Short answer: the M-Audio BX3, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.9/5 for sound quality (#39 and #38 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers), and the M-Audio BX3 costs $99.99 against $299.99 for the Fiio SP3, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 48 powered bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the ADAM Audio D3v instead, ranked #3 at $349.99.
What the M-Audio BX3 does well: 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 Fiio SP3 is the more accurate option. Small angled desktop speakers that fit a tight desk and reach a little deeper in the bass than many similar sized pairs. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.56 against 2.04 for the M-Audio BX3. The tradeoff: The response rises strongly toward the treble, about 1.13dB per octave, with a recessed midrange and problematic crossover behavior.
Buy the M-Audio BX3. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $200 less than the Fiio SP3.
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A budget desktop pair with balanced, RCA and aux inputs, a headphone output and tone controls to adjust for placement.
Small angled desktop speakers that fit a tight desk and reach a little deeper in the bass than many similar sized pairs.
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Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX3 | Fiio SP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 per pair | $299.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #39 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #38 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” carbon fiber midwoofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-22kHz | 65Hz - 20kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS per pair | 40W total (30W midwoofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux | AUX, RCA |
| Outputs | Headphone | - |
| Dimensions | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in | 6.4”H x 4.7”W x 5.2”D (163 x 120 x 132 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.04 | 3.56 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.18 | 6.17 |
| Headphone Output | Yes | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| 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 | 4.3 lbs (1.95 kg) each |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: M-Audio BX3 (measured by Audio Science Review) and Fiio SP3 (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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