Short answer: the HS5 if you need studio-grade inputs and room correction, the MR4 if you just want a clean-measuring desktop monitor for less. The HS5 ranks #66 and the MR4 ranks #72 out of 108 medium powered bookshelf speakers, a gap of $229.99 in price.
The MR4 is not the budget compromise the price suggests. Erin’s Audio Corner measurements put its midrange span at a tight 3.0dB with little overall on-axis tilt, actually tighter than the HS5’s 4.3dB spread. Audio Science Review’s testing of the HS5 found the opposite of its “very neutral” reputation: excess midrange energy and reduced lower-midrange weight give it a bass-light tonal balance. Despite that, the HS5 still edges ahead on predicted preference score (3.70 standalone, 6.32 with a subwoofer, against the MR4’s 3.25 and 6.00), largely on the strength of smoother early-reflection directivity that responds well to EQ correction.
Bass extension favors the HS5. It reaches -3dB around 88Hz against the MR4’s 109Hz, aided by a larger 5” woofer versus the MR4’s 4”. The MR4’s cons note also flags rapidly increasing distortion when pushed above moderate desktop levels, a limitation the HS5’s studio-oriented design does not share as severely.
What the HS5 adds: balanced XLR input and room-adjustment EQ controls built for studio placement against a wall or in a rack.
What the MR4 adds: TRS balanced, RCA, and aux inputs plus a headphone output, giving it more ways to connect at a desk, though it drops EQ entirely and has no Bluetooth.
Buy the MR4 if you want the cleaner midrange measurement and more flexible desktop inputs at a much lower price.
Buy the HS5 if you need balanced studio inputs, room-correction EQ, or the deeper bass extension for near-field monitoring.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Edifier MR4 reaches 59 Hz (10 dB down) against 68 Hz for the Yamaha HS5, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Close enough not to matter: preference score with a subwoofer (6.3 vs 6.0).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS5 | Edifier MR4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.98 per pair | $169.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #66 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #72 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 79Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.2”H x 6.7”W x 8.7”D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 mm) | 9”H x 5.5”W x 7.6”D (228.6 x 139.7 x 193 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR | TRS Balanced, RCA, Aux |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) each | 9.9 lbs (4.5 kg) |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 4” (102mm) woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Monitor and Music modes) |
| Amplifier Power | 45w Per Speaker | 42W RMS total (21W per speaker) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.70 | 3.25 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.32 | 6.00 |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | 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 |
| Outputs | - | Headphone |
| Sensitivity | - | 78dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Yamaha HS5: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Audio Science Review and DSAUDIO.review.
- Edifier MR4: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner, Audio Science Review and DSAUDIO.review.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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