Micca MB42X G2 Budget Speaker Review

[audioholic63]

After 5 years of fully remote work I am back in the office and yearning to refresh the 15 yr old Altec 2.1 speaker system in my cube. Still perfectly serviceable but so utterly deficient in the things that are important to my ears. I'm in a closed off raised floor environment with capacity for 15 but generally only occupied by 4, the other 3 typically plugged into headphones which gives me latitude for near field speaker use at moderate volumes. With budget and space considerations I keep coming back to these as an almost no brainer. Currently ~$120/pr on Amazon US. Even if I doubled the budget I am not finding anything more compelling that will actually fit in the space (max depth maybe 7").

I am not inclined to powered or active speakers. I prefer the simplicity of a passive design and the flexibility to change what drives them. Source is my laptop (flac and mp3, some radio streaming) connected from a fairly cheap USB-C dongle/dac on docking station and converted to mini-stereo to L/R RCA. Playback from VLC with APO/Peace peq.

I am pretty settled on a Fosi V3 with 32v psu. The only thing it lacks that would be nice is a headphone section but it is easy enough to swap the connection from the dac.

Given the sensitivity of the speakers is there any reason to think the Fosi wouldn't be up to the task in this listening environment? Any compelling argument to pop another$30 to get the 48v supply?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C36S8DC...1XA1647UC&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

 

[a4eaudio]

...Given the sensitivity of the speakers is there any reason to think the Fosi wouldn't be up to the task in this listening environment? Any compelling argument to pop another$30 to get the 48v supply?

The Fosi is more than enough. The Micca speaker has a single 4" woofer - it probably reaches xmax with 10 to 20 watts. The speaker is rated at 80 watts, meaning the voicecoil will melt with a continuous signal of 80 watts over some set time. (That may not be the "technical" meaning of Micca's stated "Power Handling," but either way, the FOSI is more than enough.)

 

[andrewskaterrr]

Any compelling argument to pop another$30 to get the 48v supply?

Personally the 2x-3x power difference for only $30 makes this a no brainer to me. 34w vs 89w @8ohm isn't even a question. I've been thinking about getting one just for fun, and I feel like the 32v is almost useless compared to the 48v version due to it's much lower power. You buy that amp just to severely limit it by the PSU? It will cost you more to upgrade it later. You don't buy an amp for the setup you have now, you buy it for the setup you may have in the future. In a few years you may decide to move it to get a different area where you could use more power. Better/cheaper to just buy the 48v now and never worry about it.

 

[essjay]

Seem to be available now in Europe but never heard of the seller.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CGBKWBGM/

 

[Talisman]

I missed this review, but I've now found it thanks to a comment about the Presonus Eris 3.5.
The first thing I noticed is that while they're not identical, they're incredibly similar to some speakers sold in Europe: the Lonpoo LP42s, which coincidentally happen to be the speakers I use with my PC along with a small sub. I'd go so far as to say that the 4" woofer sounds just like them, but I don't have any measurements of the Lonpoos other than those in my room.
Anyway, I noticed they're available on Amazon Italy for €125, and I pulled the trigger, as if already having three pairs of unused speakers wasn't enoug

h.

 

[GreenTea]

I missed this review, but I've now found it thanks to a comment about the Presonus Eris 3.5.
The first thing I noticed is that while they're not identical, they're incredibly similar to some speakers sold in Europe: the Lonpoo LP42s, which coincidentally happen to be the speakers I use with my PC along with a small sub. I'd go so far as to say that the 4" woofer sounds just like them, but I don't have any measurements of the Lonpoos other than those in my room.
Anyway, I noticed they're available on Amazon Italy for €125, and I pulled the trigger, as if already having three pairs of unused speakers wasn't enougView attachment 462756View attachment 462757h.

I seem to remember that the Lonpoo are knockoffs of the original MB42 speakers. These MB42X G2s look very different. Would be interesting to hear your thoughts after you get them.

 

[audiotinker]

hi everyone!

last month i purchased these micca mb42x g2 from amazon for £95 here in the uk. i also picked up a fosi bt10a amplifier as part of the order. these are used on my desk and used for the output from my mac mini m4, which is either connected via bluetooth or aux.

the return window is approaching, and so i was wondering if if my choice was optimal.

these miccas do sound lovely, but i'm no expert. i'm wondering if there any other better options that i might consider in terms of amp or speakers, active or passive, that would give a better performance for similar money.

if it helps, i mostly listen to ambient electronic music.

thanks!

 

[Power Pop 23]

hi everyone!

last month i purchased these micca mb42x g2 from amazon for £95 here in the uk. i also picked up a fosi bt10a amplifier as part of the order. these are used on my desk and used for the output from my mac mini m4, which is either connected via bluetooth or aux.

the return window is approaching, and so i was wondering if if my choice was optimal.

these miccas do sound lovely, but i'm no expert. i'm wondering if there any other better options that i might consider in terms of amp or speakers, active or passive, that would give a better performance for similar money.

if it helps, i mostly listen to ambient electronic music.

thanks!

