Short answer: the Mackie MR524. It ranks #33 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $379.98. The Edifier MR4 ranks #72, rated 3.5/5, at $169.99, $209.99 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Mackie MR524 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. A budget studio monitor with decent bass depth, an even midrange, and balanced and RCA inputs. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.11 against 3.25 for the Edifier MR4. Its bass reaches about 46.2Hz before falling 3dB, against 79Hz for the Edifier MR4. The tradeoff: The measured response trends upward toward the treble by about 0.47dB per octave, which can lend a brighter balance.
The case for the Edifier MR4: A budget desktop monitor pair with balanced TRS inputs, tone controls and a front headphone jack. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Mackie MR524 lacks. The tradeoff: Bass reaches -3dB around 79Hz, so deep extension should not be inferred from the overall flat trend.
Buy the Mackie MR524. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $209.99 with the Edifier MR4 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Mackie MR524 | Edifier MR4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $379.98 per pair | $169.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #33 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #72 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 79Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 38Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5-inch polypropylene woofer; 1-inch silk-dome tweeter | 4” (102mm) woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, balanced TRS, RCA | TRS Balanced, RCA, Aux |
| Amplifier Power | 50W bi-amplified per speaker | 42W RMS total (21W per speaker) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz-20kHz | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.11 | 3.25 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 | 6.00 |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Dimensions | 11.1” x 7.1” x 8.7” (281 x 180 x 221 mm) (H x W x D) | 9”H x 5.5”W x 7.6”D (228.6 x 139.7 x 193 mm) |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) | 9.9 lbs (4.5 kg) |
| Outputs | - | Headphone |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Monitor and Music modes) |
| Sensitivity | - | 78dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
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