How to Dial in Your Perfect Sound With CR Series Studio Monitors

Mackie CR Series studio monitors have been the go-to speakers for countless musicians and producers for years. The latest version of CR Series (Gen 3) delivers high-quality Creative Reference sound while adding new features that make these speakers more versatile than ever. 

Thanks to the tone knob, location switch and a selection of different inputs, CR Series studio monitors are also perfect gaming speakers, hi-fi speakers, party speakers, desktop computer speakers—whatever you need them to be, all wrapped into one. 

Tone knob: The tone knob lets you adjust the frequency response or “tone” of the speakers. All the way to the left gives you a super accurate, “flat” sound—what goes in is what comes out. As you turn the knob to the right, it gradually boosts the lowest and highest frequencies. The result is more powerful bass and shimmering high end, the farther you turn the knob.

Location switch: This switch optimizes the speaker for listening either up close (desktop) or farther away (bookshelf). Sound carries differently across distance, changing the balance of bass and treble. These settings automatically compensate. It doesn’t have to actually be a desktop or bookshelf—but when you see “desktop speakers” or “bookshelf speakers” for sale, usually the sound is specialized in this way. CR Series can do both in one!

Lots of inputs: CR Series studio monitors give you a selection of connectors that cover most applications, without needing any adapters. These inputs include TRS, RCA and 3.5 mm aux, plus a headphone output. Some models even have Bluetooth® (look for “BT” in the name).

Mackie CR Series studio monitors are truly “everything” speakers. Here are some tips for how to make the most of these features for different applications.

Dial in CR Series Speakers for Music Production

Since the original Mackie Creative Reference monitors launched in 2014, these iconic green and black speakers have been a favorite for making music. CR Series (Gen 3) continues that legacy of quality while giving you more control over how your speakers sound. 

Here’s what makes them perfect as studio speakers, and how to use the new features to the fullest when recording, mixing and producing tracks.

Tone Knob for Music Production: Keep It Honest (and to the Left)

Studio monitors are valued above all for accuracy. When you’re mixing a song, the last thing you want is for your speakers to lie to you about how it sounds. That’s why studio monitors are also known as “reference monitors” (or Creative Reference, if you catch our drift). These speakers shouldn’t improve your music—they should give you a clear, honest reference. 

When using Mackie CR Series studio monitors for music production, turn the tone knob all the way to the left for the most accurate response. This setting creates a very flat frequency curve, meaning it doesn’t emphasize one part of the frequency spectrum over the others. The high-quality drivers in CR Series speakers will give you tons of detail and insight into how everything is sounding while you work on your next masterpiece.

Note: The tone knob also lets you try a classic studio trick. Even in professional recording studios, artists and producers will sometimes test their tracks through boomboxes, consumer speakers, and even take quick trips outside to try the car stereo. This gives some insight into how the audience will likely hear the music. Mackie CR Series speakers let you do the same thing without even leaving your chair. Turn the tone knob gradually to the right to boost the lowest and highest frequencies, as many popular speakers tend to do. If your song sounds good no matter where you set the knob, that’s a very good sign!

Location Switch for Music Production: Listen Closely

While the tone knob is totally variable, the location switch has only two settings: desktop mode and bookshelf mode. Remember: desktop = close listening (like on a desk), bookshelf = distant listening (like on a shelf). Makes sense, right?

If you’re using the CR Series speakers on a desktop or mounted on either side of a screen or mixing console, you’ll want to set the location switch to desktop mode. This setup is by far the most common for recording and mixing, especially when you have limited space. It lets you hear everything in detail and avoid too much distortion from the sound bouncing around the room.

Note: You may come across “near field” and “far field” studio monitors. These mean the same thing as “desktop” and “bookshelf” respectively. They’re just the more technical terms.

Connectors for Music Production: Go Pro With TRS

If you’re recording music, you’re most likely using an audio interface—or better yet, a professional mixing console like Mackie ProFX. These pro audio devices almost always use a pair of TRS cables to connect to studio monitors, one left and one right. There’s a good reason: TRS cables have built-in “balancing” which prevents interference. Naturally, CR Series speakers have a pair of TRS inputs to connect seamlessly with pro audio gear.

Dial in CR Series Speakers for Gaming

Gaming speakers need to cover a lot of ground. There are ambient sounds, explosive sound effects, footsteps, epic music moments, dialog and a whole lot more. They’re all essential to the gaming experience. Thanks to high-quality components and customization, CR Series might just be the best gaming speakers out there. 

Here’s how to tweak CR Series studio monitors to perform their best while gaming.

Tone Knob for Gaming: Git Good (Sound)

Gamers are a diverse group, just like the video games they play. Some gamers value storytelling and immersion above all, diving into RPGs and cinematic games. Others focus on competition and PvP, putting countless hours into battle royale and FPS games. CR Series lets you match the sound of your speakers to your playing style using the tone knob.

For fantasy and action/adventure games, you probably want some punchy, immersive sound that you can feel in your chest. Try cranking the tone knob higher (farther to the right). This boosts the lower bass and high-end shimmer, helping those music drops, explosive sequences and ambient sounds hit just right. Of course, you can also set the tone knob to the left or anywhere in between—the fun part is that it’s totally up to you.

For competitive games, accuracy and clarity are key. You want to hear every footstep, every rustling in the bushes, so you can know your opponent is coming. Turn the tone knob all the way left for the most accurate response. You’ll hear every sound, and it will have tons of detail and transparency thanks to Mackie’s pro-grade sound quality.

Location Switch for Gaming: PC or Console?

If you have a PC gaming battlestation with a gaming monitor, place the speakers on each side of the screen and keep the location switch in desktop mode. This setting optimizes the sound for when you’re close to the speakers. And don’t worry: CR Series speakers look pretty cool, with subtle black and a tasteful ring of “Mackie green” to give them some visual character. These speakers won’t mess up your carefully crafted aesthetic.

If you’re a console player, first of all, we won’t judge you. All gamers are equal in our eyes. In fact, we’ve designed CR Series speakers to work perfectly when you’re playing from the couch. Just place the speakers on either side of your TV and flip the location switch to bookshelf mode. The sound will automatically optimize to give you the same sound quality from farther away.

Connector for Gaming: Grab the Aux

There are all kinds of gaming setups: PCs, gaming laptops, consoles and handhelds. Naturally, the audio connectors vary. CR Series has three of the most common types of connectors, but the most useful for gamers might be the 3.5 mm aux input. If your gaming device has a headphone output, it’s most likely 3.5 mm, meaning it’s easy to plug in your CR Series speakers using a standard 3.5 mm aux cable instead of headphones.

Note: If you want to switch between speakers and headphones, you don’t even have to unplug your CR Series speakers. There’s a headphone output on the front of one speaker. Just connect your headphones and the audio will pass through the speaker and into your ears. Plugging in the headphones automatically mutes both speakers, and the speaker volume knob becomes a headphone volume knob. Pretty nifty, huh?

Dial in CR Series Speakers for Hi-Fi Listening

Your favorite records sound best through specialized hi-fi speakers. CR Series plays that role perfectly. Mackie creates audio products for professionals, with a legacy of high-quality sound that rivals or surpasses any “consumer” audio company. And because CR Series speakers are adjustable, you can tweak the sound to your liking without sacrificing quality.

Tone Knob for Hi-Fi: Your Speakers, Your Sound

Finding hi-fi speakers that match your preferences can be difficult. You don’t know how they sound until they’re set up in the room. CR Series helps you avoid that issue with the adjustable tone knob. Set up your system and try listening to some tracks with the knob in different positions. You may find the perfect setting for you—or you may even notice that different settings sound better for different genres. 

For instance, turning the tone knob to the left gives you accuracy and precision, ideal for hearing the delicate tones of a jazz or classical record. Turning the tone knob farther to the right will hype up the bass and high-end frequency response, lending a little more “oomph” to pop and rock albums, where you really want to feel the impact.

Note: To cover an even wider frequency spectrum, consider adding the CR8SBT subwoofer to your CR Series speakers. The subwoofer is designed to complement the speakers perfectly, giving you the ultimate high-fidelity, full-range listening experience.

Location Switch for Hi-Fi: Let Music Fill the Room

Unless you’re listening to your hi-fi system at a desk or directly in front of the CR Series speakers, you’ll likely want to keep the location switch in bookshelf mode. This setting lets you place the speakers with the rest of your listening equipment and fill the room with sound, without distorting the music when you move farther away.

Connectors for Hi-Fi: Spin That Vinyl

For some high-fidelity fanatics, it’s vinyl or bust. Whether you’re using a vintage turntable or a more modern alternative, you’ll often find they use classic RCA connectors. Instead of using adapters or specialized cables, CR Series lets you connect directly to your record player with dedicated RCA inputs—just look for the red and white!

CR Series Works for Everyone.

Thanks to the adjustable tone knob, location switch and easy connectivity, Mackie CR Series studio monitors sound great for anything, work or play. Choose from different sizes to find the CR Series model that’s right for you. If you want the added convenience of Bluetooth® wireless streaming, make sure to get one of the “BT” models.

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