STEREO GUIDE verdict
The Edifier MR3 is aimed at hobby musicians and offers real stereo sound for a small budget. And it comes with many analog inputs.
Pros
- Price-related balanced sound
- Comparatively good stage performance
- Sound customizable via app and controls
- Professional TRS inputs
Cons
- Voices could use a little more warmth
- Depth and maximum level somewhat limited
- Volume control of the app not synchronized with that of the smartphone
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Tonal balance / transparency7.4
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Bass / Dynamics6.4
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Spatial imaging7.3
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Usability/ Connectivity9.3
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Price/Performance9.6
If you associate the term “studio monitor” with expensive and heavy professional equipment, the Edifier MR3 should make you sit up and take notice: For less than 150 euros, the manufacturer known for affordable but good products offers an active stereo speaker set with wireless Bluetooth streaming and all kinds of analog inputs. In principle, the combination of price and performance promise would make the editorial team frown if it weren’t for the positive surprises from previous review with the R-1700BT and, in particular, the even more compact M60 PC speakers. The latter even made me indulge in superlatives in the evaluation. In terms of size and price, the M60s really were a small sensation, even for an experienced reviewer.
Decent drivers for decent sound quality
At the heart of the MR3 speaker system are comparatively high-quality drivers. Each of the two stereo speakers uses a 3.5-inch bass-midrange driver with a resonance-resistant plastic sandwich cone with a carbon look. In the center sits a copper-colored, concave cover instead of the usual convex dust protection dome. This 8.9-centimeter-diameter cone is supported by a 1-inch silk dome tweeter (2.5 centimeters). Edifier promises smooth, natural highs without harshness
To improve the reproduction of high frequencies, Edifier has special waveguides for the tweeters with a so-called “dimpled design”. This attachment for the dome tweeter is intended to ensure a more even and wide-ranging treble reproduction.
With a total output of 2 x18 watts RMS, the Edifier MR3s are said to achieve a maximum volume of 92.5 dB (measured from a distance of one meter), which doesn’t seem too high. (We don’t want to anticipate the MR3 sound test at this point). Edifier has packed the electronics into the primary speaker, while the passive speaker is controlled via a standard 2.5 meter speaker cable. It is included with the speaker along with a mains cable, an RCA and a 3.5 mm jack connection.
MDF housing for minimal resonance and distortion
Edifier opted for bass reflex enclosures made of MDF (medium density fiberboard) for its mini monitors, as is also known from hi-fi speakers, albeit with double or multiple wall thicknesses. The vinyl surface of the cabinet, which is available in black or white, is simple but neatly finished. The baffle is made of plastic – which is hardly surprising at this price. However, behind this is an MDF panel that also supports the speaker chassis. After all, this cladding makes it possible to fit the drivers seamlessly and without any visible writing. The shape also offers acoustic advantages thanks to rounded side edges. This minimizes edge refraction effects and improves the omnidirectional sound distribution of the small monitor speakers.
Like the M60, the Edifier MR3 are certified for Hi-Res Audio and support resolutions up to 24 bit/96 kHz. This should guarantee that music is reproduced with a level of detail that goes far beyond standard digital formats. However, unlike the more expensive M60, the MR3s do not have a USB digital input to make the most of the possibilities.
Versatile connection options for maximum flexibility
Great connectivity is crucial in modern audio systems. This speaker system offers various inputs to fit seamlessly into different setups: Passive headphones can be connected to the front of the primary speaker, while a playback device with analog output can be connected to the second 3.5 mm jack socket. In addition to this AUX input, there are also two RCA sockets on the rear. There are also two balanced TRS inputs (tip ring sleeve) for professional applications. Mixing consoles and other studio devices can be connected there.
Even if the low price and small dimensions do not suggest it, the studio monitor reference is not completely out of thin air. With the MR3, Edifier is promoting young talent. And because the next generation likes to stream music wirelessly from their cell phones to the speakers, Edifier has also included an interface for Bluetooth 5.4 with the A2DP and AVRCP protocols in its mini active speakers. However, according to the manufacturer’s data sheet, this only supports the standard SBC codec and disappoints those who would have liked at least one codec such as aptHX-HD due to the Hi-Res certification. For maximum sound quality, you should therefore switch to the analog inputs.
