11 Things You Can Connect to CR Studio Monitors

11 Things You Can Connect to CR Studio Monitors

Mackie CR studio monitors connect you to your music in new ways, letting you control your sound (with the tone knob) and adapt to your environment (with the location switch). They’re also incredibly good at literally connecting to your music, thanks to a wide variety of connectivity options. CR studio monitors are the perfect speakers for just about anything—mixers, televisions, record players, smartphones and much more.

Here are 11 different things you can connect to CR monitors for legendary Mackie sound.

Connect to Computer

Just looking for a set of desktop speakers to hook up to your computer? CR speakers will give you exceptional sound quality and convenience. If your laptop, desktop or monitor has a headphone output, use a standard 3.5 mm aux cable to connect to the dedicated STEREO IN connector on the back of CR. No adapters, no splitters, just a single cable that keeps your desk space uncluttered. You’ll notice the better sound immediately—these are not the cheap consumer desktop speakers you’re used to. They’re studio monitors from a respected professional audio brand, with all the clarity and punch you need for anything from editing videos to watching YouTube. And of course, you can dial it in to match your preferences even better. 
 

Connect to Record Player

Decades after its original heyday, vinyl is back on top as the most popular physical medium for listening to music. There are multiple reasons for this, but perhaps the most important is the sound. Compared to digital mediums like streaming services, record players provide that distinctive analog warmth that you only get from a physical needle running through the grooves of a vinyl record. There’s science behind this, but the result is that it’s just easier on the ear. Beyond their traditional studio use, Mackie CR studio monitors were also made specifically to work as excellent record player speakers. That’s why you’ll find RCA inputs on the back. These are the most common connectors you’ll find on your turntable (if it has a built-in preamp), or else on your separate preamp. Tweak the tone knob to match your record. If you’re placing the speakers next to the turntable on a shelf or table, be sure to use bookshelf mode.
 

Connect to Gaming PC or Console

Mackie CR studio monitors were also designed to be excellent as gaming speakers, whether you’re a streamer or just playing on your own. CR monitors bring both impact and accuracy, heightening the soundtrack while making sure you hear every footstep. The ways to connect CR speakers to your gaming system will vary. Probably the most common method is to connect your console or gaming PC to a television or monitor, then connect your CR speakers to that (probably with the 3.5 mm or RCA inputs). Another option, especially for handheld consoles like Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, is to use the headphone jack on the console itself. Or, if you’re a streamer, we recommend checking out Mackie MainStream—it’s an HDMI capture card, mic preamp, control center and more, all wrapped into one. MainStream has dedicated TRS monitor outputs, made with Mackie CR speakers in mind.
 

Connect to Smartphone

Vinyl may be surging, but streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music are still easily the most popular way to listen to your favorite tunes. That’s why CR studio monitors have “BT” versions with Bluetooth® for streaming music directly from your phone, tablet or laptop. Wireless connectivity makes CR into perfect casual listening speakers, with enough power to crank the volume up for parties (or dancing on your own—no judgment here). Since more and more things are getting Bluetooth® audio these days, like the Nintendo Switch 2, the wireless option also helps future-proof your speakers.
 

Connect to Keyboard (or Other Instrument)

If you produce music at home, there’s a good chance you use some kind of keyboard, whether it’s a synth, workstation or digital piano. The traditional setup is to use an audio mixer or audio interface to connect your keyboard to your DAW, then connect CR speakers to the mixer or interface. But if you’re not trying to record, CR monitors can make excellent keyboard speakers. That’s because most keyboards have a line-level output that connects directly with the TRS inputs on the back of CR speakers. In fact, CR sounds great with any line-level instrument. They’re perfect electronic drum set speakers, for instance. You can play your instrument at full volume and hear all the fine details in your beats, compositions and patches.

Connect to TV or Projector

Having a movie night? Quickly connect your CR Monitors to your TV with a 3.5 mm cable or RCA cables, switch to bookshelf mode and pump up the tone knob. These connectors also work perfectly with fancy home projector setups, if you're looking for dedicated projector speakers. You'll have an immersive sound experience without having to go out and buy an expensive surround sound system. Sure, CR doesn’t have a remote to turn it down, but you'll want to keep it loud anyway, so you won't have to get up from the couch except to grab some more popcorn.

Connect to Audio Interface

Of course, if you're using CR speakers for their traditional application as home studio monitors, you'll connect them to a dedicated audio interface like the Big Knob Studio or Studio+. Mackie Creative Reference monitors were some of the first speakers to bring real, professional studio sound to home studios, and the latest generation of CR monitors live up to that legacy while adding even more useful features like the tone knob and location switch. Just hook CR speakers up to the TRS monitor outputs on your interface, and you’ll see why Creative Reference monitors have been so popular for so long.

Connect to Mixer

Another traditional use of Mackie CR studio monitors is to use the balanced TRS inputs to connect the speakers to the monitor outputs on a mixing console, like ProFX Series and Onyx Series. These mixers include features for both live sound and recording, and CR speakers work well as monitors in the live sound booth or in the studio. You get clear, accurate sound with the tone knob turned all the way down, great for mixing and tracking. Turn the knob to the right to gradually boost the bass and treble, letting you hear the music in different ways while using only a single pair of speakers.

Connect to Headphones

But what if you have a partner or roommates? What if sometimes you want to blast your CR studio monitors, but other times you want to listen quietly with isolated studio headphones? Traditionally, that would mean unplugging your speakers, then plugging in your headphones. Obnoxious. Mackie CR studio monitors make switching to headphones much, much easier. Just plug your headphones into the front headphone jack on the speaker. The speakers are automatically muted, and the speaker volume knob becomes a headphone volume knob. Keep jamming out to your heart’s content, without bothering anyone the next room over.
 

Connect to Subwoofer

There’s bass, and then there’s BASS. CR studio monitors can cover the lower end of the frequency spectrum nicely, especially when you crank the tone knob, but if you want bass that shakes the floorboards, there’s no replacement for a dedicated studio subwoofer. We designed the CR8SBT subwoofer to be the perfect companion to CR speakers. Connect your source to the subwoofer directly, then connect your CR speakers to the subwoofer for a full-range sound system with bass you can feel. CR8SBT even includes a desktop remote that gives you hands-on control of the system from your desktop.
 

Connect to Vintage LaserDisc Player (or Anything Else)

Wait, you still have a LaserDisc player? Why? You know what, don’t answer that. Just connect the LaserDisc player to your Mackie CR speakers via the RCA inputs. You’ll get great sound for all your precious LaserDiscs. That's the point of having so many different inputs on the back of Mackie CR studio monitors—you can connect them to almost anything. Then, you can use the tone knob and location switch to make them sound good for almost anything, too. They’re “everything” speakers that connect you to your music (or LaserDiscs) like never before.
 

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