Edirol MA-15D

The Edirol MA-15D stereo multimedia speakers are designed for accurate sound reproduction, especially when used as studio monitors. Designed to be used as monitors, the MA-15D are will more accurately reproduce sound with little coloration, as opposed to many multimedia speakers that have a frequency response tuned to please the listener. Retailing for around $179 (MSRP $220), these powered speakers deliver 15 Watts of power per channel, and have a multitude of input options. There are two independent input source channels with 4 input options including: 1) 1/8" stereo analog, 2) RCA stereo analog, 3) digital coaxial, and 4) digital S/PDIF optical.

Where to Buy

Edirol MA-15D main closeup
MSRP $179.00
Release date --
Brand Edirol
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Pros & Cons14
Reviews6
Details
Buy It2
Competitors4
Comments8
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
6 reviews
62
negative
mixed
positive
3 positive
1 mixed
2 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
•
Headphone output
+4agreedisagree

•
Many input options (2 analog, 2 digital)
+3agreedisagree

•
Two independent source inputs with dedicated volume control
+3agreedisagree

•
Sub-woofer output
+3agreedisagree

•
Includes a bass enhancer circuit with toggle
+3agreedisagree

•
Optical S/PDIF input reduces the chance of any noise introduced by your computer
+3agreedisagree

•
Concise, accurate sound quality
+2agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
Slightly directional
+3agreedisagree

•
Cabinet / protective grill can resonate slightly at lower-mid frequencies
+2agreedisagree

•
Lacking in lower-end bass
+1agreedisagree

•
Requires you use an EQ to get music to sound "right" - boost the bass, and highs
+1agreedisagree

•
Can't be turned up very loud
0agreedisagree

•
SPDIF input chokes on 5.1 encoded signals
0agreedisagree

•
Not accurate to call these "reference speakers"
-1agreedisagree


7 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

Features

  • 4" mid-range driver, 1" tweeter, 2 tuned bass ports
  • power: 15 Watts RMS / channel
  • inputs: 1 x RCA, 1 x 1/8" stereo, 1 x optical, 1 x coaxial
  • magnetically shielded
  • 1/4" headphone output
  • bass enhancer circuit that can be turned on or off
  • controls (on front): volume (line 1, line 2), treble, bass
  • sub-woofer output

Competitors

Submit a link

This report was started October 14, 2007 at 8:32 pm by Erik
with the last edit occurring October 24, 2009 at 7:02 pm by Andreas N?rholm Tarding
This page has been viewed 9701 times, with 80 edits by 9 contributors.
See the full report history »

Buy It

Edirol MA-15D | Wood finish

• Edirol MA-15D Digital Stereo Micro Monitors

• MA-15D Monitors (Pair)

UPC: 761294087602

EAN: 761294087602

MPN: MA-15D

Edirol MA-15D | Black

• Edirol MA-15DBK Digital Stereo Micro Monitor

• MA-15DBK Digital Stereo Micro Monitor - 30watt / 4" Speakers with Digital in Black

UPC: 761294404737

EAN: 761294404737

MPN: MA15DBK

Edirol MA-15D

Edirol MA-15D

• MA-15D Monitor Studio Active

MPN: MA15D

Competitors

Edirol MA-15D is ranked 3rd among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Multimedia Speakers »
Audioengine 2

Audioengine 2

MSRP  $199.00    Released  June, 2007
Pros
  • Decent bass considering their tiny size
  • Both 1/8" and RCA inputs
  • Come wrapped in soft pouches to prevent scratches
Cons
  • no S/PDIF input
  • No headphone output
  • Pretty expensive for their power rating
ProSCORE
6 reviews
79
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Edirol MA-15D 0% vs. vote Audioengine 2 100%
M-AUDIO Studiophile AV40

M-AUDIO Studiophile AV40

MSRP  $200.00    Released  May, 2007
Pros
  • balanced 1/4" TRS or unbalanced RCA inputs
  • 1/8" auxiliary input
  • affordable
Cons
  • no digital inputs
  • on/off switch is on the back
  • small 4" woofers
ProSCORE
4 reviews
68
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Edirol MA-15D 33% vs. vote M-AUDIO Studiophile AV40 67%
Behringer MS40

Behringer MS40

MSRP  $130.00    Released  --
ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (0 votes)
vote Edirol MA-15D   vs. vote Behringer MS40  
M-AUDIO StudioPro 3

M-AUDIO StudioPro 3

MSRP  $100.00    Released  October, 2005
Pros
  • MDF cabinet
  • Good quality-to-price ratio
  • Front 1/8" headphone output
  • Accepts both RCA stereo and AUX 1/8" stereo
Cons
  • Lacking lower-end bass
  • Mediocre styling
ProSCORE
1 review
71
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Edirol MA-15D 100% vs. vote M-AUDIO StudioPro 3 0%

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Comments

1.  avatar Erik said:

I'm drooling over these. I love having a ton of input connections, and I love that these have both optical and coaxial inputs. Most standard sound cards have digital out, so you can guarantee that your sound is as clean as possible by doing the D/A conversion in the speaker instead of the electrically-noisy environment inside your computer.

