Short answer: the Donner Dyna 3, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #65 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 1.8/5, at $89; the Avantone Pro Active MixCube ranks #67, rated 1.7/5, and costs $259, so there is little reason to consider the other one. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 67 powered bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the JBL 305P MKII instead, ranked #13 at $299.
What the Avantone Pro Active MixCube does well: A deliberately bandwidth-limited single-driver monitor for checking midrange balance and mix translation. Watch for: It is not a full-range music speaker.
What the Donner Dyna 3 does well: A low-cost powered desktop pair with several input options and a small footprint. Watch for: Erin’s Klippel measurements give a negative standalone preference score of -0.06 and only 3.24 with an ideal subwoofer.
Buy the Donner Dyna 3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Avantone Pro Active MixCube and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Avantone Pro Active MixCube | Donner Dyna 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $518 per pair | $89 per pair |
| Ranked | #67 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #65 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed full-range monitor | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W RMS Class AB | Built in |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz-17kHz | 80Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB at 1m | - |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR/TRS combo | Bluetooth, TRS, RCA and 3.5mm |
| Dimensions | 6.5H x 6.5W x 6.5D in | 5.4" x 5.9" x 8.1" (136 x 150 x 205 mm) |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each | - |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch paper-cone driver; 5.25-inch paper-cone driver; 5.25-inch paper-cone driver; 5.25-inch paper-cone driver | 1" dome tweeter; 3" woofer |
| Spinorama Preference Score | -3.58 | -0.06 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 1.16 | 3.24 |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes, 5.0 |
| Bass Extension | - | Limited by 3" woofer (Erin's Audio Corner measurement) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 85.0Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 66.8Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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
Avantone Pro Active MixCube: $518 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A deliberately bandwidth-limited single-driver monitor for checking midrange balance and mix translation. The powered, sealed format, isolation pad and stand mounting make it useful as a secondary studio reference.
Cons: It is not a full-range music speaker. The measured -3dB point is around 297Hz, and scores of -3.58 standalone and 1.16 with an ideal subwoofer reflect severe bandwidth and response limitations for general listening. A subwoofer cannot restore the missing high-frequency coverage. This low general-purpose rank does not measure its usefulness for the specialist task of checking a mix.
Full Avantone Pro Active MixCube review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W RMS Class AB |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.5H x 6.5W x 6.5D in |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch paper-cone driver; 5.25-inch paper-cone driver; 5.25-inch paper-cone driver; 5.25-inch paper-cone driver |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed full-range monitor |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz-17kHz |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR/TRS combo |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB at 1m |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | -3.58 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 1.16 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Edifier S1000MKII
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Edifier S1000W
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Edifier R2000DB
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- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- See all 15 comparisons
Donner Dyna 3: $89 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: A low-cost powered desktop pair with several input options and a small footprint. It can provide basic close-range background playback without an external amplifier. Measured bass extension of 85.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Erin’s Klippel measurements give a negative standalone preference score of -0.06 and only 3.24 with an ideal subwoofer. The response spans 8.2dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with large listening-window irregularities. Bass reaches -3dB around 85Hz, and the existing review reports distortion and compression limits. It is not a credible neutral studio monitor despite that style of marketing.
Full Donner Dyna 3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Built in |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension | Limited by 3" woofer (Erin's Audio Corner measurement) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66.8Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.0Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.4" x 5.9" x 8.1" (136 x 150 x 205 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" dome tweeter; 3" woofer |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, TRS, RCA and 3.5mm |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | -0.06 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.24 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons