Short answer: the Dayton Audio M4. It ranks #54 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $249.98. The Edifier MR4.5 ranks #69, rated 3.6/5, at $199.99, $49.99 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Edifier MR4.5 is the deeper-bass choice. A desktop monitor pair with deep bass for its size, LDAC Bluetooth, balanced inputs, a headphone jack and app tuning. Its bass reaches about 60Hz before falling 3dB, against 121Hz for the Dayton Audio M4. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Dayton Audio M4 lacks. Watch for: The response is uneven, with a broad upper-bass bump around 120 to 150Hz, a presence dip of roughly 3dB around 2 to 3kHz and brighter treble above it (listening-window tilt +0.22dB per octave), which holds its preference score to about 3.9 on its own and 6.1 with an ideal subwoofer.
Why pick the Dayton Audio M4: A compact, affordable powered desk pair with Bluetooth, USB-C, a subwoofer output and a soft, unfatiguing treble. Watch for: Existing listening and output notes describe limited bass, a balance that changes with distance, and distortion rising above roughly 93dB.
Buy the Dayton Audio M4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $49.99 with the Edifier MR4.5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR4.5 | Dayton Audio M4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 per pair | $249.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #69 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #54 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 5.5”W x 9.6”H x 9”D (140 x 244 x 229 mm) (active); 140W x 244H x 208D mm (passive) | 5” x 6.5” x 9.5” (127 x 165 x 241 mm) (W x D x H) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, balanced 6.35mm TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux, Bluetooth | RCA, USB-C, Bluetooth |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone | Subwoofer (20Hz-200Hz) |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.63 kg) | 6.2 lbs (2.81 kg) (active), 5.1 lbs (2.31 kg) (passive) |
| Drivers | 4.5-inch mid-bass driver + 1-inch silk-dome tweeter (each) | 4” aluminum woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, SBC | SBC, aptX |
| EQ | Yes (app EQ, room compensation settings and rear high/low controls) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W RMS total (Manufacturer specified) | 75W RMS (150W peak) |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (Manufacturer specified, 1m) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 121Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.86 (calculated from Erin’s Audio Corner CEA2034 data) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 (calculated from Erin’s Audio Corner CEA2034 data) | - |
| Measurement Source | Erin’s Audio Corner | - |
| Headphone Output | Yes | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | 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 (RCA) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | - | Yes (USB-C DAC, up to 192kHz/32-bit) |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
| Power Input | - | AC Power cord |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
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