transparent and un-muddied version of your mix. Highs are crisp and feature no brittleness, while the bass frequencies are full, but not boomy or flubby.
However, there is some tweaking that should be addressed. Room size, position, as well as listening angle can make a huge difference during playback, so some adjustment may be required for maximum performance, specifically with the bass frequencies. Mackie is aware of this, and even has suggestions in their manual (you do read the manuals, right?) as how to compensate for these issues. But hey, a little tweaking is nothing when you’re able to enjoy your mixing sessions without listener fatigue, right?
For any style of music they sound fantastic, bottom line. So for studios of all sizes they’re worth a look, especially for the price.
FEATURES
- Music-centric voicing ideal for modern mixing applications
- Enhanced waveguide system for unmatched clarity
- 65 watts of Class AB amplification
- 6.5″ polypropylene woofer, 1″ silk-dome tweeter
- Perfectly matched amps and drivers for optimized performance
- Flexible inputs
- Customizable frequency control for your studio space
- Custom-tuned rear ports for smooth, even bass extension
- Rugged all-wood cabinet