Short answer: the Edifier MR3. It ranks #11 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $149.99; the Edifier R1700BT ranks #88, rated 3.2/5, and costs $219.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Edifier R1700BT does well: A compact powered pair with Bluetooth and analog inputs for easy desktop listening without a separate amplifier. The catch: Listening impressions suggest a bass-and-treble-forward balance rather than strict neutrality.
Why pick the Edifier MR3: An affordable desk pair with balanced sound, Bluetooth, and tone controls, a good first set of monitors. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Edifier R1700BT lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Edifier R1700BT lacks. The catch: Local response ripples remain: the measured 300Hz-5kHz span is 4.5dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.538.
Buy the Edifier MR3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Edifier R1700BT and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier R1700BT | Edifier MR3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.99 per pair | $149.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #88 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #11 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 10”H x 6.1”W x 8.4”D (254 x 154.9 x 213.4 mm) | 8.7”H x 4.9”W x 7.3”D (220 x 125.5 x 185 mm) (active); 220H x 125.5W x 176D mm (passive) |
| Frequency Response | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 52Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA Input | Balanced TRS, RCA, Aux, Bluetooth |
| Outputs | None | 3.5mm headphone |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) | 8.5 lbs (3.85 kg) |
| Drivers | 4” (102mm) woofer | 3.5” mid-low driver, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (rear knobs and app room compensation) |
| Amplifier Power | 66w RMS Per Speaker | 36W total (18W per speaker) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | - | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.91 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.53 |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
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