Individual sound adjustment thanks to room compensation
Every room has its own acoustics, which affect the sound of the speakers. That’s why this system has two controls on the back of the primary speaker for acoustic room compensation. This allows the user to adapt the playback to their individual listening environment. In the bass at 125 Hz and in the treble at 10 KHz with a control range between -6 and +6 decibels. And if you can’t find the optimum sound balance for your particular environment, there’s always the Edifier ConneX app for iOS and Android devices. It can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store and Google Play and offers a 6-band equalizer for particularly sensitive adjustment. This tool for advanced users is supplemented by two easy-to-access sound presets: “Studio” and “Music”.
Fine sound adjustment
There is also a sophisticated sound tuning function that allows you to set the lower cut-off frequency plus the slope of the high-pass filter (-6 dB, -12, -18 and -24 dB per octave) in order to reduce the load on the small bass/midrange drivers. With “Acoustic Space”, the bass boost can be automatically subtracted by the room acoustics, for example when positioned in a corner. There is also a near-field setting for desktop placement.
However, there were small problem areas that didn’t quite convince me. For example, on my iPhone 16 Pro, I could see which track was playing in the ConneX app, but I could neither pause it nor skip to the next track. You also have to be careful what volume you have selected in the Edifier app. The control is not synchronized with the control in the Apple Music app or that of the streaming service Qobuz, as is generally the case. The same applies to the rotary knob on the front of the primary speaker, which can also switch the speakers on and off by pressing it. To utilize the full dynamic range, you should turn up the volume in the ConneX app as far as it will go and then control everything else via the app you are using to play the music.
Sound test: Edifier MR3
But what is the maximum for a pair of such tiny speakers? My curiosity was heightened because after connecting the speakers to the Edifier ConneX app, the MR3s first downloaded a software update for a good 10 minutes. This was followed by a solid performance, but this time there was no wow effect from the even more compact M60s, which were even more powerful.
Apart from that, Edifier’s MR3 is a well-balanced desk speaker that can also be connected symmetrically to a mixing console. The bass is absolutely okay for the price range and size. However, it can’t really make an exclamation mark in terms of depth or kick. You shouldn’t expect too much from the many sound settings due to the physical limits of the very compact design. Anyone who values naturalness more than kick, punch and level stability, even in the entry-level segment, will be very well served for the money with these speakers, which pay homage to the studio ideal. Apart from a slight discoloration in the mid-range, which tends to be cool, there were no deviations from the path of acoustic virtue.
XL stereo panorama from XS boxes
What the small loudspeakers did well, precisely because of their small dimensions, was to create a stereo panorama with a quite vivid stereo image and a very good focus. You could feel that the small, closely spaced drivers and the compact baffle were able to play to their theoretical strengths here.
However, when drive and playfulness are at the top of the list, you can sense a little that the Edifier MR3 is not a fully active speaker set. In contrast, the M60 was able to squeeze more drive out of its tiny chassis and cabinets with its digital 2-way active crossover and intelligent overload protection (Dynamic Range Control: DRC) and its own, more powerful output stages for each individual driver.
Edifier MR3: Conclusion and alternatives
A versatile desktop stereo speaker set at a price for which you can barely get a Bluetooth box in Coke can format from JBL or Sony. And it also comes with an app that enables targeted sound adjustment and professional TRS connections plus additional analog inputs. There’s no getting around the fact that Edifier has once again done a good job. The only thing missing was the wow effect that we recently experienced with the M60. Not only because it set the bar of expectations for the MR3 very high. In terms of liveliness, level reserves, bass depth and punch as well as neutrality in the vocal range, it was more in line with what one would have expected from a speaker of its size, while the even more compact M60 pulverized all expectations.
If you can get over the extra charge, the Edifier M60 is the better choice. This is especially true in connection with computers as a desktop audio system. After all, you can connect your Mac or PC to its USB-C input and transfer the data digitally without loss. With the MR3, on the other hand, you have to rely on the computer’s integrated sound card to transmit the signal to the speaker in analog form. However, this is usually subject to greater compromises than the D/A converter of the speakers. Nevertheless, there are three arguments in favor of the Edifier MR3: they are a good deal cheaper, have balanced TRS connections for two channels and offer particularly sensitive sound adjustments.
Edifier MR3: Technical specifications
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 150 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 12.6 x 22 x 18.5 cm (active speaker)
- Weight: 3.85 kg (active speaker)
- Special features: High-level RCA and 3.5 mm jack AUX input, 2 balanced TRS inputs, Bluetooth 5.4, app with 6-band equalizer, headphone output with 3.5 mm jack on the front
