Short answer: the Palmer STUDIMON 5, if you are buying new. The M-Audio BX5 D3 ranks higher than it (#42 vs #68 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers, 3.9/5 vs 3.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Palmer STUDIMON 5 is still sold new at $599.98.
The M-Audio BX5 D3 is the more accurate pick. A budget studio monitor with balanced inputs and room adjustment for a basic home studio. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.09 against 3.48 for the Palmer STUDIMON 5. The tradeoff: The response slopes downward by about 0.65dB per octave, potentially softening treble relative to the midrange.
The case for the Palmer STUDIMON 5: A plain compact studio monitor with balanced XLR and TRS inputs that fits easily into a home studio setup. Watch for: The trace spans 4.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and estimates -3dB bass around 80Hz, with local irregularities despite the level overall trend.
Buy the Palmer STUDIMON 5, since the M-Audio BX5 D3 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX5 D3 | Palmer STUDIMON 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $637.22 per pair Discontinued | $599.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #42 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Active 2-way, rear-ported | 2-way active, rear-ported |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch Kevlar woofer | 0.75” soft-dome tweeter, 5” woofer |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz-35kHz | 70Hz - 20kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W each | 60W each (30W LF, 30W HF) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB | - |
| Inputs | XLR and TRS | Balanced XLR and 1/4” TRS |
| Dimensions | 10H x 6.9W x 7.8D in | 10.6H x 7.5W x 8.5D in |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.09 | 3.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 6.37 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |
| Country | - | Germany (design) |
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