Short answer: the Mackie CR3-X. It ranks #18 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $99.99; the Midiplus MI3 II ranks #23, rated 2.4/5, and costs $139, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the Midiplus MI3 II: 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.
What the Mackie CR3-X does well: Erin’s Klippel data predicts 2.50 standalone and 5.42 with an ideal subwoofer. The catch: The response spans 4.4dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with substantial narrow-band irregularities and bass rolloff reaching -3dB around 75Hz.
Buy the Mackie CR3-X. 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.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Midiplus MI3 II | Mackie CR3-X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #23 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way | - |
| Drivers | 0.75-inch silk tweeter, 3-inch fiberglass woofer | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz-25kHz | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 60W RMS per pair | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB | 92dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth | RCA, Aux |
| Dimensions | 6.5H x 4.7W x 6D in | 8.1"H x 5.5"W x 7.1"D (205.7 x 139.7 x 180.3 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.99 | 2.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.84 | 5.42 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | 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 |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 | No |
| Outputs | - | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Weight | - | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| App | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| EQ | - | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Mackie CR3-X compares with other leading options:
- Genelec 8010A vs Mackie CR3-X
- Adam Audio D3v vs Mackie CR3-X
- Mackie CR3-X vs Cambridge Audio L/R S
- Mackie CR3-X vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Mackie CR3-X vs Edifier M60
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
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 M-Audio BX3
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Fiio SP3
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Fluid Audio C35BT
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Audioengine HD3
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Midiplus MI3 II vs Audioengine A2+
- See all 9 comparisons
Mackie CR3-X: $99.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s Klippel data predicts 2.50 standalone and 5.42 with an ideal subwoofer. The existing comparative review found less exaggerated tonal shaping and better sustained-output behavior than the original PreSonus E3.5 tested alongside it. Midrange distortion was reasonably controlled for inexpensive desktop speakers at moderate listening levels. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 96dB.
Cons: The response spans 4.4dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with substantial narrow-band irregularities and bass rolloff reaching -3dB around 75Hz. Bass peaking and crossover-region changes with listening height prevent neutral monitoring. Limiting becomes intrusive above modest desktop levels, and there are no tone controls. Comparisons with the original E3.5 should not be treated as measurements of its second generation.
Full Mackie CR3-X review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.42 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Mackie CR3 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test More from DSAUDIOreview →
- 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!
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons