Mackie CR5BT

Design & packaging

Even during unboxing, there’s a positive impression: Mackie avoids unnecessary plastic. The monitors are packed in a sturdy cardboard sleeve with fleece and foil protection – a sustainable and robust solution.

The design itself is unobtrusively modern: the classic black-and-green colour scheme has been refined in this third generation, now appearing more elegant yet still unmistakably Mackie. The compact 5.25” format fits both on shelves and desks.

Technical features & build quality

The Mackie CR5BT weigh around 6.9 kg per pair and measure approximately 262 × 175 × 236 mm. Inside, Class D amplifiers deliver up to 80 W peak (100 W RMS). A 5.25” woven woofer and a 1” silk dome tweeter cover a frequency range of about 50 Hz to 20 kHz (at -10 dB). The cabinet is made from robust MDF, glued, and vinyl-coated – good craftsmanship for this price range.

Connectivity

The rear of the master unit offers:

• Two balanced 6.35 mm TRS inputs (jack)
• Two unbalanced RCA inputs
• One 3.5 mm aux input
• Desk/shelf switch
• Position switch (master speaker left or right)
• Passive connection for the slave monitor
• Power connector

On the front, there’s also a headphone output, Bluetooth button, volume control, and tone control.

Equaliser & usage modes (Work / Play)

A rotary control on the front lets you switch sound from neutral (Work) to bass-heavy and bright (Play) – ideal for switching between studio-oriented work and relaxed listening. On the back, a switch lets you optimise whether you use the Mackie CR5BT on a desk (nearfield) or on a shelf (farfield) – a simple but effective sound adjustment you should definitely pay attention to.

According to the manual, there should be two additional front controls on the Mackie CR5BT. But neither the described Mood Enhancer nor the Intensity Level control is present. The manufacturer should update its manuals here.

How the Mackie CR5BT sound

In desk mode (sweet spot triangle), the Mackie CR5BT show their strengths: a surprisingly clean bass, clear mids, and defined highs. However, you should remember that bass reproduction only starts at 50 Hz. So if you love deep sub-bass that hits hard from 30 Hz, you should consider a subwoofer. Nevertheless, the CR5BT can easily deliver punch, and we had no trouble tonally tracking kick drums or bass lines.

The upper mids sound clean but can become slightly intrusive with heavily present electric guitars or lead synths. The easiest fix is to turn the tone control to the right towards a “smiley curve” or use your DAW’s EQ to tame this presence. Turning fully right into Play mode gives the sound a pleasant, rounded, and musical character with boosted bass and treble – ideal for more relaxed listening sessions compared to the more neutral Work setting.

We move the Mackie CR5BT into the living room, wire everything up, and pair the speakers via Bluetooth to an Apple TV. Pairing is quick – when powered on, the speakers automatically enter pairing mode. Alternatively, simply hold the master monitor’s logo, which also acts as a play/pause button – similar to controlling playback from a smartphone. However, in the living room, this is less practical due to the distance.

In shelf mode, the sound disperses more broadly and less precisely. Connected to a TV, console, or PC via 3.5 mm jack, the monitors deliver a lively, direct sound image with powerful bass. Comparisons with my admittedly cheap soundbar (Amazon Fire TV Soundbar 2.0 – review) show clear advantages. Only during the deepest explosions do I miss that “deep impact” – where only a subwoofer could help.

A great feature from Mackie is that all input signals are output simultaneously – effectively acting as a mini-summing mixer!

Overall, the Mackie CR5BT present themselves as a strong alternative to budget soundbars for gaming and TV use. Overall, it’s fair to conclude: as a pure studio monitor for critical mixing, the Mackie CR5BT is not a perfect fit. The upper mids and lower highs show some inaccuracies. For content creators producing podcasts or videos, however, this is not a limitation. We did experience occasional Bluetooth dropouts during the test period, and unfortunately, the connection only runs on the older Bluetooth 5.0 standard. Mackie remains silent about the codec used, which likely means SBC only.

Who are the Mackie CR5BT for?

• Home studios & content creators
• Gamers & multimedia enthusiasts
• TV and music sessions in the living room
• Budget-conscious users seeking stereo quality with features like Bluetooth and EQ
• Not ideal for professional sound engineers demanding maximum neutrality and forensic detail

The Mackie CR series at a glance

The manufacturer not only offers the CR5BT and the matching CR8SBT subwoofer. The CR series includes various models differing mainly in size and power output but always focusing on ease of use and versatility. Here, we only show the models that also feature Bluetooth. Those who can or wish to do without it should opt for the cheaper models without “BT” in the product name.

Affiliate Links

Mackie CR3.5 BT

Customer rating:

(3)

Available for 129.00€ at

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Mackie CR4.5 BT

Customer rating:

(5)

Available for 159.00€ at

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Mackie CR5 BT

Customer rating:

(6)

Available for 219.00€ at

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Mackie CR8 BT

Customer rating:

(3)

Available for 299.00€ at

Conclusion

The Mackie CR5BT deliver an impressive amount of technology, flexible operation, and a tonally balanced sound (depending on settings) at the price of a mid-range Bluetooth system. They meet (semi-professional) studio, gaming, and everyday needs equally – and with front EQ and Bluetooth connectivity, they offer a well-thought-out package. If you’re looking for an affordable workhorse that covers a wide range of applications, these monitors are worth a closer listen, offering excellent value for money.