MACKIE HR824 Detail top
Released in 1996, the Mackie HR824 High Resolution Studio Monitor redefined what the marketplace looks for in a studio reference monitor. One of the most loved and trusted near-field monitors of all time, the HR824 is found in countless professional studios—thanks to its clarity, broad stereo imaging, ruler-flat response, and extended low-frequency range versus other studio monitors. With such astonishing sound quality, there is little wonder why the HR824 was approved for THX compliance on its initial trial.
Mackie Active technology makes the HR824 possible. Onboard FR (Fast Recovery) amplifiers provide 150 watts to the 8.75” German-engineered MF/LF driver (aka the “woofer”) and 100 watts to the waveguide-loaded HF driver (aka the “tweeter”). The result is a smooth, accurate transition from lows to highs, with an ample 100dB SPL@1 meter output. Frequency response is verifiably flat from 39Hz-20kHz, with a 3dB down point at 37Hz. With extremely even dispersion for a wide "sweet spot" and user-adjustable controls for a variety of acoustic spaces, the HR824 is not only the choice of hundreds of professional studios, they can also be found in the tour buses and home studios of many top recording artists
A TRUE ACTIVE DESIGN
Several years ago, many manufacturers started using “Active” interchangeably with “Powered” in describing their studio monitors. But make no mistake; a true “Active” design means that a studio monitor contains separate onboard amplifiers for each driver, plus onboard Active crossovers (which eliminates the need for external processing and eliminates phase anomalies), and time-correction circuitry, so the highs and lows reach the listener at the same time. You can trust this internal amplification and processing to push HR824 speakers to the “max” without any danger of pushing them beyond their limits—as well as bring you the sound quality that our engineers intended in all instances.
Thanks to our years of power amplifier development, Mackie knows amplifier technology inside and out. The 150- and 100-watt FR Series amplifiers inside the HR824 are clean-sounding, ultra-reliable, and — most importantly — designed specifically for the drivers in the enclosure. This last point is crucial because the amplification requirements of a low-frequency driver are enormously different from that of a mid-/high-frequency compression driver.
Low Frequency drivers (regular folk know them as "woofers") are relatively inefficient due in part to the larger size of their moving parts, voice coil, cone, spider, and suspension. So, to properly control an LF driver and move a lot of air, you need an amp that delivers loads of voltage to handle the mass of the woofer cone and keep it moving in a straight, linear, controlled manner.
Compression drivers and dome tweeters, on the other hand, are very efficient and need a relatively low amount of voltage compared to their low frequency counterparts to achieve high SPL levels. If the amplifier is too puny, this additional equalization can put the system dangerously close to clipping. So it's far better to have more amplifier headroom than needed to handle transients (i.e. loud volume peaks like big snare or kick hits, slap bass, or singers having a Dio moment).
With the HR824, we spent countless hours developing and tuning the internal power amps for optimum performance within the entire loudspeaker system. So with Mackie Active studio monitors, you don't have to worry about amplification. You just plug-and-play.
WAVEGUIDE-LOADED TWEETER
Move off-axis with passive monitors (and most powered monitors, for that matter) and you will experience prominent midrange and high frequency dispersion problems. In contrast, the HR824's waveguide-loaded tweeter greatly improves both vertical and horizontal coverage, and allows us to match the high-frequency polar pattern to that of the bass transducer (the "woofer") for seamless midrange transition. Thanks to the computer-assisted design of the logarithmic waveguide the HR824's high-frequency imaging is stunningly accurate, delivering a much broader sweet spot than almost any other monitor on the market today.
EXTENDED LOW-FREQUENCY RESPONSE
The HR824's extended low frequency response is achieved, in part, by a mass-loaded 6"x9" honeycomb passive radiator that fires out the rear of the enclosure. This passive radiator works in concert with the high-precision, German-designed LF driver to deliver extended low-end response without resorting to a "ported cabinet" design. How does it work? Servo-feedback circuitry monitors the LF transducer's motional parameters and applies appropriate control and damping using the passive radiator. This constant correction produces tight, articulate bass without the tubbiness, distortion or overhang common among most small monitors.
MORE CONTROLS = MORE OPTIONS
On the rear panel of the HR824 you'll find some very useful controls:
Acoustic Space Control
Ideally, your monitor speakers should be placed well away from wall surfaces. But this isn't always easy in small project studios and video post suites. The HR824 has a 3-position switch that can be set for full space (way out from the walls), half-space (against a back wall), or quarter space (in a corner). The Acoustic Space Control, for accurate bass in a small control room.
LF Roll-Off
The HR824 plays considerably lower than most home stereo speakers can go. So we provided you with an 80Hz Roll-Off switch to temporarily disable extremely low bass when mixing for AM radios, boom boxes, and old people who rarely attend raves.
High Frequency
Although we expect that you have acoustic treatment in your control room (egg crates, wall carpets with dogs playing cards, etc.), there may be times you might be using your HR824s in larger, more live spaces such as a conference room. For these occasions, we've included a high frequency shelving control that reduces frequencies above 10kHz by 2dB. Conversely, in rooms where high frequency content is easily absorbed, a 2dB boost is available.
TREMENDOUS VALUE
It's worth mentioning that, although HR824s deliver uncompromising performance on par with anything on the market, they aren't nearly as expensive as some of those esoteric, boutique studio monitors out there. Thanks to our advanced manufacturing techniques, the 824's deliver "high-end" performance without the high-end price. And versus passive monitors, which require external power amplifiers, crossovers, and equalization, HR824s stand as an exceptional value. Just bring your favorite CD* to a nearby dealer and compare them side-by-side with the competition.
*Please, no iPods. We love 'em too, but gads, compressed music files aren't going to give you an accurate read on the low end these monitors can deliver.
• Worldwide standard high-resolution professional studio monitor with true Active design
• 8.75" low-distortion LF transducer with onboard passive-radiator provide ample, tight bass response down to 37Hz
• 1" HF transducer loaded onto logarithmic waveguide for wider dispersion pattern more closely matching that of LF driver
• True Active design with FR Series amplifiers—150W for LF / 100W for HF with onboard time- and phase-correction crossover
• Low Profile design, ideal for left, right, center (LRC) applications
• Acoustic Space, LF roll-off and HF adjustment controls for use in matching the acoustic properties of any room
• Non-fatiguing through hours of use
• XLR, 1/4" and RCA inputs
• Low Profile design, ideal for left, right, center (LRC) applications
• THX pm3 approved for 5.1 and 7.1 surround mixing and playback