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Micca MB42X G2 Budget Speaker Review

Rate this budget speaker:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 3 1.4%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 27 12.3%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 118 53.9%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 71 32.4%

  • Total voters
    219

amirm

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This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the Micca MB42X G2 low cost 2-way bookshelf speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $100 for a pair, shipping included.
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker review.jpg

I expected thin, cheap plywood construction but instead, found a robust composite enclosure that actually manages to look like a professional monitor. You could sell them for $400 and I would not complain about the case being too cheap. Likewise, the woofer gives a feeling of quality. Whether it delivers on that, will be seen in the measurements.

Please note that there are multiple models in this series with very close sounding names. This is the latest "generation 2" version and company does a good job of showing the contrast with older design:
micca-mb42xg2-highlight-2000x2000-1-1024x1024.jpg

If you are not familiar with my speaker measurements, please watch this video tutorial:

Micca MB42X G2 Speaker Measurements
Let's start with our anechoic measurements:
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker frequency responsel measurement.png


I must say, this is quite a bit better than I expected! At high level, the response is pretty flat. There are minor variations but those tend to not be very audible. There is a slight bias toward low frequencies which is the opposite of what we typically see ("anti-showroom sound"). That lends to bass that extends pretty low for the class.

Given the relatively close sizes of the drivers, I expected directivity error to be smaller. This is likely to letting the woofer go up a bit too high, causing it to beam relative to the wide dispersion of tweeter at those frequencies (2 to 3 KHz). This results in fair amount of off-axis error:
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker early reflections frequency responsel meas...png

As result, the predicted in-room response has a hole in it:
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker Predicted in-room frequency responsel meas...png


Measuring close to the port, we see a cabinet/port resonance that is responsible for some of the fine frequency response errors:

Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker driver frequency responsel measurement.png


I started to measure the speaker at 86 dBSPL, expecting to hear a lot of distortion but could hardly detect any. Even at 90 dBSPL, response was very controlled:

Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker distortion THD measurement.png

Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker distortion THD percentage measurement.png


Only when I went to 96 dBSPL (not shown) did hear a metallic ringing sound from the port. The high frequencies are especially clean here.

Impedance dips quite low which when combined with low sensitivity, calls for robust and high power amplifier:
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker impedance and phase measurement.png


Dispersion is wide which should make for a spacious, pleasing soundstage:
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker horizontal beam width measurement.png

Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker horizontal directivity measurement.png


Vertical as always narrow but better than many due to smaller woofer:
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker vertical directivity measurement.png


Waterfall as usual shows some resonances:
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker csd waterfall measurement.png


Finally here is the step response for fans of that:
Micca MB42X G2 budget cheap bookshelf 2-way speaker step response measurement.png


Micca MB42X G2 Listening Tests
I had a good feeling about this speaker and it delivered in listening tests. The slightly boosted bass and deep response in that region provided wonderful warmth. Distortion was kept impressively low, allowing me to pump a bunch of watts into this little speaker. Highs were impeccable at times due to spacious nature of them and their clarity. Yes, occasionally the bass got a bit tubby and that is to be expected given lack of equalization for room response.

I dialed in a quick boost in the 2 kHz range but didn't like the results. The sound became brighter than I liked. I have very thick carpet so likely the hole is not as bad in my situation.

At times, unbelievably, the MB42X G2 sounded like a quality studio monitor. I sat there listening to long list of my reference tracks. About 70% sounded wonderful which is far higher percentage than I expect from a speaker anywhere close to this cost.

Conclusions
It seems that micca has really made forward progress in their budget speaker here. Performance, objectively and especially subjectively, is all you can ask for at this price and then some. The small woofer does wonders for bass response despite its size. The only "cost" is low sensitivity which in this day and age, is not a problem at all with amplification being so cheap.

I am going to recommend the Micca MB42X G2 speaker. I am told it goes on sale for even less than $100. If so, be sure to pick up a pair.
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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
 

Attachments

  • Micca MB42X G2.zip
    60 KB · Views: 57
Last edited by a moderator:
Distortion seems very low for its class. Actually, very impressive overall for the budget category. I don’t need them per se but I’d love to pick up a pair for desktop use. Availability in Europe seems sparse, however. Thanks for the informative review @amirm
Thanks are also extended to the member that sent in his speaker :)
 
I dialed in a quick boost in the 2 kHz range but didn't like the results. The sound became brighter than I liked. I have very thick carpet so likely the hole is not as bad in my situation.
I think most of this is down to the use of 2nd order crossover filters, so the vertical pinch is worse/broader than with steeper crossovers at that frequency in most cases. It's not very noticeable generally, floor reflections are generally pretty benign (and even the best studio designers in the world don't bother with it, but they will absorb the ceiling most of the time).
 
Here is my take on the EQ.
Please report your findings, positive or negative!

For the score rational your journey starts here
Explanation for the sub score
The following EQs are “anechoic” EQs to get the speaker right before room integration.
If you able to implement these EQs you must add EQ at LF for room integration, that is usually not optional… see hints there.

