In this review, we will be comparing Mackie CR3-XBT and A5+ Wireless, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Mackie and Audioengine. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mackie CR3-XBT and Audioengine A5+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Mackie CR3-XBT Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 25-watt RMS( 50-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Dome Tweeter
- 3" Polypropylene Woofer
- 80-20k Hz Frequency Response
- N/A Max Depth / N/A Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.2 Bluetooth
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 206.4" x 5.5" x 7.5"( 206.4 x 139.7 x 190.5mm )
Audioengine A5+ Wireless Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Kevlar Woofer
- 50-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 44.1 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:4.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 276.2" x 7.1875" x 9.75"( 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Mackie CR3-XBT and Audioengine A5+ Wireless compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Mackie CR3-XBT and A5+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Mackie CR3-XBT |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 3-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Mackie CR3-XBT features a 0.75" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the A5+ Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Mackie CR3-XBT has a frequency range of 80-20k Hz whereas A5+ Wireless has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the A5+ Wireless can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Mackie CR3-XBT's min frequency of 80Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Mackie CR3-XBT and A5+ Wireless have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Mackie CR3-XBT's and Audioengine A5+ Wireless's external dimensions. Mackie CR3-XBT has external dimensions of 206.4 x 139.7 x 190.5mm ( 8.125 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) whereas Audioengine A5+ Wireless has external dimensions of 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm ( 10.875 x 7.1875 x 9.75inch) .
Audioengine A5+ Wireless is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 42.9mm wider, 69.8mm taller and 57.1mm deeper than Mackie CR3-XBT.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Mackie CR3-XBT is approximately 266.1cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ Wireless is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The Mackie CR3-XBT requires 41% less surface area than the A5+ Wireless which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Mackie CR3-XBT?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Mackie CR3-XBT:
Powered monitor w/ attached 5.5-feet power cord (C7 unpolarized)Passive monitor6.5-feet Speaker wire5-feet Stereo mini to RCA cableQuick Start Guide
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+ Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the A5+ Wireless:
Powered left speakerPassive right speaker6-feet AC power cordRemote control (with installed CR2025 battery)Antenna12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire6.5-feet Stereo minijack cable6-feet Stereo RCA cableCloth drawstring cable bag2 Cloth drawstring speaker bagsSetup guideAudioengine product brochure
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Headphone Output 
Woofer Size 
High Frequency Response 
Handheld Remote 
3.5mm Connection 
RCA Connection