Short answer: the Monoprice Monolith MM-3. Both are rated 3.2/5 for sound quality (#28 and #29 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers), and the Monoprice Monolith MM-3 costs $299.99 against $359 for the Audioengine HD3, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
What the Monoprice Monolith MM-3 does well: A compact desktop pair with Bluetooth, analog inputs, a headphone jack and angled stands. The catch: Its measurements and rating are for the ports plugged; left stock, the bass has a boomy peak and the midrange has more resonances.
Why pick the Audioengine HD3: Compact powered desktop speakers with Bluetooth and analog inputs for when space is tight. Watch for: Limited bass makes a subwoofer useful for fuller music reproduction.
Buy the Monoprice Monolith MM-3. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $59.01 less than the Audioengine HD3.
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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 HD3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 per pair | $359.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #28 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #29 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, rear slot port | - |
| Drivers | 0.75” silk-dome tweeter, 3” polypropylene woofer | 2.75” woofer, 0.75” silk dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.3H x 5.5W x 6.3D in | 9”H x 5.5”W x 6.5”D (228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1 mm) |
| Weight | approx. 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) each | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W total, bi-amplified | 30W total (15W per speaker) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth aptX, RCA, 3.5mm | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA Input |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC, aptX |
| Country | United States (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.82 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.24 | - |
| 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 | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Outputs | - | RCA variable output (subwoofer) |
| App | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 58Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 65Hz |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| EQ | - | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 90dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
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