Short answer: the Palmer STUDIMON 5. It ranks #68 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $599.98. The Edifier MR5 ranks #78, rated 3.3/5, at $349.99, $249.99 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
What the Edifier MR5 does well: A three way desktop monitor pair with a dedicated midrange, LDAC Bluetooth, balanced inputs, app EQ and a headphone jack. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Palmer STUDIMON 5 lacks. The catch: Erin’s CTA-2034 data shows upper-midrange and treble irregularities, while off-axis response narrows more quickly than ideal above about 2-3kHz.
The Palmer STUDIMON 5 is the better-sounding choice. A plain compact studio monitor with balanced XLR and TRS inputs that fits easily into a home studio setup. The catch: 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 Palmer STUDIMON 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $249.99 you would save on the Edifier MR5 does not close the gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR5 | Palmer STUDIMON 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.99 per pair | $599.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #78 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 6.3”W x 10.4”H x 11”D (159 x 264 x 280 mm) (active); 159W x 264H x 257D mm (passive) | 10.6H x 7.5W x 8.5D in |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz-40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, balanced 6.35mm TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux | Balanced XLR and 1/4” TRS |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone | - |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs (10.38 kg) | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5-inch woofer + 3.75-inch midrange + 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 and rear high/low controls) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 110W RMS total (Manufacturer specified) | 60W each (30W LF, 30W HF) |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (Manufacturer specified, 1m) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.37 |
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