Short answer: the Yamaha HS5. It ranks #66 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $399.98. The Edifier MR5 ranks #78, rated 3.3/5, at $349.99, $49.99 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Yamaha HS5 is the better-sounding option. A popular 5 inch studio monitor with balanced inputs and room placement controls for a home studio. The catch: The measurements do not support describing it as very neutral: excess midrange and reduced lower-midrange/upper-bass weight produce a bass-light balance.
The Edifier MR5 is the deeper-bass choice. A three way desktop monitor pair with a dedicated midrange, LDAC Bluetooth, balanced inputs, app EQ and a headphone jack. Its bass reaches about 51Hz before falling 3dB, against 88Hz for the Yamaha HS5. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Yamaha HS5 lacks. The tradeoff: Erin’s CTA-2034 data shows upper-midrange and treble irregularities, while off-axis response narrows more quickly than ideal above about 2-3kHz.
Buy the Yamaha HS5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $49.99 with the Edifier MR5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS5 | Edifier MR5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.98 per pair | $349.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #66 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #78 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Dimensions | 11.2”H x 6.7”W x 8.7”D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 mm) | 6.3”W x 10.4”H x 11”D (159 x 264 x 280 mm) (active); 159W x 264H x 257D mm (passive) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 46Hz-40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR | Balanced XLR, balanced 6.35mm TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) each | 22.9 lbs (10.38 kg) |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 5-inch woofer + 3.75-inch midrange + 1-inch silk-dome tweeter (each) |
| App | No | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (app EQ and rear high/low controls) |
| Amplifier Power | 45w Per Speaker | 110W RMS total (Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.70 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.32 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | - | 3.5mm headphone |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | LDAC, SBC |
| Maximum SPL | - | 101dB (Manufacturer specified, 1m) |
| Sensitivity | - | 85dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Measurement Source | - | Erin’s Audio Corner |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
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