Edifier MR4 speaker review - Big sound, small price

For too long now, the PC monitor market has been flooded with tonnes of overly expensive and giant speakers that take up all your desk real estate.

Even when you find a smaller device, it can often be let down by sound quality or even build quality. Thankfully, Edifier is here to somewhat break that mould with an exceptionally designed set-up that delivers excellent sound quality, all in a package that won't force you to extend your desk space.

 The basics

The Edifier MR4 comes in two different colours, the very sleek white and a jet black, both of which should fit nicely into a modern desktop set-up. Without a giant subwoofer, these two bookend speakers are a perfect addition to those with a smaller desk set-up.

These aren’t made with cheap plastic cases either, both are made of MDF, and that quality shines through immediately. Of course, not having a subwoofer will raise a few concerns, but fear not; even as cheap as these are, this pair still packs a punch. Each unit has a 4-inch woofer and a 1-inch silk dome tweeter, with all the bass being dealt with at the back of the device. In fact, the back of the device is where most of the work is done. These aren’t going to replace a subwoofer, and it doesn’t feel as though they are trying to, but I rarely noticed any issues with the quality of the bass in day-to-day usage. 

The speakers are designed to look slick from the front, and other than the volume button and an aux slot, all the controls are hidden out of view around the back. This can make it a little finicky if you are prone to changing settings often, but due to the size and weight of the speakers, it’s easy enough to pick them up and change them when you like.

Easy setup

You should have absolutely no trouble setting these speakers up as almost straight out of the box; they are ready to use. A simple two-wire setup allows both devices to connect, and there are multiple options for you to connect them to devices, whether it be a home studio or just a standard PC. While it’s a simple enough device to get ready, it should be noted that there is no propitiatory USB or Bluetooth connectivity for the MR4, but provided you have an AUX slot on your device, you should have no issues. 

One of the MR4's main features is the “Dual Mode Sound Effect”. At the press of a button, this switches the speaker's mode from Monitor to Music Mode. The Monitor Mode is supposed to be used to listen to “true audio”, which is especially useful for any sound work or music production. The Music Mode allows for more tonal balance focusing less on accuracy and more on a consistent sound.

I found that I spent most of my time on the monitor mode using the speakers for creating videos (and even some music). Listening to music as intended on the “Music mode” did come with some solid results; the vocals sounded clearer, and in general, the bass sounded crisper.

Superb sound

I tested both modes in various scenarios, including different music ranges, gaming and even some blockbuster films, all of which sounded fantastic. Raising the volume of an intense action scene meant every bullet and punch hit harder, and that bass control gets pushed to the limit.

Gaming emulates that same cinematic feeling; while you aren’t going to get that surround sound experience you might need for a first-person shooter, there's still a wide enough range to make it feel useful. Music is the same, from hyper-pop to metal; I found that it dealt with intense breakdowns without any crackling or distortion whatsoever.  

Of course, where you place your speakers will entirely affect how good they sound; I found that by placing them on either side of my two monitors, I managed to create a solid soundscape that felt immersive.

There isn’t a giant difference between the two modes, and when gaming using the speakers, it's difficult to tell them apart, but with the proper use case, the ability to switch between two different modes is handy.

The Verdict

The Edifier MR4 speakers aren’t going to blow away any high-end competition, but they might make a solid dent in the low-end market.

For the price and the quality you get, these should leave you impressed. While this will not replace a giant surround sound set-up, this might be the perfect choice if you are looking for a clean set-up that won’t break the bank or take up your entire desk.

4.5/5

Buy the Edifier MR4 here. Review unit provided by the manufacturer.

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