Monoprice DT-3BT Desktop Speakers Review

Monoprice is playing its hand with the DT-3BTs. Small, affordable, and with solid specs and features like Bluetooth, it’s a promising push into entry-level desktop sound. Do they have what it takes? Let’s jump into the review!

Listening Setup

DAC – SMSL DO300

Sample Music

YouTube – Assorted background music
Valiant Hearts – Alaska
PVRIS – White Noise
Young Medicine – Lost Boys

The nice thing about all-in-one systems is that they are very easy to set up, just plug it into power and connect the passive speaker with the included speaker cable. Boom you’re done, just hook up your favorite DAC and start listening. I wish the included speaker cable were better, but you can always upgrade it. And I’d rather have five-way binding posts instead of spring clips, but that’s very common at this price point, it does however limit the size of wire you can use.

As you would expect from a small cabinet, the bass isn’t room-shaking, size does matter. But in the upper midrange, things come to life. If only there were a subwoofer output, though at this price range that’s a rarity. The highs and upper mids are very clean though. I listened to some relaxing tracks on YouTube of water, fire, and rain as background sounds and it was great. Two-channel listening is just ok with these speakers. I wished for more bass; but as this is a more compact desktop setup, it’s of less concern. They do seem to just paint the sound around your desktop. For gaming, background music, and ambient tracks they do a fantastic job.

The volume knob, which is also the power switch (love that!), is smooth and easy to adjust accurately. There are power and Bluetooth indicator lights. Bluetooth was easy to connect, no issues there. There are convenient 3.5mm auxiliary and headphone jacks on the front, and the latter mute the main speakers so no using it as a sub out. The headphone output is so-so, definitely not a hi-fi solution. One thing that is very strange about these speakers is there are no grilles. Like none, no option for grilles. While this isn’t uncommon for these types of speakers, they are very plain looking from the front and grilles would give them a bit extra flare. Just my $0.02.

Highs and upper mids are clean, even for the price they are very good. The bass is thin and the lack of a sub-output may be an issue for some. All that said, they are great for anyone looking to upgrade from cheap $20-40 PC speakers to something better. The DT-3BTs are a safe and solid-sounding choice.