Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs Mackie MR824

Short answer: the Kali Audio LP-8 V2. It ranks #74 of 118 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $598; the Mackie MR824 ranks #87, rated 4.0/5, and costs $599.98, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.

The case for the Kali Audio LP-8 V2: Erin measured 39.6Hz -3dB extension, useful for music without a subwoofer. Watch for: The 3.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 6.68 ideal-subwoofer score show less even tonality than the smaller Kali Audio LP-6 V2.

The case for the Mackie MR824: A larger sibling of the Mackie MR524 using the same logarithmic waveguide, which spreads the treble wide for a broad sweet spot. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Mackie MR524, which measured slightly bright.

Buy the Kali Audio LP-8 V2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Mackie MR824 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.

About the ratings: the Mackie MR824’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.6 to 4.3, so this verdict could change once it is measured.

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Specifications Side By Side

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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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The Two Speakers In Full

Kali Audio LP-8 V2: $598 per pair Amazon eBay

Older model: the Kali Audio LP-8 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5). See every Kali Audio LP generation.

Same family: the Kali Audio LP-6 V2 (smaller bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4.4/5) and the Kali Audio LP-UNF (larger bookshelf, rated 3.9/5).

Pros: Erin measured 39.6Hz -3dB extension, useful for music without a subwoofer. Placement switches and the waveguide assist nearfield setup, with second-generation noise improvements making it more practical at a desk.

Cons: The 3.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 6.68 ideal-subwoofer score show less even tonality than the smaller Kali Audio LP-6 V2. A larger woofer brings bandwidth and output tradeoffs, not automatically greater accuracy. Vertical placement and bass demands still matter.

Full Kali Audio LP-8 V2 review and specifications →

Released	Oct 2021 (5 years ago)
AES Input	No
Amplifier Power	100W total, bi-amped (60W LF, 40W HF)
Aux Input	No
Bluetooth	No
Coaxial Input	No
Country	United States (design)
Dimensions	16.5”H x 10”W x 11.3”D (419 x 254 x 286 mm)
Drivers	1” soft dome tweeter, 8” woofer
Enclosure	2-way active, ported
Frequency Response	37Hz - 25kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified)
HDMI Input	No
Inputs	XLR, TRS, RCA
Optical Input	No
RCA Input	Yes
Spinorama Preference Score	4.94
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub	6.68
TRS Input	Yes
USB Input	No
Weight	19.8 lbs (9 kg) each
XLR Input	Yes

• Links
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 Official Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org) More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
  • Erin’s Audio Corner: Which budget Kali monitor makes most sense for YOU? LP-6v2 or LP-8v2?
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs Dynaudio Core 47
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs JBL 4329P
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs KRK Rokit 8 G5
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs JBL 306P MKII
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs M-Audio BX8 D3
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs Thomann Swissonic A306
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs Kali Audio LP-8
  • Kali Audio LP-8 V2 vs PreSonus Eris Studio 8
  • See all 10 comparisons

Mackie MR824: $599.98 per pair Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay

Same family: the Mackie MR524 (smaller bookshelf, rated 4/5) and the Mackie MR624 (smaller bookshelf, ranked higher, estimated 4/5).

Pros: A larger sibling of the Mackie MR524 using the same logarithmic waveguide, which spreads the treble wide for a broad sweet spot. An 8” polypropylene woofer and 1” silk-dome tweeter are bi-amplified with 85W, and Mackie specifies 35Hz to 20kHz. The 8” woofer gives it the most bass reach and output in the MR range. Balanced XLR and TRS plus RCA inputs, three acoustic space settings for wall or corner placement and a treble trim make it easy to set up in a home studio.

Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Mackie MR524, which measured slightly bright. Room correction is limited to simple boundary and treble switches, with no parametric EQ.

Full Mackie MR824 review and specifications →

Released	2018 (8 years ago)
AES Input	No
Amplifier Power	85W Class A/B bi-amplified per speaker
Aux Input	No
Bluetooth	No
Coaxial Input	No
Dimensions	15.8”H x 10.9”W x 13.2”D (401 x 277 x 335 mm)
Drivers	8” polypropylene woofer, 1” silk-dome tweeter
Frequency Response	35Hz - 20kHz
HDMI Input	No
Inputs	Balanced XLR, balanced TRS, RCA
Optical Input	No
RCA Input	Yes
TRS Input	Yes
USB Input	No
Weight	22.9 lbs (10.4 kg)
XLR Input	Yes

• Links
  • Official Mackie MR824 Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Mackie MR824 vs Pioneer DJ VM-70
  • Mackie MR824 vs KRK Rokit 7 G5