Mackie MR8mk2 Studio Reference Monitor

Got my MR8 mkII's 3 weeks ago from zzounds. After having listened to hem on a daily basis and doing both tracking mixing and mastering on them i can say in my humble opinion that these speakers are just ok. These companies spend alot of money on hype and my view is don't believe it. I feel that these speakers just don't give me the clarity in the low mids or the low end punch that i want. I am a old school guy, iv'e been a music professional for over 35 years. I know what good speakers are supposed to sound like. Maybe the issue is the internal amplifier. i don't know if you can hook them up to a external amp some way. I just feel that these speakers a lifeless. maybe they would sound better in a room with more treatment than mine. i do have auralex and traps thru out my studio. Don't get me wrong the speakers are usable but in my view not very impressive. I sold my tannoy reveal 501a's to get the mackies because i wanted more low end. The mack's give low end but it's not the tight punchy low end i hoped for. Honestly i think all of these powered made in china speakers are the same thing. My intention is to get a decent amp and a good set of passive speakers, like tannoy pbm's or something. Well thats my two cents!

Had these now for most of a year. Haven't had a single problem yet. They are tough and sound great! I am using them as my main speakers for my video/audio edit suite. Good Speakers!Revision! These speakers worked great for about two years until, one day last year, completely out of the blue, one of them just started screaming at me. Mackie told me there's nothing I can do. I used to work at a production house that had 30-year-old speakers. Never gave us a problem ONCE.

I've had a pair of Event BAS 20/20s for 14 years. Looked at the equivalent HR864s (I think that's the right product number) Mackies' when I bought the Events.The fuse housing broke on one of my Events. Never found a cost effective way to get the speaker fixed, Event was absolutely no help. After being mono for a long while, (I only use the speakers for recreational music and TV output now, long having left my electronic music production days behind me) I started looking into a low price point -$600-$1000 5.1 surround system. I live in a nice, but high density apt. building and concluded that I would really not be able to use the 5.1 surround at high enough volume to appreciate it. So, why stick money into a receiver and cheaper speakers. Just put the 'dosh into the speaker!Looked at various price points for single active reference monitors, as I've always loved how these Events' sound for regular music listening. Was tethered to Amazon's store card as I needed an interest free, pay over time price point of entry. (narrowing the sourcing options considerably) I looked at spending $500+ or a new Event BAS, ibid on the HR864 or whatever it's called. Decided I wanted to spend $150-3 max. Looked at Yami's, KRK and wasn't even thing about Mackie MR8mk2, having forgotten all about them.Ok, the novel is over.All I'm leading up to is, at the last moment I saw the lower end Mackie, switched my order from a Yammi, and am very happy. Speaker is great sounding for my needs. I output stereo from my Panni GT50 Plasma and various devices for internet streamed video and music, into a $60 Berhinger Mixer which, of course, then feeds the Event/MR8 "pair".If my remaining Event goes (its 14 years old.) I'll probably buy a matching MR8. Or, maybe I'll revisit surround sound, lol, at that time. Now, how can I get a 1/4 inputed speakers (no traditional speaker wire inputs) w/ active amps to work as the L/R channel from a Surround receiver/amp..... (kidding)Ironically, hours after writing this review and a few weeks after receiving the speaker, it developed and hum not related to any audio source. I'm returning it for replacement, though I'm clear if I will simply receive a replacement or a refund and then have to buy it again. I checked "replacement" in my RMA process, but Amazon's email follow up only speaks about a "refund". In any event it's back to mostly mono for a few weeks; bummer.Sept. 15 2012Actually, I was only without the replacement for 4 days. Started the return process on Sunday Sept.9 had a replacement by Thursday the 13th mid day; Amazon received the defective speaker on Wed the 12 and even gave me a store credit for the $11 shipping box I bought to replace the one I had thrown out.I have to say Amazon's fulfillment and RMA processes are World Class. I would expect this speaker will not crap out like the first one.June 25 2013Replacement has been without problems. I'm very happy with this speaker!

Bought these at GC because they sounded fantastic, got them home and ran them through an apogee interface. They still sounded fantastic. Then out of nowhere they stopped producing a signal, with the exception of a very loud, unpleasant, mono toned buzzing noise comparable to holding your thumb on a guitar cable plugged into a loud guitar amp. I scowered the internet to find some technical help, and couldn't find any. So I went to Mackie's website and typed in my zip code (DFW by the way) for a service center. Nothing happened, I then adjusted my cookies... Nope, no difference. The Service center finder is there for looks I guess. These speakers broke down right after the warranty was up, though I doubt the warranty would of helped.

I've become fond of Mackie products and most of studio gear is made by the manufacturer. It took me a while to review this item because one of monitors had a problem turning on so I had to exchange it. These MR8mk2 monitors do exactly what is expected of them. I learned my lesson in settling for 5" monitors. There's just not enough pop to hear accurate bass. The case on these Mackies is solid and I actually like the design with the silver metallic trim. The sound is clean and hits just right. Can these replace a subwoofer? Of course not so don't buy these with that intention. I do believe that smaller monitors are needed for a full effect. It's difficult to get wordy about this product. It does what it it suppose to do and I'm very satisfied. I tested these out at a local Sam Ash and compared them to KRK Rokit and Yamaha. There was no comparison.

I bought pair of Mr8 after a failing mr5 which delivered crackling sound and eventually no sound . After seven months I had the same failure on my MR8. These monitors are not durable by any pro audio standard.