Short answer: the Edifier S1000MKII. It ranks #56 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $499.99. The Avantone Pro Active MixCube ranks #67, rated 1.7/5, at $259, $240.99 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Avantone Pro Active MixCube does well: A deliberately bandwidth-limited single-driver monitor for checking midrange balance and mix translation. The catch: It is not a full-range music speaker.
The case for the Edifier S1000MKII: A self-powered stereo pair with optical, coaxial and analog inputs, plus high-resolution digital support, makes source switching unusually simple. The tradeoff: High-resolution input support is not a guarantee of perfect tuning, and the fixed internal amplification prevents the gradual upgrades possible with separates.
Buy the Edifier S1000MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $240.99 with the Avantone Pro Active MixCube does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Avantone Pro Active MixCube | Edifier S1000MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $518 per pair | $499.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #67 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #56 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed full-range monitor | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W RMS Class AB | 60w RMS Per Speaker |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz-17kHz | 45Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB at 1m | - |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR/TRS combo | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax |
| Dimensions | 6.5H x 6.5W x 6.5D in | 13.6"H x 7.6"W x 11.6"D (345.4 x 193 x 294.6 mm) |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each | 37 lbs (16.8 kg) |
| 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 | 5.5" (140mm) woofer |
| Spinorama Preference Score | -3.58 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 1.16 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | Yes |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Outputs | - | None |
| App | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX HD |
| EQ | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Edifier S1000MKII:
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Genelec 8331A
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Genelec 8030C
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Edifier S1000MKII
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Dynaudio LYD 5
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Donner Dyna 3
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Fluid Audio FX50 V2
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Edifier R1280DB
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Audioengine HD4
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Edifier S1000W
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Edifier R2000DB
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs KRK Classic 5
- Avantone Pro Active MixCube vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- See all 15 comparisons
Edifier S1000MKII: $499.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: A self-powered stereo pair with optical, coaxial and analog inputs, plus high-resolution digital support, makes source switching unusually simple. Consumer Reports rates its sound accurate and detailed, so it is a strong one-box alternative to separate amplifier-and-speaker systems for nearfield or small-room listening.
Cons: High-resolution input support is not a guarantee of perfect tuning, and the fixed internal amplification prevents the gradual upgrades possible with separates. These are mains-powered speakers rather than portable wireless speakers, and their size and left/right cabling need a planned desktop or stand setup.
Full Edifier S1000MKII review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60w RMS Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX HD |
| Coaxial Input | Yes |
| Dimensions | 13.6"H x 7.6"W x 11.6"D (345.4 x 193 x 294.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.5" (140mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Outputs | None |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 37 lbs (16.8 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Kali Audio IN-UNF
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Edifier S1000W
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Audioengine HD4
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Edifier R2000DB
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Edifier R1700BT
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Audioengine HD6
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Edifier R1280DB
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Edifier MR5
- See all 60 comparisons