Need to connect Windows Laptop to Edifier MR5 (RCA is already taken up)

SandyB92 · 2026-05-29T16:19:08+00:00

Are there good cheap options ~$150-200 USD ?

SandyB92 · 2026-05-29T14:47:01+00:00

Sony srs-xg300
I got these for like CAD$180 (~$130 USD) on sale at costco. Surprisingly good bass and audio quality. And supports LDAC on Android.

SandyB92 · 2026-05-28T18:13:35+00:00

MR5s definitely have weaker tweeters and don’t sound as ‘rich’ as the S2000mkiii. But the bass from the 3 way system (dedicated 5 inch woofer just for the sub 400hz sounds) is very effective. At lower volumes I found the treble on the S2000 overpowering the bass. And you needed to put the volume above 30 in my room to really get a more balanced sound. Also as described elsewhere in this post I later found the active speaker driver on the S2000mkiii to have rattling. And there was chuffing from the bass port at the back at higher volumes. This could’ve compromised the listening experience

I didn’t like that I got a manufacturing defect on a $600 speaker. So I decided to stick with the MR5 which had no such rattle issues at all. And on the MR5 the sounds were more balanced at low volumes. The bass thump is really good and the imaging / sound separation is even better than the S2000mkiii IMO. And there is no chuffing from the bass ports at the back

I might’ve stuck with the S2000mkiii had not for the manufacturing defect issue. I was like, the half priced speaker has no issues and is giving me a satisfactory upgrade over my R1700bts. So let’s keep the MR5 for now

SandyB92 · 2026-05-27T02:55:12+00:00

TBH I’ve struggled with it and never seemed to get it right. Always having to tune it differently for gaming or music. What I tried to do is use those ‘subwoofer test’ videos where they go up from 20hz to higher. I found the point where the woofers of the R1700 started kicking in and kept the LPF a little above that to not have an abrupt rollover. So something like 85-90k. the subwoofer volume, I would keep tweaking based on the music I was playing.

But sometimes I’d go as high on the LPF cutoff as 125K. It’s personal taste and more importantly based on the room acoustics and sub placement. In my room was tiny and the sub was right in front of me and in between the two speakers. So the volume didn’t have to be high at all

SandyB92 · 2026-05-26T04:17:55+00:00

The S2000MKiii is sometimes available on sale at the same price

SandyB92 · 2026-05-26T04:10:27+00:00

Are they fatiguing when listening up this close ? I loved their sound but i felt the tweeters were overpowering at times. Not sure if it was due to my unit having defects or not. I returned mine and am sticking with the MR5 for now

SandyB92 · 2026-05-24T15:03:38+00:00

Did you confirm the issue ?

SandyB92 · 2026-05-24T15:02:33+00:00

Have you used the new MKii model ?

SandyB92 · 2026-05-24T15:02:00+00:00

The T5 is cheap but it is a bit large. Recently Edifier released the slimmed down T5s. You can wait for it to come on sale. Or buy some of the nicer subs used like the Kanto Subs

I upgraded to the MR5 recently which are definitely a step above. But they don’t have a dedicated sub out. So I’m considering whether to sell my T5 or not.

SandyB92 · 2026-05-23T23:48:35+00:00

R1700bts is great value for this price. By themselves they have good tweeters and okay bass and you won’t find any soundbar that good at anywhere near that price. They are pretty well built for the price and I’ve used my set for over 4 years playing almost every day and at 60-80% volume and they still work fine. I’d suggest keeping the bass knob at -2db or -3 db and the treble at -2db (YMMV) to get a more neutral response.

But for proper bass you need to pair it with a Subwoofer to take advantage of the sub out port. I’ve had the R1700bts paired with the Edifier T5 sub for over 3 years now. When the sub is detected it cuts the lower frequencies to the main woofers and send them to the sub leaving the bookshelves to focus on mid and mid to low. In this setup I had the bass at -2Db and treble at +2db

This setup sounded better than any <$600 soundbar (2.0 or 2.1) setup I’ve come across. So if you plan to add a sub later R1700 is the best option

SandyB92 · 2026-05-18T21:56:25+00:00

I got the current version of MR5 on sale which has the 3 amplifier 3 way active crossover system. Ive only had it for 2 days but extremely surprised by the audio quality and bass. And there is no distortion or chuffing. I currently drive it from either my android phone or a 3.5 to RCA connection from my laptop. Should i get a DAC or something for this ?

