Short answer: the ADAM Audio A4V, if you are buying new. The M-Audio BX5 D3 ranks higher than it (#42 vs #67 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers, 3.9/5 vs 3.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the ADAM Audio A4V is still sold new at $1,079.98.
What the ADAM Audio A4V does well: A compact studio monitor with onboard DSP, placement controls and room correction support for tricky rooms. Watch for: A small average-deviation figure hides a major localized response irregularity: the selected measurement spans 10.8dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.547.
Why pick the M-Audio BX5 D3: A budget studio monitor with balanced inputs and room adjustment for a basic home studio. The catch: The response slopes downward by about 0.65dB per octave, potentially softening treble relative to the midrange.
Buy the ADAM Audio A4V, since the M-Audio BX5 D3 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
A compact studio monitor with onboard DSP, placement controls and room correction support for tricky rooms.
A budget studio monitor with balanced inputs and room adjustment for a basic home studio.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| ADAM Audio A4V | M-Audio BX5 D3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,079.98 per pair | $637.22 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #67 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #42 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, dual front ports | Active 2-way, rear-ported |
| Drivers | X-ART folded-ribbon tweeter, 4” MLM woofer | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| Dimensions | 10.6H x 6.2W x 8.7D in | 10H x 6.9W x 7.8D in |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) each | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 130W RMS each | 100W each |
| Inputs | XLR and RCA; Ethernet for control | XLR and TRS |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.92 | 4.09 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.33 | 6.69 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 41kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 52Hz-35kHz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB |
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