Short answer: the M-Audio BX3, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #21 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $89; the Monoprice DT-3 ranks #24, rated 2.3/5, and costs $139.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 24 powered bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Edifier MR3 instead, ranked #8 at $109.99.
What the Monoprice DT-3 does well: An inexpensive, compact powered pair with front volume control, auxiliary input and headphone output. The tradeoff: The measured response spans 7.6dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with large irregularities both on-axis and across the listening window.
What the M-Audio BX3 does well: Balanced TRS, RCA and auxiliary inputs, headphone output and high/low tone controls offer useful flexibility for an inexpensive desktop pair. Watch for: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer.
Buy the M-Audio BX3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Monoprice DT-3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice DT-3 | M-Audio BX3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 per pair | $89.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #24 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #21 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way stereo pair, rear-ported | Powered 2-way rear-ported |
| Drivers | 0.75-inch tweeter, 3.5-inch woofer | 1-inch silk tweeter, 3.5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| Amplifier Power | 50W system | 50W RMS per pair |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 69Hz (measured, Spinorama) | - |
| Inputs | Rear stereo RCA and front 3.5mm auxiliary | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux |
| Outputs | Front headphone | Headphone |
| Dimensions | 8H x 5.5W x 5.9D in each | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.10 | 2.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.03 | 5.18 |
| Headphone Output | Yes | Yes |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| 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 | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80Hz-22kHz |
| Weight | - | 7.4 lbs (3.35 kg) each |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How M-Audio BX3 compares with other leading options:
- M-Audio BX3 vs Edifier MR3
- M-Audio BX3 vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- M-Audio BX3 vs Audioengine HD3
- M-Audio BX3 vs Mackie CR3-X
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs M-Audio BX3
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
Monoprice DT-3: $139.99 per pair Monoprice eBay
Pros: An inexpensive, compact powered pair with front volume control, auxiliary input and headphone output. Erin’s Klippel measurements put the -3dB bass point around 74Hz, sufficient for some upper-bass content at a desk.
Cons: The measured response spans 7.6dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with large irregularities both on-axis and across the listening window. Preference scores are 0.10 standalone and only 3.03 with an ideal subwoofer, the weakest comparable result in this group. That means adding bass support does not remove its major tonal problems. It offers little reason to choose it for accurate listening over better-measuring budget alternatives.
Full Monoprice DT-3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W system |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 69Hz (measured, Spinorama) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8H x 5.5W x 5.9D in each |
| Drivers | 0.75-inch tweeter, 3.5-inch woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way stereo pair, rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | Rear stereo RCA and front 3.5mm auxiliary |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | Front headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.10 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.03 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
M-Audio BX3: $89.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced TRS, RCA and auxiliary inputs, headphone output and high/low tone controls offer useful flexibility for an inexpensive desktop pair. The controls give some scope to adjust broad tonal balance for placement.
Cons: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer. Listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.580 indicates persistent tonal irregularities, while bass reaches -3dB at about 88Hz. The limited bass and uneven response make it a weak choice for accurate monitoring even with a subwoofer. Broad tone controls cannot precisely fix crossover or dispersion problems.
Full M-Audio BX3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS per pair |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 3.5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-22kHz |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | Headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.18 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 7.4 lbs (3.35 kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons