In this review, we will be comparing CR3-XBT and YU4, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Mackie and Kanto. 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 Kanto YU4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mackie CR3-XBT | Kanto YU4 |
|---|
| Brand | Mackie
United States · founded 1988 | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 25-watt RMS (50-watt peak) | 70-watt RMS (140-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 3" Polypropylene | 4" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 80-20k Hz | 60-20k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | — | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.2 | Built-in 4.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 3.54kg / 7.8lbs | 2.50kg / 5.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.125" x 5.5" x 7.5"
206.4 x 139.7 x 190.5mm | 8.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"
220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both CR3-XBT and YU4 are 2-way speakers.
Mackie CR3-XBTKanto YU4
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Mackie CR3-XBT |
Kanto YU4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 3-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
CR3-XBT features a 0.75" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the YU4 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
CR3-XBT has a frequency range of 80-20k Hz whereas YU4 has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the YU4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CR3-XBT's min frequency of 80Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both CR3-XBT and YU4 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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Kanto YU4'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 Kanto YU4 has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm (8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch).
Mackie CR3-XBT is 0.30000000000001mm narrower and 13.6mm shorter than Kanto YU4 but it is also 0.5mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Mackie CR3-XBT and Kanto YU4 in scale.
Comparison image of Mackie CR3-XBT and Kanto YU4 Size and External Dimensions
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 Kanto YU4 is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The CR3-XBT requires 0% more surface area than the YU4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Mackie CR3-XBT and Kanto YU4 on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Mackie CR3-XBT weighs 3.54kg / 7.8lbs and the Kanto YU4 weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs. This makes the CR3-XBT 42% heavier than the YU4.
Here is a comparison of how CR3-XBT and YU4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Mackie CR3-XBT?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CR3-XBT:
- Powered monitor w/ attached 5.5-feet power cord (C7 unpolarized)
- Passive monitor
- 6.5-feet Speaker wire
- 5-feet Stereo mini to RCA cable
- Quick Start Guide
What's in the Box of Kanto YU4?
Here are the items that come with the YU4:
- Remote with Batteries
- Power Cord
- Speaker Wire (16′)
- 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5′)
- 8 x Rubber Feet
- Manual
 Height |
206mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
120USD
vs
450USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Headphone Output |
3.5mm
vs
No
|
Connect your headphone |
 Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2
vs
266cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical (2)
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
|
Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
| General |
Mackie CR3-XBT |
Kanto YU4 |
| Brand |
Mackie |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
80-20k Hz |
60-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
25-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
50-watt RMS |
140-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
n/a |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
n/a |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
3" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Kevlar |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
206.4mm (8.1") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Width |
139.7mm (5.5") |
140.0mm (5.5") |
| Depth |
190.5mm (7.5") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Weight |
3.54kg (7.8lbs) |
2.50kg (5.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
No |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
Optical (2) |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
3.5mm |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Kanto YU4 costs roughly 3.8x what Mackie CR3-XBT does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Kanto YU4 digs deeper - 60Hz against 80Hz. |
| Built-in power | B | Kanto YU4 has the bigger amplifier (70W vs 25W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Kanto YU4 adds phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Kanto YU4: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Mackie CR3-XBT is cheaper - $120 against $450, about 73% less; arguably a different class. |
A Mackie CR3-XBT B Kanto YU4
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Kanto YU4 measures better, Mackie CR3-XBT costs about about 3.8x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 80Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Mackie CR3-XBT much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $330 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.