Short answer: the Mackie CR3-X. It ranks #34 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $99.99; the M-Audio BX3 ranks #39, rated 2.9/5, at $99.99. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
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. The tradeoff: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer.
Why pick the Mackie CR3-X: Inexpensive small desktop speakers with RCA and aux inputs for casual listening at moderate volume. The catch: The response spans 4.4dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with substantial narrow-band irregularities and bass rolloff reaching -3dB around 75Hz.
Buy the Mackie CR3-X. It is rated higher for sound quality than the M-Audio BX3 at the same price, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX3 | Mackie CR3-X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #39 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #34 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” woofer, 0.75” silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-22kHz | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS per pair | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux | RCA, Aux |
| Outputs | Headphone | 1/8” headphone jack |
| Dimensions | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in | 8.1”H x 5.5”W x 7.1”D (205.7 x 139.7 x 180.3 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.04 | 2.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.18 | 5.42 |
| Headphone Output | Yes | 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 | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| App | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| EQ | - | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 92dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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