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 Monacor SOUND-4BT ranks #22 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The HiVi Swan X3 is the better-sounding choice. An affordable small coaxial desktop pair with fairly balanced sound for the money. The catch: Not a flat reference monitor: the response spans 5.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and trends upward toward the treble.
Why pick the Monacor SOUND-4BT: A compact powered pair with Bluetooth, optical and analog inputs, a remote and a subwoofer output. It keeps a wired aux input, which the HiVi Swan X3 lacks. The catch: Predicted in-room response remains uneven despite the modest midrange span.
Buy the HiVi Swan X3. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Monacor SOUND-4BT is no longer sold new.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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
| HiVi Swan X3 | Monacor SOUND-4BT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 per pair | $310 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #10 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #22 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Active coaxial, rear-ported | 2-way powered stereo pair, bass reflex |
| Drivers | 3-inch coaxial woofer and tweeter | 1” dome tweeter, 4” woofer |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 71Hz (measured, Spinorama) | - |
| Inputs | RCA | Bluetooth 4.0 aptX, optical, RCA, 3.5mm |
| Configuration | Powered desktop monitor | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.04 | 3.58 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.03 | 6.10 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 28W RMS Per Speaker | 2 x 30W RMS |
| 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 5.5W x 6.7D in |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) each | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg)/pair |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.0 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for HiVi Swan X3: