We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a complete, all-in-one recording and monitoring setup that gets a vocalist, guitarist or podcaster from zero to a finished take, choose LyxPro 2x2; if you need a pair of powered reference monitors with a built-in headphone output and flexible inputs for mixing and casual listening, choose Mackie CR4.5.
• LyxPro 2x2 — biggest strength: it is a full two-channel USB audio interface bundled with a microphone kit, shock mount, cables, recording headphones and a pair of Eris E3.5 white studio monitors, so it covers input, monitoring and software in one box.
• LyxPro 2x2 — biggest trade-off: it is a system, not a single speaker pair — the value lives in the bundle and the 24-bit/192kHz interface, so if you only want speakers on your desk, you are paying for a lot you may not use.
• Mackie CR4.5 — biggest strength: a self-contained pair of 4.5" powered reference monitors with a 1" silk dome tweeter, a tone knob, a desktop/bookshelf location switch and a built-in headphone output.
• Mackie CR4.5 — biggest trade-off: no microphone, no interface, no phantom power — it is monitoring only, and the rumbling low end depends on adding a separate subwoofer.
• Who each pick is for: LyxPro 2x2 for the musician, streamer or podcaster building a studio from scratch; Mackie CR4.5 for the producer, gamer or desktop listener who already has a way to capture audio and just needs honest reference sound.
The LyxPro 2x2 is built around the LyxJam P2S interface, a two-channel USB unit running 24-bit/192kHz. That means two combination XLR/¼" inputs, so a condenser mic goes in one side and a guitar or bass goes in the other. The +48V phantom power switch is what makes that condenser mic possible, and the Hi-Z key is what makes a directly plugged guitar sound right instead of thin. If you have ever tried to record both a voice and an instrument at once on a single-input box, you already know why two channels matter.
Monitoring is where the "reference" part comes in. The interface gives you Direct and DAW monitoring modes, so you can hear yourself with zero delay while you perform, or hear exactly what your software is printing. There are monitor and phone level knobs, peak indicators to catch clipping, a 1/4" headphone jack and two 1/4" TRS main outputs. USB 2.0 powers the whole thing, so no wall wart, and it works across Windows, macOS, ChromeOS and iOS with an ASIO driver for Windows 7 through 11. It is under two pounds and about 5.71" × 4.3" × 1.73", which is genuinely bag-friendly.
The bundle is the real story. You get the interface, a professional microphone kit with shock mount and cables, recording headphones, and the Eris E3.5 white studio monitors, plus download links for Waveform OEM — a full, unrestricted DAW — and other creative software. For a beginner, that removes the hardest part of starting: figuring out which of the twenty pieces you still need. I would point a first-time podcaster, a singer-songwriter or a live streamer at this. I would steer away anyone who already owns an interface and monitors — you would be rebuying things you have.
The Mackie CR4.5 is a pair of active powered studio monitors: a 4.5" woven woofer and a 1" silk dome tweeter per speaker, 50 watts of output, stereo, corded electric power. The enclosure is a stainless steel build in black with silver accents, and each speaker measures roughly 8.25" deep, 6.1" wide and 8.85" tall — a real desktop footprint, not a throwaway little computer speaker.
What makes it interesting as a reference monitor is the tone knob. It starts at the transparent response you want from a studio monitor, then lets you dial in bass and high-end sparkle as you move toward gaming or casual listening. That is a genuinely useful feature for someone who mixes in the day and watches movies at night, because you are not forced to choose one character. The location switch is the other smart touch: desktop mode for nearfield listening at your desk, bookshelf mode for listening from across the room.
Connectivity is broad. TRS and RCA take audio interfaces, mixers and record players; a 3.5mm input takes consoles, PCs, phones and tablets — useful if you want to play a game through monitors instead of a soundbar. The built-in headphone output cuts the speaker audio when you plug in, which is exactly what you want for late-night mixing without waking anyone. In the box you get a 1/8" to 1/8" cable, a 1/8" to RCA cable, foam isolation pads and speaker-to-speaker wire.
The honest limitation: this is monitoring only. There is no microphone input, no interface, no phantom power, no recording software. And if you want deep, floor-rumbling low end, the spec sheet points you to the CR8SBT subwoofer, which is sold separately. I recommend the CR4.5 for a producer who already records elsewhere, a gamer who wants serious desktop audio, or anyone building a desk setup around one pair of do-it-all speakers.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for recording vocals or instruments → LyxPro 2x2. Dual XLR/¼" inputs, +48V phantom power and Hi-Z keys are the whole point.
• Best for honest, adjustable monitoring only → Mackie CR4.5. Silk dome tweeter plus 4.5" woven woofer with a tone knob to shape the response.
• Best for connecting lots of sources → Mackie CR4.5. TRS, RCA and 3.5mm cover interfaces, turntables, consoles, phones and TVs.
• Best for late-night silent mixing → tie. Both give you a headphone path — a 1/4" jack on the interface, a built-in output on the speaker that mutes the drivers.
• Best for portable, bus-powered use → LyxPro 2x2. USB 2.0 powers it, and it weighs under two pounds.
• Best for a desk that also plays games and movies → Mackie CR4.5. Desktop/bookshelf location switch plus tone shaping built for casual listening.
• Best for expandable low end → Mackie CR4.5. It is designed to pair with the CR8SBT subwoofer when you want more bass.
In my opinion, the LyxPro 2x2 is the better buy for most people reading a comparison like this one, because it answers the harder question — how do I actually capture sound? — while still handing you monitors and headphones to hear it back. The Mackie CR4.5 is the better speaker, but only if you already have a way in. If you are starting from nothing, the bundle wins. If your desk already has an interface, buy the Mackie. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that is the one variable this page cannot tell you.
what is studio monitor headphones
It is a slightly loose phrase. People usually mean either the headphones used to monitor a recording — like the pair included in the LyxPro 2x2 bundle — or the powered speakers used to check a mix. The Mackie CR4.5 is the speaker side of that equation, and it also has a built-in headphone output.
what are reference studio headphones
Reference gear is designed to reproduce audio transparently rather than flatter it. Reference headphones and monitors aim for a flat, honest response so what you hear matches what you are recording. The Mackie CR4.5 starts from that transparent response and only adds coloration when you turn the tone knob yourself.
what are studio monitor headphones
Same idea as above, applied to what sits on your head. A monitor headphone should let you hear problems — clipping, harsh frequencies, uneven levels — instead of hiding them. The LyxPro 2x2 includes recording headphones and gives you Direct and DAW monitoring modes with peak indicators to catch those problems.
can you connect headphones to monitor
Yes, and both products do it differently. The Mackie CR4.5 has a built-in headphone output that cuts the speaker audio when you plug in, so you can listen quietly. The LyxPro 2x2 routes headphones through the interface's 1/4" jack with its own phone level knob.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: GNMN Active Noise Cancelling vs PEFUPEW Earbuds, Hulaed Invisible Sleep Headphones vs Yatloml Earbuds, Behringer POWERPLAY HA8000 vs PreSonus HP60, Togetface Earbuds vs TREBLAB X8: Deep Bass Earbuds