Short answer: the Edifier MR4.5. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#69 and #68 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers), and the Edifier MR4.5 costs $199.99 against $599.98 for the Palmer STUDIMON 5, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the Edifier MR4.5: A desktop monitor pair with deep bass for its size, LDAC Bluetooth, balanced inputs, a headphone jack and app tuning. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Palmer STUDIMON 5 lacks. The catch: 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 Palmer STUDIMON 5: A plain compact studio monitor with balanced XLR and TRS inputs that fits easily into a home studio setup. The tradeoff: The trace spans 4.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and estimates -3dB bass around 80Hz, with local irregularities despite the level overall trend.
Buy the Edifier MR4.5. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $399.99 less than the Palmer STUDIMON 5.
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Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR4.5 | Palmer STUDIMON 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 per pair | $599.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #69 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #68 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) | 10.6H x 7.5W x 8.5D in |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, balanced 6.35mm TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux, Bluetooth | Balanced XLR and 1/4” TRS |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone | - |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.63 kg) | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) each |
| Drivers | 4.5-inch mid-bass driver + 1-inch silk-dome tweeter (each) | 0.75” soft-dome tweeter, 5” woofer |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, SBC | - |
| EQ | Yes (app EQ, room compensation settings and rear high/low controls) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W RMS total (Manufacturer specified) | 60W each (30W LF, 30W HF) |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (Manufacturer specified, 1m) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.86 (calculated from Erin’s Audio Corner CEA2034 data) | 3.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 (calculated from Erin’s Audio Corner CEA2034 data) | 6.37 |
| Measurement Source | Erin’s Audio Corner | - |
| Headphone Output | Yes | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way active, rear-ported |
| Country | - | Germany (design) |
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