Short answer: the Edifier MR3. It ranks #8 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $109.99; the Audioengine A2+ ranks #12, rated 3.4/5, and costs $299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
MR3 posts a 3.91 standalone preference score and 6.53 with an ideal subwoofer in Erin’s Klippel testing, with little overall tilt across the listening window and bass reaching -3dB around 60Hz. App-based EQ and tone controls add flexibility a fixed-volume desktop speaker can’t match.
A2+ scores lower standalone (2.78) and needs reinforcement to sound its best, with a measured -3dB point around 106Hz. Its RCA, 3.5mm, USB and Bluetooth inputs plus a tiny footprint and variable RCA output make it a genuinely flexible desktop hub, just not a strong standalone performer.
Buy the Edifier MR3 for the better standalone measurements and lower price. Buy the Audioengine A2+ if the smaller footprint and extra inputs matter more than tonal accuracy on their own.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR3 | Audioengine A2+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.99 per pair | $299.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #12 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) | No |
| Dimensions | 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) | 6” x 4” x 5.2” (152 x 102 x 133 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (rear knobs and app room compensation) | No (fixed volume knob only) |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Balanced TRS, RCA, Aux, Bluetooth | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs (3.85 kg) | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) left / 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) right |
| Drivers | 3.5” mid-low driver, 1” silk dome tweeter | 0.75” silk dome tweeter, 2.75” fiber woofer |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 58.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 105.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Amplifier Power | 36W total (18W per speaker) | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.91 | 2.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.53 | 6.10 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone | RCA variable output (subwoofer) |
| Headphone Output | Yes | - |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Edifier MR3:
- Audio Smile Little British Monitor vs Edifier MR3
- Edifier MR3 vs Genelec 8010A
- Adam Audio D3v vs Edifier MR3
- Edifier MR3 vs Cambridge Audio L/R S
- Edifier MR3 vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Edifier MR3: $109.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s measurements show little overall tilt across the listening window, helping voices retain a broadly natural balance at a desk. Scores of 3.91 standalone and 6.53 with an ideal subwoofer support it as a useful budget nearfield option rather than a reference monitor. Tone controls and app-based EQ provide unusually flexible adjustment, and its bass extends farther than the Fostex PM03’s. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.3dB.
Cons: Local response ripples remain: the measured 300Hz-5kHz span is 4.5dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.538. Bass reaches -3dB at about 70Hz. The limiter protects the drivers but prevents much extra loudness when pushed; existing compression testing puts effective single-speaker output around 86-87dB at 1m. Vertical crossover interference makes tweeter height and tilt important.
Full Edifier MR3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 36W total (18W per speaker) |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 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) |
| Drivers | 3.5” mid-low driver, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (rear knobs and app room compensation) |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | Balanced TRS, RCA, Aux, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.91 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.53 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs (3.85 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audioengine A2+: $299.00 per pair Amazon Audioengine eBay
Pros: Erin’s Klippel measurements give a 6.10 predicted preference score with an ideal subwoofer. The tiny footprint, multiple inputs and variable RCA output are useful for desktop listening. The existing review found desk placement more forgiving than free-space placement, with no major port-chuffing problem in its tests. Measured bass extension of 105.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 2.78 standalone score and roughly 106Hz measured -3dB point reveal how much bass is missing without reinforcement or a subwoofer. Midrange and crossover-region dips remain; desk gain is placement-dependent and cannot be assumed to correct them. Compression becomes substantial above roughly 87dB at 1m in the review, so this is a quiet nearfield option rather than a high-output monitor.
Full Audioengine A2+ review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 105.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6” x 4” x 5.2” (152 x 102 x 133 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.75” silk dome tweeter, 2.75” fiber woofer |
| EQ | No (fixed volume knob only) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | RCA variable output (subwoofer) |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) left / 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) right |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audioengine A2+ vs Monacor SOUND-4BT
- Audioengine A2+ vs Bowers & Wilkins Formation Flex
- Audioengine A2+ vs Kanto YU4
- Audioengine A2+ vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Audioengine A2+ vs Sovox MiniMax3
- Audioengine A2+ vs Monoprice Monolith MM-3
- Audioengine A2+ vs HiVi Swan X3
- Audioengine A2+ vs Mackie CR3-X
- See all 16 comparisons