The raw data with corrected ER and PIR:

Score no EQ: 4.6
With Sub: 7.3

Spinorama with no EQ:
  • Port!
  • Some resonances
  • Not horrible especially for 100USD
  • Directivity could be better with a small waveguide
  • Tweakable?
Micca MB42X G2 No EQ Spinorama.png

Directivity:

Better stay at tweeter height
Horizontally, better toe-in the speakers by 10/15deg and have the axis crossing in front of the listening location, might help dosing the upper range.
Micca MB42X G2 2D surface Directivity Contour Only Data.png
Micca MB42X G2 LW data.png


EQ design:

I have generated two EQs. The APO config files are attached.
  • The first one, labelled, LW is targeted at making the LW flat
  • The second, labelled Score, starts with the first one and adds the score as an optimization variable.
  • The EQs are designed in the context of regular stereo use i.e. domestic environment, no warranty is provided for a near field use in a studio environment although the LW might be better suited for this purpose.

Score EQ LW: 5.3
with sub: 7.8

Score EQ Score: 6.1
with sub: 8.5


Code:
Micca MB42X G2 APO EQ LW 96000Hz
February112025-140911

Preamp: -3.00 dB

Filter 1: ON HPQ Fc 56.1 Hz Gain 0.00 dB Q 1.39
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 176.4 Hz Gain -2.45 dB Q 0.91
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1250.9 Hz Gain -2.21 dB Q 4.91
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1682.7 Hz Gain 2.24 dB Q 2.09
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4140.0 Hz Gain -1.24 dB Q 4.96
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 8044.4 Hz Gain -1.83 dB Q 4.04
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 12524.8 Hz Gain 2.88 dB Q 0.43


Micca MB42X G2 APO EQ Score 96000Hz
February112025-140911

Preamp: -3.00 dB

Filter 1: ON HPQ Fc 56.3 Hz Gain 0.00 dB Q 1.40
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 178.3 Hz Gain -2.74 dB Q 0.89
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1220.8 Hz Gain -1.84 dB Q 4.99
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1818.3 Hz Gain 2.94 dB Q 1.66
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4111.4 Hz Gain -0.98 dB Q 4.81
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 6095.2 Hz Gain -1.72 dB Q 1.14
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 8088.8 Hz Gain -1.51 dB Q 4.00
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 11907.2 Hz Gain 2.45 dB Q 0.57

Micca MB42X G2 EQ Design.png

Spinorama EQ LW
Micca MB42X G2 LW EQ Spinorama.png


Spinorama EQ Score
Micca MB42X G2 Score EQ Spinorama.png


Zoom PIR-LW-ON
Micca MB42X G2 Zoom.png


Regression - Tonal
Micca MB42X G2 Regression.png


Radar no EQ vs EQ score
Some improvements?
Micca MB42X G2 Radar.png



BONUS:
Simplified EQ with 2 fewer biquads. The scores are basically the same...
These might translate better across a population.

Score no EQ: 4.6
With Sub: 7.3

Score EQ LW: 5.3 -> Redux: 5.3
with sub: 7.8 -> Redux: 7.8

Score EQ Score: 6.1 -> Redux: 6.0
with sub: 8.5 -> Redux: 8.4

EQ design
Micca MB42X G2 EQ Redux Design.png

LW Redux
Micca MB42X G2 LW EQ Redux Spinorama.png

Score Redux

Micca MB42X G2 Score EQ Redux Spinorama.png

The rest of the plots is attached.
 

Attachments

  • Micca MB42X G2 APO EQ LW 96000Hz.txt
    420 bytes · Views: 33
  • Micca MB42X G2 APO EQ Score 96000Hz.txt
    473 bytes · Views: 32
  • Micca MB42X G2 2D surface Directivity Contour Data.png
    Micca MB42X G2 2D surface Directivity Contour Data.png
    386.7 KB · Views: 35
  • Micca MB42X G2 3D surface Vertical Directivity Data.png
    Micca MB42X G2 3D surface Vertical Directivity Data.png
    443.2 KB · Views: 30
  • Micca MB42X G2 3D surface Horizontal Directivity Data.png
    Micca MB42X G2 3D surface Horizontal Directivity Data.png
    446.4 KB · Views: 36
  • Micca MB42X G2 Normalized Directivity data.png
    Micca MB42X G2 Normalized Directivity data.png
    380.7 KB · Views: 35
  • Micca MB42X G2 Raw Directivity data.png
    Micca MB42X G2 Raw Directivity data.png
    546.5 KB · Views: 36
  • Micca MB42X G2 Reflexion data.png
    Micca MB42X G2 Reflexion data.png
    196.9 KB · Views: 38
  • Micca MB42X G2 APO EQ Score Redux 96000Hz.txt
    379 bytes · Views: 33
  • Micca MB42X G2 APO EQ LW Redux 96000Hz.txt
    376 bytes · Views: 28
Last edited:
Not generally available in Europe, to save interested people from searching. Maybe there's a seller that offers them, but then you're at 200€ and there are other things in that price range.
Even for 200 euros I think it will be difficult to find better. I have a pair of Presonus 3.5 on my desk, they don't do any better.
 
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