Here is our review of the Edifier MR4.5 Bi-amped Studio Monitor Speakers.
The new MR4.5 – a new studio monitor designed for creators, producers and music enthusiasts seeking professional-grade sound in a versatile desktop speaker.
Positioned between the popular MR4 and flagship MR5, the MR4.5 delivers accurate, balanced audio for music production, video editing, content creation and everyday listening. Its bi-amplified design, Hi-Res Audio certification and wide frequency response ensure users hear every detail with precision.
Features
- Flat frequency response from 50Hz to 40kHz
- 80W (RMS) total output power, with SPL up to 98dB (@ 1 meter)
- Fine-tuned 4.5″ mid-bass drivers and 1″ silk dome tweeters
- Full digital signal processing, 2-way active crossover, and DRC
- Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified
- Multiple settings for room acoustic compensation
- Balanced XLR, balanced TRS, RCA, and AUX inputs, with a headphone output socket
- Bluetooth V6.0 audio receiver supporting multipoint connection
- Dual preset sound modes and customizable EQs by the EDIFIER ConneX App
- The MDF cabinet effectively reduces distortion and resonance
What’s in the box?
You get the speakers, the cabling to connect the two and a quick start guide.
A Closer Look
Final thoughts
The first thing you notice with the MR4.5s is that they don’t look or feel like budget desktop speakers. The cabinets are solid, the white finish on my review pair is clean without looking clinical, and the dimpled tweeter waveguide up front gives them a bit of visual character rather than just being a plain grille. Around the back is where things get interesting: alongside the XLR, TRS, RCA, and AUX inputs, you’ve got a high knob and a low knob for shaping the top and bottom end by up to 6dB, which is a genuinely useful thing to have physically on hand rather than buried in software.
Speaking of software, the ConneX app is where the room compensation lives. Desks and shelves do all sorts of unhelpful things to bass response, and being able to dial that back in from your phone rather than fiddling blindly with a knob is a nice touch. Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint means you can have your laptop and your phone both paired at once and switch between them without re-pairing every time, which sounds like a small thing until you’re actually doing it several times a day.
Sound-wise, these are genuinely impressive for the price. The frequency response is rated flat from 50Hz to 40kHz, and while I can’t verify that with lab equipment on my desk, what I can tell you is that the mid-bass drivers hit with real authority for their size and the silk dome tweeters keep the top end smooth rather than harsh. Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification means you’re not losing much even over Bluetooth with LDAC, which isn’t something you could say about most desktop speakers in this price range a couple of years ago. Vocals sit forward and clear, cymbals don’t turn into a wash of noise, and even at higher volumes the 80W of total power doesn’t seem to run out of headroom.
What I like most about the MR4.5s is that they don’t force you to choose a lane. Plug in over XLR from an audio interface and they behave like proper near-field monitors for mixing. Hook up over Bluetooth from your phone and they’re perfectly happy being a very good pair of desktop speakers for music while you work. The rear EQ knobs and the app-based room compensation mean you can actually tune them to your space rather than just hoping for the best, and the build quality feels well beyond what £199.99 usually buys you.
Are they going to replace a dedicated pair of flagship studio monitors for serious mixing work? Probably not. But for anyone who wants one set of speakers that can competently handle both work and play, the Edifier MR4.5 makes a very strong case for itself. Recommended.
The Edifier MR4.5 is available now in either Black or White for £199.99.
