Short answer: the HiVi Swan X3. It ranks #10 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 3.9/5) at $179 and is still sold new; the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Flex ranks #18 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The HiVi Swan X3 is the better-sounding option. An affordable small coaxial desktop pair with fairly balanced sound for the money. The tradeoff: Not a flat reference monitor: the response spans 5.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and trends upward toward the treble.
What the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Flex does well: A compact wireless streaming speaker with AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Roon, which can pair as a cable-free stereo set. The catch: Standalone preference is only 3.69.
Buy the HiVi Swan X3. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Flex is discontinued.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| HiVi Swan X3 | Bowers & Wilkins Formation Flex | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 per pair | £898 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #10 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Active coaxial, rear-ported | 2-way active wireless |
| Drivers | 3-inch coaxial woofer and tweeter | 1” decoupled double-dome tweeter, 4” woven-glass woofer |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 71Hz (measured, Spinorama) | - |
| Inputs | RCA | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Configuration | Powered desktop monitor | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.04 | 3.69 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.03 | 6.43 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 28W RMS Per Speaker | 100W each (2 x 50W) |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 5” x 4.8” x 7.1” (128 x 123 x 181 mm) (W x D x H) | 8.5H x 5.1W x 5.1D in |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) each | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) each |
| Wireless | - | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, Formation mesh |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (design) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.1 |
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