Cyber Acoustics CA-3602 2.1 Sound System vs Mackie CR5-XBT

I finally had to finally replace my desktop speakers after 12 years and several moves. So I am comparing to what I used to have, which is older. Sound Quality: They will suffice. The low end through the sub is pretty dull, not very deep and doesn't make a really good blend into the music itself

Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound bright and clear through the CR3-X. There’s the slightest added bass depth in the lows and low-mids, but it’s very subtle. The higher-register brass, strings, and vocals claim far more of the spotlight, and the high-frequency detail is ideal for mixing.

The highs sound great and they sound clear. But, the bass sounds muddy and cheap. There's definitely a richness and depth that is missing. Disappointing

Sound is excellent for desktop speakers. I'm playing FLAC files of classical music and jazz through the standard motherboard audio, no fancy DAC or anything. Deep clean bass, sharp clear transients, plenty of power. Crank up Buxtehude's Praeludium for Organ in C major played by Hans Davidsson and the bass will knock books off the shelves! Flaws in poor recordings become painfully evident, you'll need an equalizer to rescue some of them

“Instructions” are a bit (unnecessarily) obtuse – but its only TWO (obvious) wires needed for “connection” to make this system operational (plus the power cord, of course.) Conclusion: while I am personally disappointed in certain respects, I am generally definitely satisfied with this purchase as a matter of “value” … it's fully worth its price.

Now to jump straight back into our video today, I'm going to be comparing the Mackie Crxbt range, which is a pair of speakers studio monitors designed...

*smile* Other pros: -- Look nice. Black and silver feel classy to me, and are obviously a step up from the "computer beige" that all my previous computer speakers were. -- Satellite speakers feel weighty in the hand for how small they are, meaning they don't move around when the bass is shaking, and they don't feel cheap. Little rubber feet on the bottom help, too

I likely won’t buy from Mackie in the future and I am now unsure if I should trust Wirecutter reviews. They have never steered me wrong before. UPDATE: Mackie sent me a new pair and they have the same issue. This tells me that the hissing is likely a design flaw in the speaker itself