Short answer: the Edifier MR3. It ranks #5 of 11 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $149.99; the Fiio SP3 ranks #11 and costs $299.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Edifier MR3 offers: 3.5” mid-range driver and 1” waveguided dome tweeter, with all amplification built into the primary cabinet and speaker-level output feeding the secondary unit. Watch for: Limited maximum output - measured around 86dB at 1 meter for a single speaker (about 92dB for a pair), a clear ceiling for anyone wanting to play loud.
What the Fiio SP3 offers: Solid build quality that feels more substantial than the ribbed, 3D-printed-looking exterior would suggest. Watch for: Treble runs too hot and the mid-range is heavily scooped out on-axis, the supposedly ideal listening position.
Buy the Edifier MR3. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Fiio SP3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Fiio SP3. It ranks near the bottom of the 11 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR3 | Fiio SP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 11 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #11 of 11 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| App | No | - |
| Dimensions | 5.9"H x 3.7"W x 5.9"D (149.9 x 94 x 149.9 mm) | 6.4"H x 4.7"W x 5.2"D (163 x 120 x 132 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | - |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA | AUX, RCA |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg | 4.3 lbs / 1.95 kg each |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter | 3.5" carbon fiber midwoofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Max SPL | 93dB @ 1m | - |
| Output Power | 36W total (18W per speaker) | 40W total (30W midwoofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Audioengine HD3 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- Edifier M60 vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Mackie CR3-X vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Edifier MR3 vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Edifier MR3 vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
The Two Speakers In Full
Edifier MR3: $149.99 Amazon
Pros: 3.5” mid-range driver and 1” waveguided dome tweeter, with all amplification built into the primary cabinet and speaker-level output feeding the secondary unit. Extensive back-panel tone controls (treble and bass boost/cut) plus a Bluetooth app with low-frequency cutoff, acoustic-space compensation, and a 6-band custom EQ - unusually flexible tuning for the price. On-axis linearity holds within about ±2dB, notably flatter than most rivals in this price bracket. The reviewer considers it the best desktop speaker he’s tested in its size and price class, edging out its own predecessor, the Edifier MR4. Tonal consistency holds within about ±60° horizontally, giving some flexibility to move around at a desk without a major shift in sound. A built-in limiter protects the speaker from overdrive rather than letting distortion climb uncontrolled at higher volumes.
Cons: Limited maximum output - measured around 86dB at 1 meter for a single speaker (about 92dB for a pair), a clear ceiling for anyone wanting to play loud. Compression is significant when pushed toward its output limit: targeting 96dB nets about 9dB of compression, meaning effective output tops out closer to 87dB. Bass extends only to about 60Hz without added room or desk gain. Vertical placement is fairly critical - sitting more than about 20° above the tweeter axis (for example, speakers placed low on a desk with the listener seated well above them) causes a significant midrange suckout, hurting dialogue clarity and attack. Strictly a near-field/small-room solution - fine for desktop or modest TV/Bluetooth duty, but not intended as a serious hi-fi speaker.
Full Edifier MR3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 5.9"H x 3.7"W x 5.9"D (149.9 x 94 x 149.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA |
| Max SPL | 93dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 36W total (18W per speaker) |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Edifier MR3 vs Audioengine HD3
- Edifier MR3 vs Edifier M60
- Edifier MR3 vs Adam Audio D3v
- Edifier MR3 vs Audioengine A2+
- Edifier MR3 vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Edifier MR3 vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Edifier MR3 vs Genelec 8010A
- Edifier MR3 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- See all 10 comparisons
Fiio SP3: $299.99 Amazon
Pros: Solid build quality that feels more substantial than the ribbed, 3D-printed-looking exterior would suggest. RGB lighting accent on the base. Genuinely good dynamic range and compression behavior at higher frequencies - the one area where the reviewer says the manufacturer’s marketing claims actually hold up. Compact footprint for a desktop setup, with a 7° riser built into the base to angle the drivers toward the listener.
Cons: Treble runs too hot and the mid-range is heavily scooped out on-axis, the supposedly ideal listening position. A severely mismatched enclosure-to-driver tuning creates a very high-Q bass resonance - a one-note bass “boom” rather than usable extension, with a steep 7dB rolloff between F3 (59Hz) and F10 (53Hz). Tilting the speaker to change listening angle doesn’t fix the tonal problems; because the crossover itself is poorly executed, off-axis listening just trades one set of problems (5-10dB dip at the crossover region) for another. The reviewer found no EQ or placement adjustment that made it sound acceptable, and specifically calls out the manufacturer’s marketing claims (driver size, dynamics, soundstage) as misleading relative to comparably-priced competitors like the Presonus Eris 3.5. No volume knob on the front panel. Recommended alternative: the Monoprice MM3.
Full Fiio SP3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 6.4"H x 4.7"W x 5.2"D (163 x 120 x 132 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.5" carbon fiber midwoofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Inputs | AUX, RCA |
| Output Power | 40W total (30W midwoofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Weight | 4.3 lbs / 1.95 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons