Short answer: the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII for better sound quality, the Mackie MR524 for the lower price. The IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII ranks #20 of 64 powered bookshelf speakers at $799.99. The Mackie MR524 ranks #25 at $380, $419.99 cheaper.
What the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII offers: Compact MTM layout (two 3.5” midwoofers flanking a 1” tweeter) powered monitor rated at 100W per speaker with XLR input, sold as a pair with an ARC room-correction microphone included. Well-suited to nearfield desktop use, with linearity good enough for mixing or mastering. The bundled auto room-correction mic is genuinely effective - in testing it resolved specific room resonance peaks around 150Hz and 220Hz, making the midrange sound noticeably more lifelike. Back-panel switches allow desktop vs. free-field placement plus treble and bass trim. Harmonic distortion is good at a moderate 86dB output, appropriate for a speaker of this size. Watch for: Native treble tuning still runs about 3dB hot on-axis; the back-panel -3dB treble switch overcorrects, and roughly -1.5dB via external EQ works better. Vertical MTM lobing means staying within about 20-25° of the tweeter axis, or the upper-midrange to treble transition suffers significant suckout - the speaker should never be laid on its side unless the tweeter is pointed directly at the listener, or comb filtering results. Bass falls off sharply below its F3 of 51Hz (F10 45Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for anything lower. Multitone distortion rises sharply at 96dB/1m, and the reviewer recommends not exceeding about 86dB for extended listening at any distance - broadband output for the pair tops out around 94dB at 1 meter, with dynamic range essentially collapsing approaching 102dB. Horizontal directivity narrows with frequency rather than staying constant. Adding a subwoofer with an 80Hz crossover doesn’t meaningfully improve the distortion headroom, even though it does extend the low end.
What the Mackie MR524 offers: The available measurement stays within a 2.0dB reference band and reaches 46.2Hz at -3dB, 41.8Hz at -6dB, and 36.7Hz at -12dB. Its preference score is 4.30 without a subwoofer and 6.25 with one. It includes balanced XLR and TRS inputs, RCA, boundary compensation, high-frequency trim, and 50W of bi-amplification per speaker. Watch for: The low-quality Spinorama measurement shows a +0.47dB-per-octave on-axis rise, 1.158dB on-axis average absolute deviation, low 0.170 predicted-in-room smoothness, and a 3.61 sound-power directivity-index standard deviation. Output is also limited by the 5-inch woofer and 50W amplifier.
Buy the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Mackie MR524 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII | Mackie MR524 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.99 | $380/pair |
| Ranked | #20 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #25 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 10.4"H x 5.1"W x 6.3"D (264.2 x 129.5 x 160 mm) | - |
| Frequency Response | 48 Hz - 28 kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz-20kHz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 38Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Inputs | XLR | Balanced XLR, balanced TRS, RCA |
| Drivers | 2x 3.5" (89mm) woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter | 5-inch polypropylene woofer; 1-inch silk-dome tweeter |
| App | Yes (X-MONITOR speaker emulation) | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | - |
| Output Power | 100w Per Speaker | 50W bi-amplified per speaker |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) each | - |
| Max SPL | 112.5dB peak | - |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 25, 2026 at 6:19 AM 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII: $799.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact MTM layout (two 3.5” midwoofers flanking a 1” tweeter) powered monitor rated at 100W per speaker with XLR input, sold as a pair with an ARC room-correction microphone included. Well-suited to nearfield desktop use, with linearity good enough for mixing or mastering. The bundled auto room-correction mic is genuinely effective - in testing it resolved specific room resonance peaks around 150Hz and 220Hz, making the midrange sound noticeably more lifelike. Back-panel switches allow desktop vs. free-field placement plus treble and bass trim. Harmonic distortion is good at a moderate 86dB output, appropriate for a speaker of this size.
Cons: Native treble tuning still runs about 3dB hot on-axis; the back-panel -3dB treble switch overcorrects, and roughly -1.5dB via external EQ works better. Vertical MTM lobing means staying within about 20-25° of the tweeter axis, or the upper-midrange to treble transition suffers significant suckout - the speaker should never be laid on its side unless the tweeter is pointed directly at the listener, or comb filtering results. Bass falls off sharply below its F3 of 51Hz (F10 45Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for anything lower. Multitone distortion rises sharply at 96dB/1m, and the reviewer recommends not exceeding about 86dB for extended listening at any distance - broadband output for the pair tops out around 94dB at 1 meter, with dynamic range essentially collapsing approaching 102dB. Horizontal directivity narrows with frequency rather than staying constant. Adding a subwoofer with an 80Hz crossover doesn’t meaningfully improve the distortion headroom, even though it does extend the low end.
Full IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII review and specifications →
| App | Yes (X-MONITOR speaker emulation) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52.7Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 10.4"H x 5.1"W x 6.3"D (264.2 x 129.5 x 160 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 3.5" (89mm) woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 48 Hz - 28 kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 112.5dB peak |
| Output Power | 100w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs JBL 705P
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Airpulse A100
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs HEDD Type 05 A-CORE
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- See all 62 comparisons
Mackie MR524: $380/pair Bhphotovideo eBay
Pros: The available measurement stays within a 2.0dB reference band and reaches 46.2Hz at -3dB, 41.8Hz at -6dB, and 36.7Hz at -12dB. Its preference score is 4.30 without a subwoofer and 6.25 with one. It includes balanced XLR and TRS inputs, RCA, boundary compensation, high-frequency trim, and 50W of bi-amplification per speaker.
Cons: The low-quality Spinorama measurement shows a +0.47dB-per-octave on-axis rise, 1.158dB on-axis average absolute deviation, low 0.170 predicted-in-room smoothness, and a 3.61 sound-power directivity-index standard deviation. Output is also limited by the 5-inch woofer and 50W amplifier.
Full Mackie MR524 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 38Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Drivers | 5-inch polypropylene woofer; 1-inch silk-dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz-20kHz |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, balanced TRS, RCA |
| Output Power | 50W bi-amplified per speaker |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons