Short answer: the HiVi Swan X3. It ranks #10 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $179; the Sovox MiniMax3 ranks #14, rated 3.7/5, and costs $650, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the Sovox MiniMax3: A tiny aluminum coaxial monitor with a wide sweet spot, deep bass for its size and placement presets for desk or wall. The catch: Output tops out around 86dB, with heavy compression and very high distortion as it gets there, so it only suits nearfield listening at modest volume.
What the HiVi Swan X3 does well: An affordable small coaxial desktop pair with fairly balanced sound for the money. The tradeoff: Not a flat reference monitor: the response spans 5.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and trends upward toward the treble.
Buy the HiVi Swan X3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sovox MiniMax3 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sovox MiniMax3 | HiVi Swan X3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $650 per pair | $179.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #14 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #10 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 66Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Dimensions | 7.7”H x 4.3”W x 7.9”D (195 x 110 x 200 mm) | 5” x 4.8” x 7.1” (128 x 123 x 181 mm) (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) each | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 3 in. carbon fiber coaxial midrange with 1 in. silk dome tweeter, 3.5 in. carbon fiber woofer, 5 in. passive radiator | 3-inch coaxial woofer and tweeter |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | RCA |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (Free, Desk, Wall and Desk & Wall presets; treble and bass trims) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 68.6W total (44.3W LF + 17.95W MF + 6.32W HF Class D) | 28W RMS Per Speaker |
| Maximum SPL | 97dB @ 1m short term (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 20kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 75Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.84 | 4.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.48 | 7.03 |
| Subwoofer Output | No | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | 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 | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | Active coaxial, rear-ported |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | - | 71Hz (measured, Spinorama) |
| Configuration | - | Powered desktop monitor |
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