Welcome to ASR,

There are options that measure better. I am not certain I would hear the measured difference with another amplifier. Consider applying Parametric EQ to your signal path. This can mitigate some of the flaws Amir measured in his review of your Micca loudspeakers. I believe there are Parametric EQ software options for the MacOS. I am not familiar with them.

 

[JeremyFife]

Honestly, if you like it (and "sounds lovely" suggests that you do) then stick with it and enjoy your music.

Options for that budget are limited... Edifier MR4 active speakers perhaps. No amp needed but you'd need something for Bluetooth. Aux will be fine.

I'd stick, and think about upgrading in a year or two

 

[staticV3]

Hi @audiotinker! Welcome to ASR.

For similar money, I'd much rather buy the iLoud Micro or a used pair of Kali LP-UNF/Adam D3V.

 

[Salt]

hi everyone!

last month i purchased these micca mb42x g2 from amazon for £95 here in the uk. i also picked up a fosi bt10a amplifier as part of the order. these are used on my desk and used for the output from my mac mini m4, which is either connected via bluetooth or aux.

the return window is approaching, and so i was wondering if if my choice was optimal.

these miccas do sound lovely, but i'm no expert. i'm wondering if there any other better options that i might consider in terms of amp or speakers, active or passive, that would give a better performance for similar money.

if it helps, i mostly listen to ambient electronic music.

thanks!

For the price and if You like them: why pay more?
Of course You can go Ascilab, KEF, Genelec, Neumann and others, but for a multiple of what You payed here.

 

[somebodyelse]

Edifier MR4 active speakers perhaps.

MR3 measures better than the MR4, and has more EQ options in the app for a similar price.

For similar money, I'd much rather buy the iLoud Micro or a used pair of Kali LP-UNF/Adam D3V.

I've never seen those near £95, even second hand.

 

[staticV3]

I've never seen those near £95, even second hand.

Similar money as mb42x g2 + fosi bt10a (~£160)

 

[audiotinker]

thanks for your input, everyone!

the edifier mr3 and mr4 get great reviews but i'm a little shallow; i think they look awful!

i think somebodyelse was referring to the price of kali lp-unf or adam d3v. the kali seem to have less availability in the uk market and go for around £280. i had previously looked at the adam d3v, and it might be possible to find them used but i've not seen them go for less than £250.

i had some adam t5v in my studio and found the hiss very annoying. i spoke to adam about this and their response put me off the brand a little.

so.. it's looking like i'll keep this combo for now!

 

[somebodyelse]

Similar money as mb42x g2 + fosi bt10a (~£160)

But neither the d3v nor the iLoud Micro have bluetooth, so the bt10a is still needed. The price just isn't comparable here.

 

[staticV3]

But neither the d3v nor the iLoud Micro have bluetooth, so the bt10a is still needed. The price just isn't comparable here.

Bluetooth is not a requirement (at least OP hasn't communicated it as such), they just need some way of connecting to their Mac Mini which is trivial with either the iLoud, Adam, or Kali.

 

[staticV3]

i think somebodyelse was referring to the price of kali lp-unf or adam d3v. the kali seem to have less availability in the uk market and go for around £280. i had previously looked at the adam d3v, and it might be possible to find them used but i've not seen them go for less than £250.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/306436326840
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/357266932670
https://reverb.com/uk/p/ik-multimed...-bluetooth-studio-monitors-pair?hfid=91191716

The iLoud goes for £220 New

 

[audiotinker]

But neither the d3v nor the iLoud Micro have bluetooth, so the bt10a is still needed. The price just isn't comparable here.

the iloud micro do have bluetooth, but the bluetooth isn't too important. i'm just using it now as i haven't yet bought a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable.

i think ultimately whilst i like the sound from these micca speakers, i am less keen on the fosi amp and probably would prefer an all in one solution.

 

[JeremyFife]

the iloud micro do have bluetooth, but the bluetooth isn't too important. i'm just using it now as i haven't yet bought a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable.

i think ultimately whilst i like the sound from these micca speakers, i am less keen on the fosi amp and probably would prefer an all in one solution.

In that case, I'd agree with @staticV3 : best looking of Kali, Adam or iLoud will get you great sound

 

[JS2]

Hi @audiotinker! Welcome to ASR.

For similar money, I'd much rather buy the iLoud Micro or a used pair of Kali LP-UNF/Adam D3V.

iLouds and D3Vs are impressive designs. One radiating bass, the other circular ports and stands that don't put much surface on a desk so there is not much low end resonance affecting their flat response. Very clever. https://www.ikmultimedia.com/joomla/images/ik_images/product_page/iloudmm/3.0/big/iloudmm_xray.jpg