I'm Jamie, a writer for Hollow Fidelity, and I'm here to share my experience of using the Edifier MR4 speakers for the past six months.
When I first posted my video of the MR4 speakers, I had already bought and filmed it in December. Since then, I've been using them as my go-to speakers for watching movies, playing video games, and listening to music while cooking.
To me, there are two kinds of sounds - one where the sound is the focal point, and the other where the sound is just there. With the MR4s, I don't get the same sense of specialness as I do with other speakers. While there's nothing particularly flawed about it, I also don't find the experience particularly memorable.
That's why I ended up using the MR4s in the living room, where I watch movies, play video games, and listen to music while cooking. It's a situation where the music just needs to be there, and the MR4s do the job well.
The MR4s measure well on all objective tests, and even to the subjective ear, they sound good. They have pretty good bass, are small, convenient, easy to use, and suitable for small environments. The price point is also great, and another plus is that it has three sets of inputs, two in the back and one in the front.
However, there are a few things that bother me about the MR4s. First, the volume control knob doesn't turn continuously but goes step by step. I find it difficult to find a comfortable listening volume because the first step is too quiet, but then the next step is too loud.
Another thing that bothers me is the white version's shades of white on the panels. The front panel is a true white color, but then the side and back panels are slightly textured and an off-white shade. From certain angles, it just makes the speaker look faded or yellowed.
Despite these issues, the MR4s have a built-in amplifier, which makes for a cleaner setup. The sound is clean, there's good bass, and the look is decent. However, the volume control makes it difficult to find a comfortable listening volume, and I personally find that the speakers lack a little bit of character or story for me to embrace.
After reflecting on why I didn't like the MR4s, I realized that my motive for buying them was to compare them with the Technics SPF Ones. I wanted to look at what $150 would get me in today's market and use it as a price point comparison. However, I love the SPF Ones, and I think that perhaps unconsciously, I feel like there's competition there, which creates a psychological resistance in me wanting to like the MR4s.
Another reason is that I personally have an affinity for vintage and used gear. I feel like there's something more unique and special, with more of a story when it comes to that. With the MR4s, while there's really nothing wrong with them, there's just something lacking that makes me not want to embrace them fully.
In summary, the MR4s are good speakers, but they lack a little bit of character or story for me to fully embrace them. They're suitable for situations where the music just needs to be there, but they don't provide the same sense of specialness as other speakers. Nonetheless, they're still a good value for the price, and I look forward to seeing you in my next video.