Short answer: the Genelec 8320A for better sound quality, the Edifier MR4 for the lower price. The Genelec 8320A ranks #9 of 60 powered bookshelf speakers at $850. The Edifier MR4 ranks #31 at $129.97, $720.03 cheaper.
What the Edifier MR4 offers: More balanced than the R1280DB. The value king. Impressively deep, flat bass down to 70Hz for such a small speaker, and its waveguide gives it unusually wide, consistent horizontal directivity for the price. Balanced XLR/TRS inputs are rare this cheap. Watch for: No Bluetooth unlike other Edifier models. Distortion climbs sharply above 86dB SPL, breaking into audible squealing near 96dB, and there’s a dip in the lower treble that needs a bit of EQ or the rear HF control to smooth out. Playback volume is limited with bass-heavy material - pushing it loud brings audible clicking/static.
What the Genelec 8320A offers: The Directivity Control Waveguide and die cast aluminum Minimum Diffraction Enclosure produce a listening window smoothness score of 0.53 and a low frequency alignment Q of just 0.227, the cleanest, least resonant bass rolloff of any speaker in this whole batch. It network calibrates through Genelec’s GLM software for automatic room correction, and Intelligent Signal Sensing drops standby power to under 0.5W. Watch for: On axis deviation measures 0.169dB average, decent but not class leading next to the AsciLab and Audio Smile entries in this batch. The compact 4.1 inch woofer limits low frequency extension to a measured 67.4Hz at -3dB, so a subwoofer is needed for full range use. The GLM calibration kit that unlocks its room correction features is sold separately from the speaker price, and max SPL tops out around 100dB, modest next to Genelec’s larger 8000 series monitors.
Buy the Edifier MR4 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Genelec 8320A if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR4 | Genelec 8320A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.97 | $850 each |
| Ranked | #31 of 60 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #9 of 60 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 9"H x 5.5"W x 7.6"D (228.6 x 139.7 x 193 mm) | 9.5"H x 5.9"W x 5.6"D (242 x 151 x 142 mm) (9.5 x 5.9 x 5.6 in) |
| Frequency Response | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz-23kHz -6dB |
| Inputs | TRS Balanced, RCA, Aux | - |
| Outputs | Headphone | - |
| Weight | 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kg | 7.1 lbs / 3.2 kg (7.1 lbs) each |
| Drivers | 4" (102mm) woofer | 0.75" metal dome tweeter, 4.1" cone woofer |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Output Power | 42w RMS Per Speaker | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 109Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 78dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Enclosure | - | ported |
| Power Output (Watts) | - | 100W total (50W woofer, 50W tweeter, Class D) |
| Max SPL | - | Peak 107dB |
| Warranty | - | 2 years (5 with product registration) |
| Country | - | Finland |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KRK Classic 5 vs Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus
- KRK Classic 5 vs Klipsch The Fives
- KRK Classic 5 vs Kali Audio IN-UNF
- Edifier R1280DB vs Genelec 8320A
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Genelec 8320A
Prices on this page were last checked August 24, 2026 at 6:53 AM 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 MR4: $129.97 Amazon eBay
Pros: More balanced than the R1280DB. The value king. Impressively deep, flat bass down to 70Hz for such a small speaker, and its waveguide gives it unusually wide, consistent horizontal directivity for the price. Balanced XLR/TRS inputs are rare this cheap.
Cons: No Bluetooth unlike other Edifier models. Distortion climbs sharply above 86dB SPL, breaking into audible squealing near 96dB, and there’s a dip in the lower treble that needs a bit of EQ or the rear HF control to smooth out. Playback volume is limited with bass-heavy material - pushing it loud brings audible clicking/static.
Full Edifier MR4 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 109Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 9"H x 5.5"W x 7.6"D (228.6 x 139.7 x 193 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" (102mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS Balanced, RCA, Aux |
| Output Power | 42w RMS Per Speaker |
| Outputs | Headphone |
| Sensitivity | 78dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Edifier R1280DBs sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Edifier R1700BT sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs iLoud Micro Monitor sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Presonus Eris E4.5 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Mackie CR4-X sound.DEMO
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Edifier MR4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Genelec 8320A: $850 each Bhphotovideo eBay
Pros: The Directivity Control Waveguide and die cast aluminum Minimum Diffraction Enclosure produce a listening window smoothness score of 0.53 and a low frequency alignment Q of just 0.227, the cleanest, least resonant bass rolloff of any speaker in this whole batch. It network calibrates through Genelec’s GLM software for automatic room correction, and Intelligent Signal Sensing drops standby power to under 0.5W.
Cons: On axis deviation measures 0.169dB average, decent but not class leading next to the AsciLab and Audio Smile entries in this batch. The compact 4.1 inch woofer limits low frequency extension to a measured 67.4Hz at -3dB, so a subwoofer is needed for full range use. The GLM calibration kit that unlocks its room correction features is sold separately from the speaker price, and max SPL tops out around 100dB, modest next to Genelec’s larger 8000 series monitors.
Full Genelec 8320A review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Country | Finland |
| Dimensions | 9.5"H x 5.9"W x 5.6"D (242 x 151 x 142 mm) (9.5 x 5.9 x 5.6 in) |
| Drivers | 0.75" metal dome tweeter, 4.1" cone woofer |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz-23kHz -6dB |
| Max SPL | Peak 107dB |
| Power Output (Watts) | 100W total (50W woofer, 50W tweeter, Class D) |
| Warranty | 2 years (5 with product registration) |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs / 3.2 kg (7.1 lbs) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons