Edifier MR4 Desktop Speaker – A Blogs & Little Things Review

While aiming at the affordable market, they are also trying to keep the sound solid. Small, affordable, and with solid specs and features like a TRS-balanced input, it’s a better-than-average push from Edifier. So, are they worth it? Let’s jump into the review!

Listening Setup

• DAC – SMSL DO300

Sample Music

• YouTube – Assorted background music
• Evanescence – Bring Me to Life
• Valiant Hearts – Alaska
• PVRIS – White Noise
• Young Medicine – Lost Boys

Budget-priced desktop speakers are all almost exactly the same setup with cheap speaker wire and AUX to RCA cable setup. No surprises here. Before I get into the MR4’s sound, the only downside I found was unusually poor build quality. One speaker out of the box was missing a felt pad foot and the other was missing two. The white finish was also noticeably different on the veneer on the sides than compared to the face of the speakers and there are noticeable flaws in the veneer, which did bug me. I’ve reviewed cheap speakers before, but this is just disappointing from a brand like Edifier.

Redeeming the MR4s though, is how awesome they sound. Boy, do they sound sweet! Highs and mids are well balanced, while also having limited upper lows for what’s possible with a four-inch driver. The volume knob was less precise than I had hoped but the speakers retained excellent clarity and balance no matter the volume.

Honestly, I was blown away by how good these speakers sounded for the price! I installed them for my wife’s desktop setup, and she said they were the best speakers she has heard to date on her desk. I never felt like anything was missing from the sound. Bass wasn’t overly present, but the MR4s just sounded so clean you hardly noticed or cared. Whatever magic they used to design these, they need to keep it up as these just had the highs and mids nicely mingling together in harmony.

I would have liked to see grilles as well on these speakers, but that’s a minor nit. Also, the headphone jacks on these lower-end speakers can be a bit of a crapshoot. I tested it and found it was just okay, very so-so sounding but it’s there and it works. It’s not something everyone will use, but it’s a nice option to have if you need it. These speakers do well at what they’re designed for and that’s to deliver great near-field sound, very, very good for the price point.

If you can get around the not-so-great build quality, you will be treated with far above-average sound for the price. The Edifier MR4s are definitely among the best $100 powered set of speakers I’ve heard this year.

They are a real treat to listen to and leave little lacking. They have a compact size that allows them to be easily placed onto any desktop, while also offering a balanced TRS input. Definitely upgrade that speaker wire if you can. It’s a real audio beauty and the beast story here, but if you can get past the beastly outside, the true beauty is inside with their premium sound.