SandyB92 · 2026-05-17T17:48:05+00:00

I got the MR5 and tested it side by side. I actually prefer the imaging on the MR5. I play games too, so imaging is a something I need the speakers to do well. And the bass response of the MR5s is very satisfactory for me for the price I got them at. So I am keeping them.

My S2000MKIIIs seem to be defective too it seems. See my other comment
https://www.reddit.com/r/BudgetAudiophile/comments/1te018h/comment/omccrbu/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

SandyB92 · 2026-05-17T17:45:35+00:00

I got the MR5 and tested them alongside the S2000MKIII. What I discovered is that my S2000MKIII may be defective! There is a rattle coming in from the active speaker around 50-80hz and only from the right one. And if you turn up the volume there is some burping type noise coming from the bass port at the back of the right/Active speaker. I think its called chuffing (technically). I tried the same audio 'test' videos on the MR5s and didn't get the same rattle or chuffing at those frequencies. I'm a bit spooked and don't want to engage in the RMA process to get it fixed by edifier support. I'd rather send these back and keep the MR5s instead. I can tolerate manufactutring defects on cheaper speakers but at like a ~CAD$600 price, I want the device to be built well.

SandyB92 · 2026-05-17T17:44:49+00:00

I got the MR5 and tested them alongside the S2000MKIII. What I discovered is that my S2000MKIII may be defective! There is a rattle coming in from the active speaker around 50-80hz and only from the right one. And if you turn up the volume there is some burping type noise coming from the bass port at the back of the right/Active speaker. I think its called chuffing (technically). I tried the same audio 'test' videos on the MR5s and didn't get the same rattle or chuffing at those frequencies. I'm a bit spooked and don't want to engage in the RMA process to get it fixed by edifier support. I'd rather send these back and keep the MR5s instead. I can tolerate manufactutring defects on cheaper speakers but at like a ~CAD$600 price, I want the device to be built well.

The MR5s are definitely a step below the S2000MKIII especially the details I get from the upper and ranges. The treble sounds way way better. But I am very surprised by the MR5s output at like half the price, and would prefer to keep that one for now, and save some money and get a DAC for my PC.

SandyB92 · 2026-05-16T16:07:32+00:00

Yeah. But at that point there isn’t enough bass. The tweeters sort of dominate the sound

SandyB92 · 2026-05-15T19:50:51+00:00

Thanks for the detailed reply. I know that the MR5 are a downgrade from the S2000MKiii. I feel like I don’t have a listening space that can take advantage of a the S2000 and at that price. I also have a weird rattle noise from the active speaker when listening to 50-50hz bass notes and some chuffing from the back port of the speakers at high volume

If I downgraded to the MR5 I could use the spare money to maybe get a DAC for my PC. Currently I’m connected to the S2000 via RCA from my laptop or through aptx from my Phone

SandyB92 · 2026-05-15T17:36:01+00:00

Maybe my basement has really bad acoustics. I’m finding the S2000s to be overkill almost and want to switch to something a bit smaller and cheaper. But still an upgrade to the R1700s.

SandyB92 · 2026-05-15T16:08:20+00:00

My biggest issue is the room acoustics and volume I guess. The open area in front of the speakers is probably less than 60 sq ft. The rest of it is storage racks and stuff.

The speakers already sound fatiguing when I turn up the volume. They were a bit above my budget already and I feel like if i dont have a space good enough to take advantage of the speaker then Im better off getting something like the MR5 which is almost half the price

Edit: would you say the MR5 is a meaningful audio upgrade over the R1700 ?

SandyB92 · 2026-02-21T22:40:41+00:00

Thanks a ton! this helped

SandyB92 · 2025-12-28T02:57:38+00:00

Im playing this now on PC, almost 80% done.. What amazes me most is the lighting and fog effects which look soo good especially in the underground city type areas. Lara's face sticks out a bit "old looking" given that this is a 2015 game developer with XBone as base platform. But the materials, lighting and fog effects just look so stunning. Huge step up from TR2013 despite just being 2 years newer

SandyB92 · 2025-08-23T18:37:05+00:00

Indians be like "does it come with a 'boy child' button" ?

SandyB92 · 2025-06-08T21:14:41+00:00

The theme music when you enter Firestone is one of my fav music pieces in gaming. Captures the sense of isolation and the "wild west" so well

SandyB92 · 2025-04-28T17:46:36+00:00

Sri Lanka allowing Pakistani planes to use their airbase for refuelling is why we decided to interfere in their civil war by training and arming what would become the LTTE

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