100 usd/eur: Active Edifiers vs Passive Speakers?

[CauliflowerEars]

With this budget, what would be a better option (in the EU):

1. Edifier r1280DBs?
2. Edifier Mr4?
3. Passive speakers - which?
4. Other … ?

For this 2nd system I already have Wiim Mini -> e30 II Topping DAC -> A505R Pioneer amp (old).

Use: movies + background music in a small bedroom (bad acoustics).

Would be grateful to hear from you to start testing some of the options!

 

[AnalogSteph]

That's a tricky one... this kind of budget should also get you a decent pair of 6.5" bookshelves on the used market, in which case you'd be able to make use of the existing integrated amp. Then you wouldn't have to contend with the poor excuse of a crossover on the R1280s or the mediocre level handling of the MR4s.

BTW,

For this 2nd system I already have Wiim Mini -> e30 II Topping DAC -> A505R Pioneer amp (old).

you have well over 200€ tied up in electronics there. Your speaker budget doesn't seem like a particularly good match.

Side note, the WiiM Mini "barefoot" would quite arguably still be sufficient for a setup like this. You certainly don't need a DAC anywhere near as good as the E30 II.

 

[CauliflowerEars]

Thanks a lot for the response! I finally found some time to test ...

you have well over 200€ tied up in electronics there. Your speaker budget doesn't seem like a particularly good match.

I know. It's only because I stumbled upon the Edifiers and thought maybe they could work in my bedroom (the Pioneer amp takes too much space).
Currently in this setup I have some very old Sony SS A-101 speakers (maybe 25-30 y.o.):
+ they are bigger than the Edifiers and seem to fill the room nicer and are less tiring.
- the sound is less clear. Just general separation and crispiness of the highs and lows (apologies for amateur lingo).
Made me wonder, if I could get them fixed to get a better sound. They have integrated wires in the back and when I move the speaker, sometimes it looses some of the frequencies ...

Edifier MR4:
+ Great sounding (separation, crispiness, etc.)
- Unfortunately ... seem tiring. They are probably great near field, but from the end of my bed, I can hear how small they are (about the size of the Sony's woofer).
Even though they sound great, them not being able to 'encompass' me with sound is a big disadvantage.

So ... either going to:
a. Fix the Sonys.
b. Find something cheap 2nd hand (or not).
c. Or use the funds to upgrade the living room's Elac DBR62s (maybe some towers or better bookshelves). Then Downgrade the Elacs to the bedroom.

Side note, the WiiM Mini "barefoot" would quite arguably still be sufficient for a setup like this. You certainly don't need a DAC anywhere near as good as the E30 II.

How would I connect the Wiim Mini to the Pioneer amp, though? It only has analogue inputs.
(forgot to say it's just an e30 II LITE - it seemed to sound good with the Sonys).

 

[AnalogSteph]

How would I connect the Wiim Mini to the Pioneer amp, though? It only has analogue inputs.

Using the AUX OUT with a 3.5 mm stereo to 2x RCA cable?