Short answer: the Donner Dyna 3, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #105 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 1.8/5, at $89; the Avantone Pro Active MixCube ranks #107, rated 1.7/5, and costs $518, so there is little reason to consider the other one. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 108 powered bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Topping MA4 instead, ranked #12 at $378.
What the Avantone Pro Active MixCube does well: A single driver studio reference cube for checking how mixes translate to small speakers, not for general listening. Watch for: It is not a full-range music speaker.
The Donner Dyna 3 is the more accurate option. A low cost, small powered desktop pair with Bluetooth and several wired inputs for casual background listening. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is -0.06 against -3.58 for the Avantone Pro Active MixCube. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Avantone Pro Active MixCube lacks. 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 it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Avantone Pro Active MixCube | Donner Dyna 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $518 per pair | $89 per pair |
| Ranked | #107 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #105 of 108 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 |
| 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) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
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