Mackie CR3.5

The Mackie CR3.5 Gen 3 is a compact active monitor system designed to bridge everyday listening duties – from home entertainment and gaming to serious desktop music production and mixing. Part of Mackie's popular third-generation CR (Creative Reference) series, the system pairs a powered speaker with a passive partner to deliver a balanced, monitoring-grade stereo setup straight out of the box. A Class A/B amplifier delivers 50W of total output, ideal for small rooms and nearfield monitoring. With its compact footprint, multiple analogue inputs, and front-panel controls, it integrates easily into home studios, content-creation setups, and personal listening spaces – where flexibility and clarity are equally important.

As the most compact model in the Mackie CR range, the CR3.5 is optimised for close-range listening in small rooms, desktops, and tight workspaces. Its controlled low end and modest output are well suited to nearfield monitoring, but users working at higher levels or in larger rooms may benefit from stepping up to the CR4.5 or CR5, which offer larger woofers, increased headroom, and deeper bass extension while retaining the same voicing concept and controls. For setups that call for more low-frequency weight, the CR3.5 can also be paired with a CR8S BT subwoofer, forming a compact 2.1 system that scales easily from focused desktop work to more immersive listening, gaming, or multimedia use. For more wireless flexibility, there's also a version of the CR3.5 with Bluetooth capability.