No-audiophile Mackie CR3 review rant (*resolved)

Thanks champ. I'd like to review more higher end monitors, the problem is no one sends them to me. I spend about $400 out of my own pocket every 3 months on speakers to review, last time was four $100 speakers, the CR3 being one of those. This quarter I shelled out $400 for the Behringer Truth speakers that have been lauded as great by plenty, and I always like confirming good speakers. Next quarter maybe I'll have more from Mackie. I know they can make good products and I would like to hear them.

 

@noaudiophile - hey, I am a big fan and I have read all your reviews since the Zu Audio review. There's no way to contact you for suggestions on your site. I think you should consider reviewing the Fostex Kanspea kit since it's right in the middle of your price range and supposedly has a lot of good reviews. There's a 4 inch and three inch version.

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...0e-diy-kanspea-4-full-range-speaker-kit-pair/

What do you do when you finish reviewing speakers? Sell them on eBay?

 

I'm in Louisiana, so no go.

Kits are a hard sell, and I've never heard a full range driver that I liked.

I have sold or given a few away, but the majority of them are in my attic. I keep thinking that I'll need them again when I get a better/final measurement setup, and I have pulled them out occasionally to compare with other speakers I'm reviewing.

 

I quite like my single driver omega speakers, but have paired them with a sub due to their lack of low range extension

 

Kind of why I picked this one. Even though it sells as a kit, there is almost nothing to do. Just screw in the driver and you are done. There are commercial options that do use the same drivers but they cost 4x-5x more. Plus these are Fostex drivers which are the biggest name when it comes to full range drivers. If you don't like these then you won't like any full rangers and can lay that topic to rest. The Zu speakers you reviewed weren't near field and Logitechs you reviewed with full range drivers were in garbage enclosures with garbage drivers. At least these stand a chance of sounding good.

 

I'm on good terms with Well Rounded Sound, my RMAF drinking buddy. I have been meaning to fit a pair of his speakers into the review line up for a while. I'll see if he has a good full range desktop speaker for me, something that is more smooth than detailed. I've got a train piled up with speakers to review right now, so maybe next month I can get that going.

 

Totally forgot about WRS! I understand being backed up, just nice to see it added to the list.

My one main concern with the Yorkies though is that they are in cylindrical baffles. Experiments have shown that these give the worst edge diffraction of all the enclosures.

http://p10hifi.net/tlinespeakers/forum/olson-baffleshape-fr.gif
http://www.linkwitzlab.com/diffraction.htm

Otherwise they seem solidly built.

 

Very interesting speakers. seem like there is a price premium due to their small size though.

 

Just remembered another fullranger that has been reviewed in popular press and could use the @noaudiophile treatment.

http://www.kvart-bolge.com/

 

Have you tried the Overnight Sensations MT @noaudiophile ? I find most of these powered monitors are compressed sounding with an off treble timbre especially the powered Yamaha NS10 replacements. Those make everything sound like the cymbals on Ride the Lightning being played on an old car stereo...

 

Thank you for your reply.