Short answer: the Audioengine A2+ for better sound quality, the Mackie CR3-X for the lower price. The Audioengine A2+ ranks #7 of 11 powered bookshelf speakers at $279. The Mackie CR3-X ranks #10 at $99.99, $179.01 cheaper.
What the Audioengine A2+ offers: Genuinely small footprint for real desktop use, with a wide input selection (RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth) plus a rear volume knob and variable RCA output. Watch for: Raw anechoic response has an on-axis midrange dip the reviewer called “too much” at about 6dB peak-to-peak, and a persistent 2dB dip from 3-5kHz that desk placement doesn’t fix - possibly a crossover integration issue.
What the Mackie CR3-X offers: More neutral overall on-axis response than its closest $100 rival, the PreSonus Eris E3.5 - less of a scooped, V-shaped curve. Watch for: Still a ported design in too small a cabinet, producing boosted, boomy bass rather than genuine low-end extension.
Buy the Audioengine A2+ if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Mackie CR3-X if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Mackie CR3-X. It ranks near the bottom of the 11 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audioengine A2+ | Mackie CR3-X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 | $99.99 |
| Ranked | #7 of 11 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #10 of 11 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 | RCA, Aux |
| Drivers | 0.75" silk dome tweeter, 2.75" fiber woofer | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter |
| Output Power | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| EQ | No (fixed volume knob only) | No |
| App | No | No |
| Dimensions | 6"H x 4"W x 5.25"D (152 x 102 x 133mm) | 8.1"H x 5.5"W x 7.1"D (205.7 x 139.7 x 180.3 mm) |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs / 1.6 kg (3.55 lb) left / 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg (3.15 lb) right | 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg |
| Outputs | - | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| Max SPL | - | 92dB @ 1m |
| Sensitivity | - | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Fiio SP3
- Edifier M60 vs Edifier MR3
- Mackie CR3-X vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Mackie CR3-X
The Two Speakers In Full
Audioengine A2+: $279.00 Amazon Audioengine
Pros: Genuinely small footprint for real desktop use, with a wide input selection (RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth) plus a rear volume knob and variable RCA output. Sound is well-behaved in its intended use case - sitting on the desk below ear level, where the natural desk-boundary reinforcement fills in the midrange the way the design expects. No port chuffing or major excursion issues noted. Better native tonal balance than its closest same-size, same-price rival tested alongside it (which had a severe 70Hz resonant boom and overly hot treble); at this size and price, a solid, inoffensive pick for background/nearfield desktop use.
Cons: Raw anechoic response has an on-axis midrange dip the reviewer called “too much” at about 6dB peak-to-peak, and a persistent 2dB dip from 3-5kHz that desk placement doesn’t fix - possibly a crossover integration issue. Bass rolls off below about 100Hz with real authority, so don’t expect low-end weight. Compression/limiting kicks in hard above roughly 87dB at 1m, well before most full-size monitors, so these aren’t for anyone who wants to push real volume. Do not put these on stands at ear level - that exposes the raw nonlinear response and makes them sound notably worse; desktop placement below ear level is required to sound right. Kali Audio’s similarly-priced LP-UNF is meaningfully more linear and extends lower, at roughly twice the cabinet size.
Full Audioengine A2+ review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 6"H x 4"W x 5.25"D (152 x 102 x 133mm) |
| Drivers | 0.75" silk dome tweeter, 2.75" fiber woofer |
| EQ | No (fixed volume knob only) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Output Power | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs / 1.6 kg (3.55 lb) left / 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg (3.15 lb) right |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Mackie CR3-X: $99.99 Amazon
Pros: More neutral overall on-axis response than its closest $100 rival, the PreSonus Eris E3.5 - less of a scooped, V-shaped curve. Distortion at 96dB stays below 3% THD through most of the midrange - no real issues at typical near-field listening levels. Better long-term compression behavior than the PreSonus at both 86dB and 96dB. The reviewer’s pick between the two $100 monitors, even though the PreSonus has tone-adjustment knobs it lacks.
Cons: Still a ported design in too small a cabinet, producing boosted, boomy bass rather than genuine low-end extension. No tone-control knobs for adjusting the sound, unlike the PreSonus. Hard limiting and compression set in significantly above 86dB - not intended for loud listening. Off-axis measurements show the treble smooths out with moderate toe-out, but on-axis it reads as somewhat lifted. Vertical placement matters - going above or below tweeter-ear-level causes real deviation through the crossover region. Benefits substantially from sealing the port to tame the bass hump, a modification the reviewer recommends for both this and the PreSonus.
Full Mackie CR3-X review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 8.1"H x 5.5"W x 7.1"D (205.7 x 139.7 x 180.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux |
| Max SPL | 92dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Sensitivity | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Mackie CR3 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: Mackie CR3-X vs Edifier R1280T Sound, Distortion & Frequency Response Comparison
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Mackie CR3-X vs PreSonus E3.5 Budget Monitor Showdown!
- Reddit Search for Mackie CR3-X Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons