Short answer: the Audioengine A2+. It ranks #19 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $299; the Monoprice Monolith MM-3 ranks #28, rated 3.2/5, and costs $299.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Monoprice Monolith MM-3 is the more accurate option. A compact desktop pair with Bluetooth, analog inputs, a headphone jack and angled stands. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.82 against 2.78 for the Audioengine A2+. Watch for: Its measurements and rating are for the ports plugged; left stock, the bass has a boomy peak and the midrange has more resonances.
The case for the Audioengine A2+: Tiny desktop speakers with Bluetooth, USB and analog inputs and a variable RCA output. Watch for: The 2.78 standalone score and roughly 106Hz measured -3dB point reveal how much bass is missing without reinforcement or a subwoofer.
Buy the Audioengine A2+. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Monoprice Monolith MM-3 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice Monolith MM-3 | Audioengine A2+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 per pair | $299.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #28 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #19 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, rear slot port | - |
| Drivers | 0.75” silk-dome tweeter, 3” polypropylene woofer | 0.75” silk dome tweeter, 2.75” fiber woofer |
| Dimensions | 8.3H x 5.5W x 6.3D in | 6” x 4” x 5.2” (152 x 102 x 133 mm) |
| Weight | approx. 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) each | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) left / 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) right |
| Amplifier Power | 50W total, bi-amplified | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel |
| Inputs | Bluetooth aptX, RCA, 3.5mm | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| Country | United States (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.82 | 2.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.24 | 6.10 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 105.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 58.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| EQ | - | No (fixed volume knob only) |
| App | - | No |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Outputs | - | RCA variable output (subwoofer) |
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