Edifier Launches New MR4.5 Studio Monitors in the UK for £199.99
I have tested quite a few Edifier products over the years, from headphones and earbuds to desktop and wireless speakers, and I have become a genuine fan of the brand. Edifier tends to get the balance between sound quality, design and sensible pricing right, so I am always interested when something new appears in its audio range.
The latest arrival is the Edifier MR4.5, a new pair of bi-amplified studio monitor speakers aimed at creators, music producers and anyone looking for more accurate sound from a desktop setup.
The MR4.5 is now available in the UK for £199.99, sitting between the popular MR4 and the more advanced MR5 in Edifier's studio monitor range.
A More Serious Desktop Speaker
What makes the MR4.5 interesting is that Edifier hasn't designed it purely for professional studios.
The company describes it as a monitor for music production, video editing and content creation, but also for everyday listening. That combination makes sense to me. Many of us now use the same desk for work, editing videos, listening to music and watching content, and buying separate speakers for each purpose isn't particularly practical.
The MR4.5 uses a bi-amplified two-way design with a total output of 80W RMS. Each speaker system combines 4.5-inch polypropylene mid-bass drivers with 1-inch silk-dome tweeters. Edifier quotes a frequency response of 50Hz to 40kHz, while the speakers are both Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified.
Digital audio processing is handled at 24-bit/96kHz, alongside a two-way active crossover and dynamic range control.
Of course, specifications only tell us so much about how a speaker actually sounds. I haven't listened to the MR4.5 yet, so this isn't a review, but on paper it looks like a meaningful step up for someone who wants something more substantial than a conventional pair of computer speakers.
Designed to Work on a Real Desk
One feature I particularly like the sound of is the acoustic adjustment.
Speaker placement makes far more difference than many people realise. Most of us don't have acoustically treated studios, and desktop speakers often end up close to a wall, pushed into a corner or sitting directly on a desk.
Edifier includes several acoustic controls on the MR4.5 designed to compensate for these situations, including Acoustic Space, Desktop Control, Low Cutoff and frequency adjustments. The idea is to let you adapt the speakers to the room and their position rather than assuming everybody has an ideal listening environment.
There is also support for the Edifier ConneX app, which adds EQ adjustment, preset sound modes and further acoustic controls.
For a desktop monitor costing under £200, that's a useful amount of flexibility.
Bluetooth 6.0 and Multipoint Are Welcome Additions
The MR4.5 also feels much more modern than the traditional idea of a studio monitor.
Alongside its wired connections, it includes Bluetooth 6.0, high-resolution wireless audio and multipoint connectivity. Edifier says LDAC is supported, allowing compatible devices to stream higher-resolution audio over Bluetooth. Multipoint also means you can have more than one device connected and move between, for example, a computer and smartphone without constantly pairing them again.
That is exactly the sort of feature that makes a studio-style speaker much easier to live with every day.
And if you prefer cables, connectivity is particularly comprehensive. There are balanced XLR and 1/4-inch TRS inputs, alongside RCA and 3.5mm AUX connections. There's also a 3.5mm headphone output.
That means the MR4.5 should work comfortably with everything from a conventional computer to an audio interface, mixer or other studio equipment.
Where Does the MR4.5 Fit in Edifier's Range?
This is perhaps the most interesting part of the launch.
Edifier already has the MR4, which has become a popular affordable desktop monitor, while the MR5 sits further up the range with a three-way, tri-amplified design and 110W RMS output.
The MR4.5 effectively occupies the space between them. Edifier describes the MR4 as its studio monitoring essential, while the MR5 is positioned for more advanced studio monitoring. The MR4.5 is aimed more broadly at work, creation and everyday listening.
That positioning makes sense.
Not everybody buying good desktop speakers is producing an album. Some people edit YouTube videos, some work with audio occasionally, and plenty simply want their music to sound good while they work.
The addition of Bluetooth, multipoint, extensive physical connections and room adjustment makes the MR4.5 potentially much more versatile for that type of user.
My First Thoughts
I have had consistently good experiences with Edifier products, which is why new launches from the brand tend to catch my attention.
What interests me most about the MR4.5 isn't simply the promise of more power. It is the combination of proper monitor-style features with the things that make a speaker practical in everyday life.
Balanced XLR and TRS inputs sit alongside Bluetooth 6.0. There are acoustic adjustments for people who don't have perfect rooms. And you can use the same speakers for editing a video in the morning and listening to Spotify later in the day.
That feels like a sensible direction for desktop audio.
I would need to spend some proper time listening to the MR4.5 before saying how good they actually sound, particularly compared with Edifier's other monitors. But at £199.99 in the UK, the specification certainly makes them an interesting addition to what is becoming a very comprehensive Edifier speaker range.
The Edifier MR4.5 is available now in the UK for £199.99 through Amazon UK.
Jerome
Edifier launches the new MR4.5 studio monitors in the UK for £199.99, with 80W power, Hi-Res Audio, Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC and acoustic tuning.