Short answer: the Edifier MR3. It ranks #11 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $149.99. The M-Audio BX3 ranks #39, rated 2.9/5, at $99.99, $50 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the M-Audio BX3: A budget desktop pair with balanced, RCA and aux inputs, a headphone output and tone controls to adjust for placement. Watch for: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer.
The Edifier MR3 is the more accurate pick. An affordable desk pair with balanced sound, Bluetooth, and tone controls, a good first set of monitors. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.91 against 2.04 for the M-Audio BX3. The tradeoff: Local response ripples remain: the measured 300Hz-5kHz span is 4.5dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.538.
Buy the Edifier MR3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $50 saving on the M-Audio BX3 is not enough to make up the difference.
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Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX3 | Edifier MR3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 per pair | $149.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #39 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #11 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 3.5-inch Kevlar woofer | 3.5” mid-low driver, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-22kHz | 52Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS per pair | 36W total (18W per speaker) |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux | Balanced TRS, RCA, Aux, Bluetooth |
| Outputs | Headphone | 3.5mm headphone |
| Dimensions | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in | 8.7”H x 4.9”W x 7.3”D (220 x 125.5 x 185 mm) (active); 220H x 125.5W x 176D mm (passive) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.04 | 3.91 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.18 | 6.53 |
| Headphone Output | Yes | Yes |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.4 lbs (3.35 kg) each | 8.5 lbs (3.85 kg) |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| App | - | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| EQ | - | Yes (rear knobs and app room compensation) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
| Sensitivity | - | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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