If you're doing any audio recording or video editing on your PC, I would suggest you consider these speakers. Not too expensive, and the multitude of connectivity options including a headphone output will keep you happy.
Oct 18, 2007 12:08pm
2.  avatar Discwog said:

I bought these to use in a small conference room to play audio from a laptop and/or mp3 player. They sound great and do a great job filling the room with sound. The input options are plentiful!
Oct 22, 2007 2:56pm
3.  avatar sebchorney said:

To avoid any confusion on the part of your readers, I think it's worth pointing out that these are truly NOT "reference speakers". Even the Edirol website calls them "High Performance Desktop Monitors".

The Edirols may be competent speakers for gaming, or other light audio or video editing, but it's definitely inaccurate to call them "reference monitors" in the same product category as the Genelec 1031, for instance, on which a great number of studio albums of the last 10 years have been mixed, and which you'll readily see in most every professional recording studio today.

By the way, the Yamaha MSP5's are a great value in this category and their sound is quite acceptable.
Oct 27, 2007 3:55pm
4.  avatar Erik said:

I finally made a decision about my new computer/monitor speakers and I got these. It basically came down to price, quality and the number of input options available. It was either these or the M-Audio Studiophile AV40s. So far I am very pleased.

I have them hooked up to SPDIF digital optical out. At first I was having problems with the signal, then I realized that these speakers are finnicky about 5.1 digital signal vs. stereo digital. I changed the output to stereo and the sound came through crystal clear.

The bass enhancer toggle is useful for everyday listening and there are actually two levels of bass. I prefer the medium setting.

The front 1/4" headphone jack is convenient and the sound on my Sennheiser HD 280s is amazing. No signal noise whatsoever, just pure sound.

Recommend.
Nov 05, 2007 12:26am
5.  avatar Erik said:

Here is how I have my EQ setup in Winamp to get the best sound out of these speakers:

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee189/ekalvi/?action=view¤t=eq.jpg

I listen mostly to Indie rock (think Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse). With the EQ off, the speakers sound very flat, and tinny.
Sep 04, 2008 4:30pm
6.  avatar sebchorney said:

Hey Erik, that is quite a bit of boost on that EQ ;-)

I have a pair of Yamaha NS-10s and Genelec 8050s, which I would recommend you consider for your next set of monitors, especially if you find yours to be flat and tinny without EQ. (they should sound GREAT without any EQ at all)

Incidentally, since the NS-10s and Genelecs are used in so many recording/mix studios these days, listening to music on them is like "recalibrating" your ears: you're probably hearing the song EXACTLY as the studio engineer heard it on the day they mixed it.

BTW are you using the digital or analog inputs?
Sep 05, 2008 4:01pm
7.  avatar triplefox said:

I got these today and am so far very pleased. They are a definite upgrade from consumer speakers, which color and bias too many frequencies. Having options to tune and adjust frequencies and bass response is a great convenience for a mixdown - if you're doing things the right way, you try a lot of settings and get the mix to work at all of them.

The bass won't get super heavy for parties, but if one really needs that, subwoofer output is included.

I also don't doubt that more accurate/detailed options exist: But detail isn't really helpful for production purposes if your final master is going to cheap stereos, PA systems and headphones.
Sep 16, 2008 6:56pm
8.  avatar flappskin said:

I am by no means a professional musician, or engineer, but I do care about sound quality. For a musician on a budget, trying to record at home, the Edirol MA-15D is a pretty good choice for monitors. Not pro quality, but only a fraction of the price.

I've seen a lot of bad reviews for these things lately. And they pretty much all say the same things. The bass is not strong enough. Then you aren't looking for monitors. You don't need booming bass for reference. People apparently think the idea of an EQ on them is a joke. First off, if you are using both inputs, as I am, this can be very practicle. Secondly, what's wrong with using an EQ to find the sweet spot? As long as you know your setup, and how it will sound, there's nothing wrong. If it's setup the same every time, then you can use it for reference. It's all about knowing how it will sound on other systems.

I've heard it said that if it sounds good on NS10's, it'll sound good on anything. That isn't exactly a gleaming recommendation for their sound. It's like saying, you have to work really hard to make it sound good, but then it'll sound great on anything.

It may not be accurate to refer to these as 'reference monitors', but it's also not fair to compare them to monitors costing thousands of dollars. They may not be the BEST thing around for reference, but the price can't be beat. If you're planning on building a professional recording studio, these are definetly not the way to go. But if you're just recording at home, and need some decent speakers for it, these aren't bad.
Mar 25, 2009 8:47pm
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

Erik

avatar
September 4, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
58
negative
mixed
positive
7 pros
5 cons
trustedtrusted
love itlove it
have ithave it
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Headphone output
  • Many input options (2 analog, 2 digital)
  • Two independent source inputs with dedicated volume control
  • Sub-woofer output
  • Includes a bass enhancer circuit with toggle
  • Optical S/PDIF input reduces the chance of any noise introduced by your computer
  • Concise, accurate sound quality

Cons

  • Slightly directional
  • Cabinet / protective grill can resonate slightly at lower-mid frequencies
  • Lacking in lower-end bass
  • Requires you use an EQ to get music to sound "right" - boost the bass, and highs
  • SPDIF input chokes on 5.1 encoded signals

Comments

"I'm drooling over these. I love having a ton of input connections, and I love that these have both optical and coaxial inputs. Most standard sound cards have digital out, so you can guarantee that your sound is as clean as possible by doing the D/A conversion in the speaker instead of the electrically-noisy environment inside your computer.

If you're doing any audio recording or video editing on your PC, I would suggest you consider these speakers. Not too expensive, and the multitude of connectivity options including a headphone output will keep you happy."
"I finally made a decision about my new computer/monitor speakers and I got these. It basically came down to price, quality and the number of input options available. It was either these or the M-Audio Studiophile AV40s. So far I am very pleased.

I have them hooked up to SPDIF digital optical out. At first I was having problems with the signal, then I realized that these speakers are finnicky about 5.1 digital signal vs. stereo digital. I changed the output to stereo and the sound came through crystal clear.

The bass enhancer toggle is useful for everyday listening and there are actually two levels of bass. I prefer the medium setting.

The front 1/4" headphone jack is convenient and the sound on my Sennheiser HD 280s is amazing. No signal noise whatsoever, just pure sound.

Recommend."
"Here is how I have my EQ setup in Winamp to get the best sound out of these speakers:

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee189/ekalvi/?action=view¤t=eq.jpg

I listen mostly to Indie rock (think Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse). With the EQ off, the speakers sound very flat, and tinny."

Competitors

Erik prefers Edirol MA-15D over M-AUDIO Studiophile AV40, M-AUDIO StudioPro 3
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

triplefox

avatar
September 16, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
78
negative
mixed
positive
7 pros
2 cons
trustedtrusted
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Headphone output
  • Many input options (2 analog, 2 digital)
  • Two independent source inputs with dedicated volume control
  • Sub-woofer output
  • Includes a bass enhancer circuit with toggle
  • Optical S/PDIF input reduces the chance of any noise introduced by your computer
  • Concise, accurate sound quality

Cons

  • Slightly directional
  • Cabinet / protective grill can resonate slightly at lower-mid frequencies

Comments

"I got these today and am so far very pleased. They are a definite upgrade from consumer speakers, which color and bias too many frequencies. Having options to tune and adjust frequencies and bass response is a great convenience for a mixdown - if you're doing things the right way, you try a lot of settings and get the mix to work at all of them.

The bass won't get super heavy for parties, but if one really needs that, subwoofer output is included.

I also don't doubt that more accurate/detailed options exist: But detail isn't really helpful for production purposes if your final master is going to cheap stereos, PA systems and headphones."
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

sebchorney

avatar
October 27, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
0
negative
mixed
positive
0 pros
1 con
trustedtrusted
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

Did not agree with any pros

Cons

  • Not accurate to call these "reference speakers"

Comments

"To avoid any confusion on the part of your readers, I think it's worth pointing out that these are truly NOT "reference speakers". Even the Edirol website calls them "High Performance Desktop Monitors".

The Edirols may be competent speakers for gaming, or other light audio or video editing, but it's definitely inaccurate to call them "reference monitors" in the same product category as the Genelec 1031, for instance, on which a great number of studio albums of the last 10 years have been mixed, and which you'll readily see in most every professional recording studio today.

By the way, the Yamaha MSP5's are a great value in this category and their sound is quite acceptable."
"Hey Erik, that is quite a bit of boost on that EQ ;-)

I have a pair of Yamaha NS-10s and Genelec 8050s, which I would recommend you consider for your next set of monitors, especially if you find yours to be flat and tinny without EQ. (they should sound GREAT without any EQ at all)

Incidentally, since the NS-10s and Genelecs are used in so many recording/mix studios these days, listening to music on them is like "recalibrating" your ears: you're probably hearing the song EXACTLY as the studio engineer heard it on the day they mixed it.

BTW are you using the digital or analog inputs?"
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

pica93

avatar
August 18, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
7 pros
0 cons
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Headphone output
  • Many input options (2 analog, 2 digital)
  • Two independent source inputs with dedicated volume control
  • Sub-woofer output
  • Includes a bass enhancer circuit with toggle
  • Optical S/PDIF input reduces the chance of any noise introduced by your computer
  • Concise, accurate sound quality

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

bennway

avatar
December 24, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
0
negative
mixed
positive
0 pros
5 cons
have ithave it
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pros

Did not agree with any pros

Cons

  • Slightly directional
  • Cabinet / protective grill can resonate slightly at lower-mid frequencies
  • Lacking in lower-end bass
  • Requires you use an EQ to get music to sound "right" - boost the bass, and highs
  • Can't be turned up very loud

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Andreas N?rholm Tarding

avatar
October 24, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
1 con

Pros

  • Headphone output
  • Many input options (2 analog, 2 digital)

Cons

  • Slightly directional

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

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This product is also known as:

MA, 15, D, MA15, 15D, MA15D