Short answer: the M-Audio BX4 D3. It ranks #75 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $149; the Edifier R1700BT ranks #88, rated 3.2/5, and costs $219.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the M-Audio BX4 D3: An inexpensive desktop pair with balanced TRS, RCA and front aux inputs, a headphone jack and tone controls. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Edifier R1700BT lacks. Watch for: A rising response of about 0.62dB per octave and listening-window deviation of 0.546 indicate bright, locally uneven reproduction.
The case for the Edifier R1700BT: A compact powered pair with Bluetooth and analog inputs for easy desktop listening without a separate amplifier. The catch: Listening impressions suggest a bass-and-treble-forward balance rather than strict neutrality.
Buy the M-Audio BX4 D3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Edifier R1700BT and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX4 D3 | Edifier R1700BT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149 per pair | $219.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #75 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #88 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way powered stereo pair, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1” dome tweeter, 4.5” Kevlar woofer | 4” (102mm) woofer |
| Dimensions | 8.9H x 6.1W x 6.9D in | 10”H x 6.1”W x 8.4”D (254 x 154.9 x 213.4 mm) |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg)/pair | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 120W peak system | 66w RMS Per Speaker |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux; headphone output | Bluetooth, RCA Input |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.29 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.03 | - |
| 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 | No |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 69Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Outputs | - | None |
| App | - | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| EQ | - | No |
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