Short answer: the Edifier M60 for better sound quality, the Mackie CR3-X for the lower price. The Edifier M60 ranks #6 of 11 powered bookshelf speakers at $169.98. The Mackie CR3-X ranks #10 at $99.99, $69.99 cheaper.
What the Mackie CR3-X offers: More neutral overall on-axis response than its closest $100 rival, the PreSonus Eris E3.5 - less of a scooped, V-shaped curve. Watch for: Still a ported design in too small a cabinet, producing boosted, boomy bass rather than genuine low-end extension.
What the Edifier M60 offers: 1” dome tweeter paired with a 3” cone midwoofer, in a distinctively styled desktop cabinet with illuminated touch controls and a textured finish. Watch for: Trends noticeably brighter moving from midrange into treble; best tamed by seating position (tweeter slightly below ear level, no more than about 10° above the tweeter line) rather than relying on EQ.
Buy the Mackie CR3-X if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Edifier M60 if sound quality matters more than the price.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Mackie CR3-X. It ranks near the bottom of the 11 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Mackie CR3-X | Edifier M60 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $169.98 |
| Ranked | #10 of 11 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #6 of 11 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 8.1"H x 5.5"W x 7.1"D (205.7 x 139.7 x 180.3 mm) | 6.6"H x 3.9"W x 5.8"D (167.6 x 99.1 x 147.3 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux | Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack | - |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter | 3" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Max SPL | 92dB @ 1m | 96dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) | 66W total (33W per speaker) |
| Sensitivity | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87.5dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Edifier MR3 vs Presonus Eris E5
- Edifier MR3 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- Edifier M60 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- Edifier M60 vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
The Two Speakers In Full
Mackie CR3-X: $99.99 Amazon
Pros: More neutral overall on-axis response than its closest $100 rival, the PreSonus Eris E3.5 - less of a scooped, V-shaped curve. Distortion at 96dB stays below 3% THD through most of the midrange - no real issues at typical near-field listening levels. Better long-term compression behavior than the PreSonus at both 86dB and 96dB. The reviewer’s pick between the two $100 monitors, even though the PreSonus has tone-adjustment knobs it lacks.
Cons: Still a ported design in too small a cabinet, producing boosted, boomy bass rather than genuine low-end extension. No tone-control knobs for adjusting the sound, unlike the PreSonus. Hard limiting and compression set in significantly above 86dB - not intended for loud listening. Off-axis measurements show the treble smooths out with moderate toe-out, but on-axis it reads as somewhat lifted. Vertical placement matters - going above or below tweeter-ear-level causes real deviation through the crossover region. Benefits substantially from sealing the port to tame the bass hump, a modification the reviewer recommends for both this and the PreSonus.
Full Mackie CR3-X review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | 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) |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux |
| Max SPL | 92dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Sensitivity | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Mackie CR3 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- 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!
- Reddit Search for Mackie CR3-X Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Edifier M60: $169.98 Amazon
Pros: 1” dome tweeter paired with a 3” cone midwoofer, in a distinctively styled desktop cabinet with illuminated touch controls and a textured finish. USB-C, aux input, and a speaker-level output for the passive companion unit, plus small tilting stands (about 15°) for desk positioning. Horizontal dispersion of about ±60° through the upper midrange, right in the reviewer’s preferred range for near-field desktop use. Reasonably neutral through the midrange. Sound quality falls between Edifier’s own MR3 (better) and MR4 (worse) in the reviewer’s estimation, at an attractive price for the segment. Multiple input options make it easy to integrate into a desktop setup.
Cons: Trends noticeably brighter moving from midrange into treble; best tamed by seating position (tweeter slightly below ear level, no more than about 10° above the tweeter line) rather than relying on EQ. Sitting below the tweeter axis causes a significant suckout in the 2-4kHz crossover region and should be avoided entirely. F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 57Hz mean bass falls off a cliff below the mid-60s Hz, with essentially no low-end punch or tactile bass. Built-in limiting caps real-world output well below the theoretical 96dB target - effective maximum is closer to 86-90dB at 1 meter (low 90s dB for a pair on a desk), and multitone distortion testing suggests 78-88dB is the practical ceiling before the sound turns grainy and compressed. Strictly a near-field speaker - not intended for listening beyond arm’s length (about 2.5 feet); farther or louder use calls for a larger speaker like the Kali LP-UNF.
Full Edifier M60 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 6.6"H x 3.9"W x 5.8"D (167.6 x 99.1 x 147.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C |
| Max SPL | 96dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 66W total (33W per speaker) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons