MR5 exceeded all of my expectations

I’m a personal fan of them as an at-home set of trustworthy nearfield monitors. They’re fine mid-field hi-fi operators, but really shine in a desktop or small-office environment, and as a jack-of-all-trades as opposed to a bona fide pro audio solution. For the fine line they tread, this is about as good as it gets. by James Grimshaw 

Active monitor speakers were once considered the "near-exclusive haunt of the audio professional". However, Edifier MR5 successfully bridges the gap, offering a feature-rich design without sacrificing practical utility, making it one of the best stereo speakers tested recently.

Core Innovation: A Genius Three-Driver System

The foundation of the MR5's excellent performance lies in its sophisticated acoustic design. Unlike smaller bookshelf monitors which traditionally feature only two drivers (a mid-woofer and a tweeter), the Edifier MR5 boasts a daring new three-way driver design implemented in a tri-amped, active-crossover system.

This system comprises a 5” woofer, a 3.75" mid driver, and a 1" silk dome tweeter. The woofer is downward-facing and the chassis is side-ported, which helps cover the low end. The speakers deliver 110W RMS of total power and operate across an extensive frequency range of 46Hz to 40kHz.

Maximalist Features and Connectivity

The MR5 excels in connectivity, offering a "shedload of tech" that appeals to both casual listeners and professionals.

• Analogue Inputs: The speakers provide four analogue inputs: balanced XLR, dual TRS, RCA, and a convenient front-facing 3.5mm aux port.

• Digital Connectivity: They feature dual-device Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity with LDAC support for high-resolution streaming. This gives you five powerful ways to get audio out of the monitors.

• Ease of Setup: The MR5 design simplifies setup by hosting most hardware in one unit, which connects to the other speaker via a 9-pin cable. This means you only require one plug socket to power both units. A 3.5mm headphone output is also included for quiet listening.

• Digital Control: Users can leverage the proprietary Edifier ConneX app via Bluetooth for DSP customization. This includes more granular low-cut control and room compensation algorithms.

The speakers also allow users to switch between three distinct voicings using the single front knob:

1. ‘Monitor’: Aims for as neutral a frequency response as possible for clinical sound representation.

2. ‘Music’: Adds a hi-fi sheen, sculpting the EQ for a more exciting representation.

3. ‘Customized’: Allows users to save personal EQ settings, which are dialled in via the app.

Sound Quality: Clarity and Restrained Power

The acoustic design results in a remarkably smooth sound output that achieves "remarkable neutrality".

• Low End: Despite the powerful downward-facing woofer, the speaker delivers "body over boom". The satisfying low end trumps the capabilities of many larger competitors. Distorted, low-tuned guitars sound "full and forceful", while the side ports provide "airy movement in the ultra-low end".

• Midrange and Highs: The MR5s are "phenomenal midrange communicators" and offer incredible high-end clarity. The high-mid and high end provide "stunning voice translation" and a beautiful reediness in sustained strings. Flicky, ticky, or scratchy sounds, such as hi-hats and auxiliary snaps, are presented with "forthright resolution" and a "brilliant sense of in-the-room presence", resulting in impressive soundstaging.

• Voicings: The ‘Music’ mode adds "a heaped cup of extra bloom to the low end" for more hi-fi excitement. The neutral ‘Monitor’ voicing is deemed the essential best for critical listening.

Drawbacks and Caveats

While the MR5 is excellent, its "maximalist" nature sometimes gets in its own way.

• App Latency: Adjusting the customisable EQ settings digitally through the Edifier ConneX app via Bluetooth introduces "significant latency" between moving the fader and hearing the change in frequency volume, making fine-tuning fiddlier than it ought to be.

• Volume Limitations: When pushed to the upper limits of their volume range, the small-form nearfield monitors can develop a compressed, low-middy "boxiness". This can be partially mitigated using the Desktop mode.

• Design Minor Gripe: The front-facing rotary encoder knob, which is central to the user experience, feels cheap due to its plastic tactile surface, despite the solid mechanical feedback of the encoder itself.

• Auto-Standby: An over-eager auto-standby feature can catch users off guard, though it can thankfully be deactivated via the knob or the app.

Value and Conclusion

The Edifier MR5 are an "astonishingly feature-rich" pair of active monitors for their price. They are arguably worth every penny based on features alone, exceeding practical expectations.

The fact that the majority of criticisms centre on a plastic knob, app delays, and an optional auto-standby feature highlights the overall quality of these "pint-sized works of well-priced magic".

They are highly recommended for buyers who want speakers that "do everything" and are a "stunning choice for desktop nearfields". They shine best in a desktop or small-office environment and serve perfectly as a jack-of-all-trades system. For those seeking great sound on a budget, the innovative three-way driver system is "nothing short of genius" given the size constraints.