Short answer: the Dynaudio LYD 5. It ranks #6 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.5/5) at $998 and is still sold new; the M-Audio BX5 D3 ranks #42 (rated 3.9/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
Why pick the M-Audio BX5 D3: A budget studio monitor with balanced inputs and room adjustment for a basic home studio. The catch: The response slopes downward by about 0.65dB per octave, potentially softening treble relative to the midrange.
The Dynaudio LYD 5 is the better-sounding pick. An affordable studio monitor with highly accurate, uncolored midrange, especially strong when paired with a subwoofer. The tradeoff: Bass reaches -3dB around 72Hz, so it gives up low-frequency weight to deeper-reaching monitors.
Buy the Dynaudio LYD 5. It is rated higher for sound quality; the M-Audio BX5 D3 is no longer sold new.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A budget studio monitor with balanced inputs and room adjustment for a basic home studio.
An affordable studio monitor with highly accurate, uncolored midrange, especially strong when paired with a subwoofer.
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Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX5 D3 | Dynaudio LYD 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $637.22 per pair Discontinued | $998 per pair |
| Ranked | #42 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #6 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Active 2-way, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch Kevlar woofer | 5” woofer, 28mm soft dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz-35kHz | 50Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W each | 100W total (50W LF, 50W HF) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB | - |
| Inputs | XLR and TRS | XLR, RCA |
| Dimensions | 10H x 6.9W x 7.8D in | 10.2”H x 6.7”W x 8.3”D (260 x 170 x 211 mm) |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.09 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | 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 | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
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