Short answer: the HiVi Swan X3. It ranks #10 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $179; the Monoprice Monolith MM-3 ranks #28, rated 3.2/5, and costs $299.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
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.
Why pick the Monoprice Monolith MM-3: A compact desktop pair with Bluetooth, analog inputs, a headphone jack and angled stands. It keeps a wired aux input, which the HiVi Swan X3 lacks. The tradeoff: Its measurements and rating are for the ports plugged; left stock, the bass has a boomy peak and the midrange has more resonances.
Buy the HiVi Swan X3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Monoprice Monolith MM-3 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
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 | Monoprice Monolith MM-3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 per pair | $299.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #10 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #28 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Active coaxial, rear-ported | 2-way active, rear slot port |
| Drivers | 3-inch coaxial woofer and tweeter | 0.75” silk-dome tweeter, 3” polypropylene woofer |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 71Hz (measured, Spinorama) | - |
| Inputs | RCA | Bluetooth aptX, RCA, 3.5mm |
| Configuration | Powered desktop monitor | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.04 | 3.82 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.03 | 6.24 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 28W RMS Per Speaker | 50W total, bi-amplified |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 5” x 4.8” x 7.1” (128 x 123 x 181 mm) (W x D x H) | 8.3H x 5.5W x 6.3D in |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) each | approx. 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) each |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX |
| Country | - | United States (design) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to HiVi Swan X3: