Mackie HR824 MK2 Owner's Manual - Introduction

Owner’s Manual

Owner’

s Manual

INTRODUCTION

•   The amplifiers are designed to provide maximum 

acoustic output from the speakers, yet minimize 

the danger of speaker damage due to overdriving. 

•   In addition, the amplifiers’ gain and frequency re-

sponses are individually hand-trimmed to compen-

sate for typical manufacturing tolerances between 

the drivers and produce a smooth frequency 

response from 35 Hz to 20 kHz. 

•   The connecting wires between the amplifier outputs 

and the drivers are kept to an absolute minimum, 

so the damping factor of the amplifier isn’t compro-

mised by the resistance of long speaker cables. 

•   The acoustic sum of the outputs from the two driv-

ers are optimized electronically, as well as physi-

cally, so the amplitude response is unity and the 

phase difference is minimal. 

In short, all the complex interconnected components 

in the system are designed to work in harmony with 

each other to produce the best possible sound.

The Transducers...

The monitors feature an 8.75-inch high-precision, low-

distortion woofer and a 1-inch ferrofluid cooled titanium 

dome tweeter on the front, and a 6-inch x 12-inch ellipti-

cal flat piston passive radiator in the back.

The high-frequency driver is mounted on a massive, 

acoustically non-resonant die-cast aluminum exponential 

waveguide, which results in wide, controlled dispersion 

of high-frequency sounds. The unique passive radiator 

design provides tight, articulate bass response down to 

35 Hz — an astounding accomplishment for a cabinet 

of this size! And since the radiator is producing most of 

the sound at the lowest frequencies, there is very little 

distortion from the woofer because its cone movement 

is minimal at those frequencies.

Thank you for choosing the Mackie HR824 MK2 Studio 

Monitors. We began producing the original HR824 

Studio Monitors in 1997, and they quickly became the 

standard by which near-field studio reference monitors 

were compared for extremely flat frequency response at 

a reasonable price. The HR824 MK2s have been rede-

signed with modern components for improved accuracy 

and an extended low-frequency response.

Investments in Excellence...

When we decided it was time to update the HR824s, 

we turned to our expert loudspeaker and transducer de-

sign engineering team at EAW to determine how to make 

an already excellent studio monitor even better. The 

first thing they noticed was that the front baffle could 

be redesigned with a rounder aluminum construction 

to further reduce edge diffraction for improved imag-

ing. The volume of the cabinet was increased slightly to 

improve the low-frequency response. The amplifiers have 

been adjusted with all new ‘voicing’ to match the new 

cabinets. However, the amplifiers’ design is fundamental-

ly the same and has a very similar characteristic to the 

original model. If you are upgrading from the original 

HR824s, you won’t have to relearn the sound. The MK2s 

still deliver the clarity, ultra-linear frequency response, 

and broad stereo imaging of the originals.

An elegant piano-black gloss finish emphasizes that 

these studio monitors are in a class by themselves, 

pleasing to the most discerning eye as well as the most 

discerning ear.

The result? The HR824 MK2 Studio Monitors are 

extremely accurate and versatile, loaded with unique con-

trols that allow you to fine-tune the sound to match your 

individual environment precisely. You’re gonna love these!

What are they? The Advantages...

The HR824 MK2 Studio Monitors are high-

resolution, two-way, bi-amplified, active moni-

tors employing a 6th-order Butterworth system 

with a built-in rear-firing mass-loaded passive 

radiator. Whew! There are many benefits to 

integrating an active crossover, power amplifi-

ers, and drivers into a single cabinet, and we’ve 

taken full advantage of these benefits in the 

design of the HR824 MK2.

•   The crossover point is designed so that the 

high- and low-frequency drivers are fed 

only the frequencies they are best able to 

reproduce.

Figure 1.  HR824 MK2 Cutaway side view

Tweeter

Woofer

Passive Radiator

Power Amplifier/

Crossover Assembly