Features:
Anyone who's worked with monitors before will know that 8" monitors are traditionally fairly large. The MR8s are the size of two of my 5" monitors stacked sideways. To keep things safe in shipping, the boxes are quite a bit larger to accommodate the Styrofoam inserts that hold the speakers. Unboxing was a pleasant experience, since the monitors are quite large and awkward to hold, Mackie has them in a cardboard shell with two small handles for lifting out of the box.

I should take the time to mention that like most series' of monitors, the MRs are available in two models; the 8" model I'm reviewing today, and a smaller 5" model as well. Depending on the type of material you are mixing, the size/type of room you are mixing it in, and your budget, you will be able to narrow down just what model is best for you.

The MR8s have a fairly simple black cabinet, woofers and tweeters. This is the same general design scheme the more expensive HR series follows too. In a studio, it's easy to blend a black set of monitors in anywhere you place them. Also, when buying home studio grade monitors, I'd much rather a company spend money on the quality of sound rather than going for fancy looks. The MR series monitors have wooden MDF cabinets, covered in plastic to help with the smooth and flowing lines of the design. As you'll see in my pictures, all the corners and edges are rounded, making the MR8s look seemingly like their more expensive cousins, the HRs. The front of the MR's bear the Mackie logo on the left side, and a white power LED directly across from the logo on the right side. No front accessible power switch to make things easy like the HRs have - you have to lean around back for that on this model.