Short answer: the Audio Smile Little British Monitor. It ranks #1 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.6/5); the Edifier MR3 ranks #11 (rated 3.8/5).
The Audio Smile Little British Monitor is the more accurate pick. Excellent sounding small powered speakers, with clear, uncolored vocals and instruments from a tiny desktop pair. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.46 against 3.91 for the Edifier MR3. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Edifier MR3 lacks. Watch for: Bass reaches -3dB at about 72Hz, so a subwoofer is important for the lowest notes.
The case for the Edifier MR3: An affordable desk pair with balanced sound, Bluetooth, and tone controls, a good first set of monitors. Watch for: Local response ripples remain: the measured 300Hz-5kHz span is 4.5dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.538.
Buy the Audio Smile Little British Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Edifier MR3.
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Measured Differences
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Audio Smile Little British Monitor scores 8.2 against 6.5 for the Edifier MR3 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (56.6 Hz vs 53 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Audio Smile Little British Monitor | Edifier MR3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £529 per pair | $149.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #1 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #11 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | - |
| Drivers | 0.75” wide band tweeter, 3” long throw mid woofer | 3.5” mid-low driver, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.1”H x 4.7”W x 5.3”D (205 x 120 x 135 mm) | 8.7”H x 4.9”W x 7.3”D (220 x 125.5 x 185 mm) (active); 220H x 125.5W x 176D mm (passive) |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.7 kg) (Master unit) / 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) (Slave unit) | 8.5 lbs (3.85 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (50W LF, 50W HF, Class A/B) | 36W total (18W per speaker) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz-20kHz -6dB | 52Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.5kHz | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX HD | SBC |
| Warranty | 12 months | - |
| Country | United Kingdom | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.46 | 3.91 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.21 | 6.53 |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux, Bluetooth | Balanced TRS, RCA, Aux, Bluetooth |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| App | - | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| EQ | - | Yes (rear knobs and app room compensation) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
| Sensitivity | - | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Outputs | - | 3.5mm headphone |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Audio Smile Little British Monitor: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and Sound on Sound.
- Edifier MR3: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and Jasper Tech.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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