Short answer: the Focal Alpha 50 EVO, if you are buying new. The M-Audio BX5 D3 ranks higher than it (#42 vs #53 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers, 3.9/5 vs 3.8/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Focal Alpha 50 EVO is still sold new at $608.
What the Focal Alpha 50 EVO does well: A 5 inch studio monitor with XLR, TRS and RCA inputs and rear shelving controls for placement. Watch for: Basic shelving controls are less flexible than parametric room correction.
The M-Audio BX5 D3 is the more accurate choice. A budget studio monitor with balanced inputs and room adjustment for a basic home studio. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.09 against 1.04 for the Focal Alpha 50 EVO. The tradeoff: The response slopes downward by about 0.65dB per octave, potentially softening treble relative to the midrange.
Buy the Focal Alpha 50 EVO, since the M-Audio BX5 D3 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
A 5 inch studio monitor with XLR, TRS and RCA inputs and rear shelving controls for placement.
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Alpha 50 EVO | M-Audio BX5 D3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $608 per pair | $637.22 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #53 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #42 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 12.2”H x 9”W x 9.4”D (309.9 x 228.6 x 238.8 mm) | 10H x 6.9W x 7.8D in |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz - 22 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 52Hz-35kHz |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | XLR and TRS |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) each | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60w Per Speaker | 100W each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.04 | 4.09 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.70 | 6.69 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| Enclosure | - | Active 2-way, rear-ported |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How M-Audio BX5 D3 compares with other leading options: