Short answer: the Mackie CR3-X. It ranks #18 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $99.99. The M-Audio BX3 ranks #21, rated 2.9/5, at $89, $10.99 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the M-Audio BX3: Balanced TRS, RCA and auxiliary inputs, headphone output and high/low tone controls offer useful flexibility for an inexpensive desktop pair. The tradeoff: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer.
Why pick the Mackie CR3-X: Erin’s Klippel data predicts 2.50 standalone and 5.42 with an ideal subwoofer. 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, and the $10.99 saving on the M-Audio BX3 is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX3 | Mackie CR3-X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.00 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #21 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 24 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) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
M-Audio BX3: $89.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced TRS, RCA and auxiliary inputs, headphone output and high/low tone controls offer useful flexibility for an inexpensive desktop pair. The controls give some scope to adjust broad tonal balance for placement.
Cons: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer. Listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.580 indicates persistent tonal irregularities, while bass reaches -3dB at about 88Hz. The limited bass and uneven response make it a weak choice for accurate monitoring even with a subwoofer. Broad tone controls cannot precisely fix crossover or dispersion problems.
Full M-Audio BX3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS per pair |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 3.5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-22kHz |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | Headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.18 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 7.4 lbs (3.35 kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Mackie CR3-X: $99.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s Klippel data predicts 2.50 standalone and 5.42 with an ideal subwoofer. The existing comparative review found less exaggerated tonal shaping and better sustained-output behavior than the original PreSonus E3.5 tested alongside it. Midrange distortion was reasonably controlled for inexpensive desktop speakers at moderate listening levels. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 96dB.
Cons: The response spans 4.4dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with substantial narrow-band irregularities and bass rolloff reaching -3dB around 75Hz. Bass peaking and crossover-region changes with listening height prevent neutral monitoring. Limiting becomes intrusive above modest desktop levels, and there are no tone controls. Comparisons with the original E3.5 should not be treated as measurements of its second generation.
Full Mackie CR3-X review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.1"H x 5.5"W x 7.1"D (205.7 x 139.7 x 180.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.42 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Mackie CR3 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Mackie CR3-X vs Edifier R1280T Sound, Distortion & Frequency Response Comparison
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Mackie CR3-X vs PreSonus E3.5 Budget Monitor Showdown!
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons