Edifier MR5 Review

[DillonK1992]

Good not perfect
. Buuut the right way
Espeacaly at this price

Perhaps with more gear like this that is very affordable, people who are not yet interested in the audio hobby can be swayed in the right direction?! This is great news for the speaker industry, and others like this set of speakers are worthwhile investments for seasoned audiophiles and novices alike.

 

[Teepeex]

thanks for the information and links for testing, I bought the MR3 version immediately, in the Czech Republic they are available for 100 EUR!

 

[kOrbit]

thanks for the information and links for testing, I bought the MR3 version immediately, in the Czech Republic they are available for 100 EUR!

Why did you choose them?

 

[Heinrich]

What really sets this speaker apart in its price range is its unusual structure. The tweeter–midrange driver is exposed on the front panel, while a 5-inch woofer is hidden inside a side-mounted slot.

Not too well executed, but the very right direction to chose a three way. Hope we see more in the near future.

Not the least, Your idea of measuring bass with compensation, kudos!

 

[raindance]

How are the mids compared to the MR4? Does the bass drown it out?

The measurement doesn't show that, so why do you ask?

 

[mangaTom]

The measurement doesn't show that, so why do you ask?

If you actually look at my join date and number of posts, then you would know why I would ask.

 

[somebodyelse]

If you actually look at my join date and number of posts, then you would know why I would ask.

You should probably check out Understanding Speaker Measurements, and the similar introductory videos for other measurement types on the Youtube channel.

 

[mangaTom]

You should probably check out Understanding Speaker Measurements, and the similar introductory videos for other measurement types on the Youtube channel.

Thanks, I'll watch that.

 

[billou5767]

rare teardown : https://www.igorslab.de/edifier-mr5...klingender-preiskracher-auch-auf-dem-desktop/

 

[malone-m]

Isn't the FR average slope positive instead of negative indicating an overall imbalance in favor to high frequencies on far field response?

I heard them in a fairly small room, but I can say that they don't sound too "bright" or "anemic" at all, quite the opposite - the lower mids were well defined and pronounced and treble seemed "normal", maybe with only very slightly more sparkle. At least in monitor mode. In fact, I'm quite surprised by the overall upward trend in FR that can be seen here.

 

[malone-m]

@Nuyes have you measured these speakers in monitor or music mode?

 

[Nuyes]

@Nuyes have you measured these speakers in monitor or music mode?

I measured this speaker in monitor mode.

 

[CRKebschull]

I just got my MR5 pair today. They are connected via TRS to an Audient ID14 MkII. I have the Android bluetooth app also connected.

The speakers are in "monitor" mode. The accoustic space is set to -4dB via app, as they are on my desk near a wall, to the left and right of my monitor. Hence also, they are about 70cm - 100cm away from my head, depending on where exactly the chair and my head is.

Volume is regulated via the ID14, ofcourse. Meaning I set the Edifiers to volume level 30 (the highest level).
With nothing playing, so in "silence", I hear buzzing. Not a hiss, buzzing. If I go about 2m away from the speakers, I can't hear the buzzing anymore.

I have to turn the Edifier volume down to 20 in order not hear the buzzing at my normal work / sitting position at my desk.

My question: do I have it setup wrong (the iPhone effect? I'm "using it wrong?"), is this just OK an expected ?(!), or is this a defect?

As it stands, I will return them, as this is just crazy. I have the Presonus Eris 3.5 (the first ones, not the new ones), and they have HISS when turned up to max (and again volume regulated by the Audient), but no BUZZING. And I can deal with that much better than the buzzing of the MR5. I wanted an upgrade, hence the MR5. That was the plan.

So, needless to say I am totally disappointed.

Oh yeah, they sound great! I mean, until I throw them out the window because of the buzzing.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[kyuu]

Can you not get adequate loudness with the Edifier's volume set at 20 by turning up the source?

 

[heflys20]

Sounds like a ground loop to me.

 

[CRKebschull]

Sounds like a ground loop to me.

Howdy,
a) Yes, so far the Edifier volume at 20 is enough for normal listening.
- I assumed that best S/N is at max volume... I should go see what the others who have measured here have set for their measurements.

b) Ground loop... OK since it's connected via balanced TRS it shouldn't be the Audient/Edifier connection. That leaves the mains connection, which is a two-wire un-grounded cable. I could reverse the plug, and also try a different power socket (230V). Thanks for the suggestion, I'll crawl under my desk and test some.

 

[kyuu]

Howdy,
a) Yes, so far the Edifier volume at 20 is enough for normal listening.
- I assumed that best S/N is at max volume... I should go see what the others who have measured here have set for their measurements.

Not necessarily. Particularly with amps (which is what you're dealing with in the speakers), turning up the volume too much can have negative consequences (noise, clipping).

 

[CRKebschull]

Howdy,
a) Yes, so far the Edifier volume at 20 is enough for normal listening.
- I assumed that best S/N is at max volume... I should go see what the others who have measured here have set for their measurements.

b) Ground loop... OK since it's connected via balanced TRS it shouldn't be the Audient/Edifier connection. That leaves the mains connection, which is a two-wire un-grounded cable. I could reverse the plug, and also try a different power socket (230V). Thanks for the suggestion, I'll crawl under my desk and test some.

Well, moving the mains cable arounf and switching the plug didn't make a difference.
I have a ferrite core here somehwere, I could try that.
It really is bad at level 30 - 20, it's quite astonishing how audible the (high-pitched) buzz is. I could make a recording of it with my Umik-1.

- Kyuu said turning it up to full volume and attenuating the signal level in the preamp is not necessarily the best way. OK.
I have Hypex NC400 monoblocks in the living room, which are ofcourse at 100% gain, and they get fed a signal from a Schiit Modius DAC/preamp and that combination is 100% silent (when no music is playing).... so I figured... it must be possible.

 

[Bwaslo]

Kyuu said turning it up to full volume and attenuating the signal level in the preamp is not necessarily the best way. OK.

I'd say that's exactly the opposite way to do it. Turn the speaker gain to minimum, then turn up the preamp until you get enough volume and if not enough at full, then start increasing the speaker gain till you do.

 

[kyuu]

- Kyuu said turning it up to full volume and attenuating the signal level in the preamp is not necessarily the best way. OK.
I have Hypex NC400 monoblocks in the living room, which are ofcourse at 100% gain, and they get fed a signal from a Schiit Modius DAC/preamp and that combination is 100% silent (when no music is playing).... so I figured... it must be possible.

Well, I'm pretty sure the amps in the MR5 are not anything like Hypex NC400 monoblocks in performance. Also, do those monoblocks even have volume control?