INTRODUCTION

    Compared to the desktop speaker market many years ago today there are so many available choices that even people with a somewhat low budget can enjoy both wired and wireless high fidelity audio. Yes, you still need to decide on the type of speakers (active/powered or not), power output, frequency range and even looks but again, consumers today can find the ideal speakers for them without having to spend large amounts. With their latest MR5 Studio Monitor Speakers Edifier aims to win over demanding consumers looking for the jack of all trades and that's exactly what landed in the lab around one full month ago.

    Edifier specializes in premium sound systems that showcase technological innovation and design elegance, delivering outstanding audio experiences through a wide range of headphones, speakers, and music systems, for personal entertainment and professional excellence. Established in May 1996 in Beijing, Edifier is the brainchild of a small group of enterprising music lovers. Over the past 25 years, Edifier has been guided by the “passion for sound” principle, which helped the brand emerge as a world-class designer and manufacturer of award-winning sound systems. Today, Edifier serves audio lovers worldwide through its distributors in over 70 countries, with operations in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions.

    The Edifier MR5 are a pair of active stereo speakers currently available in 2 colors (black and white) and based on a three-way design (5"/13cm long throw woofers, 3.75"/9.5cm mid-drivers and 1"/2.5cm silk dome tweeters) largely thanks to which they deliver a wide frequency range/response of 46Hz-40kHz. Inside the MR5 Edifier has also placed a DSP (full digital signal processing) and three class-d amplifiers with active crossover which produce a total output of 110W RMS (50W RMS each speaker - 10W treble, 15W mid, 30W bass) with a peak SPL of 101dB (1 meter range). The MR5 also have volume/mode/power (monitor, music and customized modes), highs and lows control knobs and are Hi-Res (24bit/96kHz) and Hi-Res Wireless audio certified with support for the LDAC HD audio codec (24bit/96kHz, 990kbps) thanks to its Bluetooth 6.0 with multi-point connectivity. Moving to available connectivity the MR5 are equipped with balanced XLR and TRS, stereo RCA and 3.5mm aux inputs and a 3.5mm headphones output. Finally, you can control most of the aspects of the MR5 via the Edifier ConneX app.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The front of the box is taken by a large product picture showcasing the black version of the MR5 and of course the company logo, model name and a product description.

On the left side of the box Edifier is showcasing the rear of the main/active speaker and what the control knobs do.

Both the main features and specifications of the MR5 are listed on the right side in 8 languages.

The white version of the MR5 is showcased at the rear of the box.

Both speakers are wrapped inside plastic bags and placed between two pieces of cardboard.

Along with the two speakers their connection cable and power cord inside the box you'll also find an RCA to 3.5mm cable, 3.5mm cable, statement of compliance, warranty information and the quick start guide.

THE MR5

The enclosures of the MR5 speakers are made from high-quality MDF and measure 264mm in height, 159mm in width and 280mm in length for the main/active speaker and 257mm for the passive speaker.

Both the 1"/2.5cm silk dome tweeter and the 3.75"/9.5cm polypropylene cone mid-drivers look and feel nice (quality is high too).

At the lower front of the main/active speaker we find the headphones output and aux input and the volume/mode/power knob.

Bass reflex ports are placed on both sides of each speaker.

Turning around both speakers we see that all connectors and knobs are on the main/active speaker.

From top to bottom at the rear of the main/active speaker we find the RCA stereo input, balanced XLR and TRS ports, Bluetooth pairing button, high and low knobs and the speaker out and power ports.

Typically, I spend most of the time testing the MR5 using the R9 music player by FiiO.

CONNEX APP

Just like with previous products by Edifier you should download the ConneX app for full control over the MR5.

From the main tab this app allows you to use the built-in equalizer (2 effects plus 1 custom - you can also add new effects) and set the volume.

Accessing the settings tab (top right) allows you to read the user manual, change the active speaker from the default right to left, enable/disable power saving mode (recommend disabling this), change the codec to LDAC (disabled by default - once enabled the Hi-Res Wireless logo lights up in the main tab), enable Bluetooth prompt tones, disconnect Bluetooth and power off the speakers.

CONCLUSION

    When it comes to studio monitor speakers what people look for is a flat, neutral, uncolored audio signature and that's exactly what you're getting from the latest Edifier MR5. This however doesn’t mean you’re missing anything out in terms of audio clarity since the MR5 do a very good job across the audio spectrum thus delivering lively and crisp highs and mids with a good amount of bass (something I didn’t expect to be honest after checking what some of my colleagues had to say about them). As a matter of fact, the MR5 did extremely well delivering clear, natural and balanced audio with every music genre I threw at it from pop, classic and jazz to rock, techno, and even heavy metal. Volume levels are also very good, yes, the MR5 are far from the most powerful speakers I’ve ever used but they can easily fill a large room (with almost no audio distortion even at maximum volume) and that is more than plenty. As always nothing is perfect however and so I did notice 2 downsides about the MR5. First is that all audio inputs are enabled simultaneously and even though that shouldn’t pose an issue for most users it may for some. Second is the delay between the ConneX app and the speakers themselves so if you’re accessing the EQ section it may take 1-2 seconds between the time you adjust something and that change making its way to the speakers. Both downsides are not real game breakers but as always, I need to point them out (LDAC is once again disabled by default, but this has been covered many times in the past).

    Right now, the MR5 Studio Speakers by Edifier retail for USD297.49Euros inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 259.46Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) so they are priced well. Again, the MR5 may not be the perfect speaker set out there but it’s hard finding one with its audio performance  and features (Hi-Res wireless audio / LDAC audio codec / EQ) at this price and that’s exactly why they are worth the Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Audio Reproduction (Accuracy / Detail / Neutral)
- Available Connectivity (Balanced XLR and TRS ports, RCA, 3.5mm Aux & 3.5mm headphones Output)
- HiRes Wired & Wireless Audio (LDAC)
- 2 Available Modes (Plus Custom)
- Available In Black & White
- ConneX App

CONS

- All Inputs Enabled Simultaneously
- ConneX App Delay
- LDAC Disabled By Default (ConneX App Needed To Enable)