Short answer: the M-Audio BX3, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #21 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $89; the Midiplus MI3 II ranks #23, rated 2.4/5, and costs $139, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 24 powered bookshelf speakers, and the Edifier MR3, ranked #8 at $109.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
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 catch: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer.
What the Midiplus MI3 II does well: Compact cabinets, Bluetooth, analog inputs and high-frequency adjustment can suit a basic desktop system. The tradeoff: Preference scores of 0.99 standalone and 3.84 with an ideal subwoofer are poor.
Buy the M-Audio BX3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Midiplus MI3 II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
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Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX3 | Midiplus MI3 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.00 per pair | $139 per pair |
| Ranked | #21 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported | Powered 2-way |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 3.5-inch Kevlar woofer | 0.75-inch silk tweeter, 3-inch fiberglass woofer |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-22kHz | 70Hz-25kHz |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS per pair | 60W RMS per pair |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux | RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth |
| Outputs | Headphone | - |
| Dimensions | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in | 6.5H x 4.7W x 6D in |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.04 | 0.99 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.18 | 3.84 |
| 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 | - |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes, 5.0 |
| Maximum SPL | - | 98dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- M-Audio BX3 vs Edifier MR3
- M-Audio BX3 vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- M-Audio BX3 vs Audioengine HD3
- M-Audio BX3 vs Mackie CR3-X
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs M-Audio BX3
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
Midiplus MI3 II: $139 per pair eBay
Pros: Compact cabinets, Bluetooth, analog inputs and high-frequency adjustment can suit a basic desktop system. The measured -3dB point is about 67Hz, so missing bass is not its only differentiator from other tiny speakers.
Cons: Preference scores of 0.99 standalone and 3.84 with an ideal subwoofer are poor. High narrow-band deviations on-axis (0.938) and across the listening window (0.852) indicate pronounced response irregularities that can color voices and instruments. The fairly flat overall trend does not mean the response itself is smooth. A subwoofer or simple treble adjustment cannot resolve all of these problems.
Full Midiplus MI3 II review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W RMS per pair |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.5H x 4.7W x 6D in |
| Drivers | 0.75-inch silk tweeter, 3-inch fiberglass woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz-25kHz |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.99 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.84 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Monoprice DT-3
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Fiio SP3
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Fluid Audio C35BT
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Mackie CR3-X
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Audioengine HD3
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Audioengine A2+
- See all 9 comparisons