I was given the opportunity to test and review the CR StealthBar desktop PC Soundbar with Bluetooth connectivity.
After trying it out for more than a month, I had the privilege to thoroughly test this product and use many of its exciting features.
As I progressed through the testing phase, I focused on areas like Bluetooth connectivity, sound quality, volume, hardwired connectivity, preset quality, space-saving, and much more.
Today, I’m going to tell you all about my results. To find out exactly what I learned while testing this product for the past month, please stick around to see what I reveal next.
At a Glance…
What we like: Bluetooth and hardwired connection options
What we don’t like: Slightly larger than expected
Standout Features
- 3 presets – Music, Voice, Game
- Mac & PC USB connectivity
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Adjust height with swappable feet
- Fits under most monitors
My Verdict:
After spending no less than a month testing the CR StealthBar, I have a much better understanding of this product. The volume is loud and it has near perfect stereo sound, the audio quality was crisp and clean, it’s easy to connect via Bluetooth or USB, and music sounds amazing pumping through the speaker.
Who is the CR StealthBar Desktop PC Soundbar Best Suited To?
I’m happy to say that just about anybody can easily use and connect this soundbar to their PC or Mac computer without any difficulty. But the people I most recommend try it include:
- Technically challenged people – I’m telling you that you do not have to be a technical genius to connect this soundbar to your computer. You should have no trouble connecting via Bluetooth, but if you end up having a problem there’s also a USB cable in the box as well.
- People who appreciate loud audio – I was pleasantly surprised to hear just how loud this soundbar actually was after connecting it to my computer. My music pumps out of this speaker and when I watch movies, it almost has a movie theater quality to it.
- People who are looking to save space – although the soundbar is slightly bigger than I expected, it fits snugly along the bottom of my monitor and it’s completely out of the way.
Features & Benefits
Wired or Wireless Connectivity
Personally, I cannot help but appreciate having the option to choose between wired or wireless connectivity. Sometimes a company creates a product and they say it has the best Bluetooth connectivity in the world. But when you attempt to connect to the product via Bluetooth, it presents nothing but a problem.
Thankfully, the CR StealthBar connected to my computer via Bluetooth without a hitch. I didn’t have any problems whatsoever in this area and that is a blessing in and of itself. But I liked having the wired option just in case the Bluetooth connectivity didn’t work out. I look at this as a huge positive and I hope you will too.
Built-In Audio Presets
I can only speak for myself, but I certainly appreciate having built-in audio presets. I mostly would rather avoid fiddling around with the settings in an effort to figure them out to get the most out of a speaker like this.
In their infinite wisdom, the manufacturer realized that it would be a lot easier on their customer if they already had presets programmed into the speaker itself. I had the opportunity to choose between Music, Voice, and Game. Since I mostly listen to background instrumental music during the day while using my computer, I personally chose the Music setting and the audio sounds absolutely stunning while using this unique setting.
Quick Controls
We all have our guilty pleasures from time to time. And we all like to listen to things that are uncharacteristic of our typical style and musical preferences. Thankfully, with the fast controls, you could literally mute the soundbar by pressing a large button located right on the front panel that’s plain as day to see.
So, if you happen to be listening to your favorite embarrassing Spice Girls song from the 1990s and a bunch of your buddies walk in, you can quickly slam the mute button and no one will be the wiser!
Or…
If you’re listening to your favorite death metal band and your girlfriend walks in unexpectedly out of the blue, you can also press the mute button in the blink of an eye and they’ll never know that you were headbanging along to the hard stuff!
Durability
I don’t know about you, but I happen to be a klutz that constantly trips over things and knocks stuff over all the time. Before I picked up this soundbar, I used to have a small computer speaker sitting on top of my desktop PC. I must’ve knocked this thing over 1000 times while reaching for a tissue, which I also keep next to my desktop computer.
Unfortunately, on the 1001st try I accidentally knocked the plastic speaker onto my hardwood floor and the casing cracked beyond repair.
You’d think I’d have moved the speaker after a while LOL! Nope. I’m not that smart!
Guess what?
This is never going to be a problem again with the CR StealthBar. I can say this with complete confidence. This little sucker weighs less than 5 pounds and it’s built like a tank. I’m not going to try it, but I could probably hit it with a hammer and it would still remain intact.
So, if you happen to be a klutz too, just know that this durable speaker can take a licking and keep on ticking, just like those old wristwatch commercials.
Swappable Feet
This didn’t really make a difference to me personally because I liked the height exactly the way it is when you pulled this soundbar out of the box. But it’s always nice to have options, right?
Maybe the height is just a little too low for your personal needs and situation. Well, this isn’t going to be a problem because you can make it stand up much taller by swapping out the feet that it comes with and put on the new larger feet that you can find embedded in the Styrofoam inside the box.
In truth, having this option may or may not mean much to you at all. But it’s definitely a pleasant surprise to have the ability to make it taller or shorter depending on which feet you happen to have on the soundbar at the time.
Limitations
Weight
Some might not appreciate that this soundbar weighs nearly 5 pounds. To be exact, the total weight is 2 kg or 4.3 pounds. This definitely seems a little bit on the heavier side, but it weighs a lot for a good reason in my opinion.
Remember when I said that I tend to knock things over and break them. Well, in this particular case the added weight has everything to do with the hard outer casing. If I were ever to accidentally knock this thing over, I feel fairly confident that it’s going to handle the bump without any difficulty whatsoever. And I know for a fact that I will not crack the outer casing that protects the speaker because it is extremely sturdy.
Size
Even though the soundbar itself is considered compact, it’s actually very long because it pretty much covers the bulk of my 27-inch monitor going along the bottom. It’s not really a big deal having a long soundbar like this, but it takes getting used to.
I’m the kind of person that always had very small desktop PC speakers. So, switching over to a soundbar requires making a definite mental adjustment on my part and you might need to make this adjustment in your thinking too.
Height Adjustment Difficulties
I believe the height adjustment option is a definite benefit, to put it bluntly. But I have to mention that I found it very difficult swapping the feet from one size to the other. It was a real pain in the neck to remove the feet from the soundbar. And it was almost just as difficult to replace the feet with the other size. So please keep this in mind and remember to read and follow the instructions!
Popular Questions
What Are the Overall Product Dimensions?
It may not seem it by looking at pictures online, but this product definitely has some width to it to say the least. To find out if it’s a good fit for your home PC or Mac computer, please consider the following dimensions:
4 x 18.7 x 3” (HxWxD)
10 2 x 4 75 x 76 mm (HxWxD)
How Is the Overall Sound Quality of the CR Stealthbar Soundbar?
I personally think the overall sound quality is amazing. I love that they developed this product using the legendary Mackie acoustic design and tuning. And I also appreciate that they built it using three selectable sound enhancing presets including Music, Voice, and Game.
Is It Easy to Connect The Mackie CR Stealthbar Via Bluetooth?
I can say with absolute certainty that it’s very easy to connect this soundbar to your PC via Bluetooth connectivity. I can’t say the same for Mac computers because I do not own one, but I assume that it’s just as easy as it is to connect to a PC.
As soon as I turned it on, the Bluetooth speaker instantly tried to connect with my PC. All I had to do was follow the simple on-screen prompt and it was connected to my computer in about 30 seconds flat.
Remember, if it doesn’t connect via Bluetooth for some reason you can always connect it using the USB cable provided by Mackie.
Experience Intense Audio Bliss like You’re Listening to Music in a Concert Hall!
The CR StealthBar is truly an excellent accompaniment for every desktop PC or Mac computer. It utilizes wireless Bluetooth connectivity to the fullest, making it easier than ever to connect to your computer without ugly wires getting in the way.
It has a beautiful acoustic design and tuning, the audio is loud and inviting, the music and movies audio is delivered with crystal-clear clarity, it has an easy to reach large mute button right on the face of the soundbar, and it carries high quality audio every time. Are you in the market for a new soundbar?
I highly recommend the CR StealthBar if you’re looking for a top-notch listening experience right in the comfort of your own home.
Further Reading:
- 6 Best Soundbars Under $100 (Great Sound On A Budget)
- 7 Best Soundbars Under $200 (Good Build, Great Sound)
- Definitive Technologies Studio 3D Mini Review (Soundbar & Sub)
- Mackie CR StealthBar Desktop PC Soundbar Review
- 6 Best Soundbars Under $1000 (Big Bucks For Big Sound)
Trent is a music lover, musical instrument player and passionate audio afficionado.