Mackie MC-450 Professional Open-Back Headphones

The Mackie MC-450 is a wired professional open-back headphone designed for critical listening, mixing, studio recording, and personal listening. Its open-back construction is intended to create a spacious stereo presentation for evaluating music and mixes. It is a headphone solution for listeners who want a dedicated monitoring option rather than a car-audio component.

Built for engineers, producers, musicians, and detail-focused listeners, the MC-450 combines circumaural earcups with a 54-ohm design. The open-back format is well suited to focused listening environments where natural spatial presentation is valued. A 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response and 101 dB sensitivity support use with a range of headphone outputs.

Reference-quality 42 mm dynamic transducers provide the sound-producing foundation of the MC-450. Mackie specifies a high-headroom design for accurate music and mix reproduction. The result is a monitoring-oriented headphone platform intended to reveal detail across a full-range listening spectrum.

Comfort-focused construction includes an adjustable premium leather headband and memory-foam ear pads. This combination is designed to support extended sessions at a desk, console, or workstation. The headphones weigh 350 g, balancing substantial construction with practical everyday wearability.

The MC-450 includes three detachable cables for different listening setups. A long fabric-jacketed straight cable supports studio placement, while shorter coiled and mobile-oriented straight cables offer alternate routing options. A locking bayonet cable connection, gold-plated 1/4" adapter, and protective case make it easy to integrate the headphones with 3.5 mm or 1/4" headphone outputs.

Key Features

• Open-Back Design: Creates a spacious listening presentation for mixing and critical listening.
• 42 mm Dynamic Drivers: Provide the transducer platform for detailed, full-range playback.
• 54-Ohm Impedance: Supports use with compatible headphone outputs and monitoring gear.
• Premium Comfort Materials: Leather headband and memory-foam pads support longer sessions.
• Three Detachable Cables: Provides long, coiled, and mobile-oriented connection choices.
• Protective Carrying Case: Helps keep the headphones and accessories together between sessions.

Design & Installation

The MC-450 uses a dual-ear, over-ear design with open-back earcups, a premium leather adjustable headband, and memory-foam ear pads. Its rugged construction is intended for studio or location use, while the 350 g headphone weight reflects its full-size monitoring format. The headphones are finished in black and use detachable cables with locking bayonet connectors.

No mounting or vehicle wiring is required. Connect one of the supplied cables to the headphone and a compatible 3.5 mm source, or use the included gold-plated 1/4" adapter with a compatible larger headphone output. For mixing and critical listening, use the 9.8 ft fabric-jacketed straight cable; the 4 ft coiled cable and 4 ft phone-control cable provide shorter-range alternatives.