Edifier S350DB review: 2.1 computer speakers with true class

The vary of choices obtainable to these looking for a high quality set of two.1 laptop audio system is pretty restricted nowadays – outdoors of placing collectively a Hello-Fi system – however the Edifier S350DB is doing its bit. These audio system ship very good sound high quality, with enormous quantities of quantity and bass presence when wanted, all whereas trying stylish and for a particularly reasonable value.

The mixture on provide from Edifier right here is sufficient to make these simply the perfect laptop audio system you should buy if you happen to’re looking for a high quality 2.1 set. The dearth of gaming extras means they miss out on our general choose for the perfect gaming audio system, but when a extra different set of makes use of is your principal concern, these deserve your consideration.

Specs

Design

Magnificence is within the eye of the beholder, however the Edifier S350DB is to our eyes a very handsome-looking set of audio system. Solely obtainable on this brown or a black end – another Edifier audio system such because the R1280DB have extra colour choices – their wooden grain impact might not fairly slot in with the extra trendy, modern look of many trendy gaming setups. Nevertheless, as standalone gadgets, these have a timeless high quality to them.

They’re constructed like a tank too. Though the wooden grain is from a vinyl wrap, not strong wooden, it seems to be and feels very good. Plus, beneath the wrap, the containers for every speaker and the sub are produced from thick slabs of MDF. Mix this with the standard parts inside they usually all weigh a substantial quantity – the entire set weighs 17.4kg (38lbs). That compares to simply below 10kg (22lbs) for the in any other case similarly-specced Razer Nommo V2 Professional, as an example.

This weight is mirrored within the measurement of the audio system too. Every satellite tv for pc speaker measures 127 x 156 x 222mm, which is definitely a contact smaller than the R1280DB 2.0 audio system however a lot bigger than a variety of 2.1 satellite tv for pc audio system. They use a rear-firing bass port too, so will want a little bit of area behind them to permit the speaker to breathe. With no detachable material covers, the S350DB’s satellite tv for pc audio system solely provide the choice of an exposed-driver look.

As for the sub, it’s basically a 1ft dice, and whereas the Razer Nommo V2 Professional’s sub can also be 1ft tall, it’s noticeably shorter and narrower. What’s extra, the Edifier sub has a forward-firing and fully uncovered driver which suggests you’ll must watch out about the place you place it, so that you don’t by chance put your foot by the motive force (that’s not us jesting, both – it’s a real concern for a tool hidden below your desk).

Accompanying the audio system is a hockey puck-sized and formed infrared distant management, which has a pleasingly weighty and curved steel base and plastic prime. It might simply be the distant you discover accompanying a high-end Hello-Fi system.

Options

The Edifier R1280DB has a barely out-of-date set of options in some methods. Whilst you can join Bluetooth gadgets on to it, and it’ll absorb optical (cable offered) or coax digital indicators, you’ll be able to’t simply plug the entire setup straight into your PC by way of a USB cable. Whereas loads of motherboards and sound gadgets do have digital audio outputs, it’s not a assure, so that you would possibly have to depend on your system’s analog audio output. As such, in case your motherboard or different sound output gadget doesn’t have decent-quality analog outputs, you’ll be barely limiting the standard of the audio from these audio system.

This apart, although, the Edifier R1280DB is full of options. As I discussed earlier, you get Bluetooth and digital inputs, plus there are two additional analog inputs (one twin phono to stereo jack cable offered).

All these ports are on the subwoofer’s rear, which isn’t fairly as handy because the Nommo V2 Professional’s setup the place the USB cable runs from the proper speaker and the subwoofer is then wi-fi (although needing its personal subwoofer energy provide). Plus, the satellite tv for pc audio system each connect by way of customized cables, somewhat than plain speaker wire. That is handy and permits for the proper speaker to incorporate quantity/enter, bass, and treble controls, nevertheless it means a damaged cable can’t be simply changed.

On the distant, you get controls for energy, quantity, enter choice, Bluetooth connection, and Bluetooth playback (play, pause, ahead, again). It’s a responsive distant, with the audio system by no means struggling to reply to our button presses (the sensor’s on the proper speaker). We’d favor it to make use of AA or AAA batteries than a button cell, although, given its comparatively chunky measurement.

Outdoors of those core connection options, the S350DB doesn’t conceal some other gaming extras up its sleeve. It’s a straight-up set of two.1 audio system that delivers its gaming and no matter different sonic excellence by way of sheer sound high quality somewhat than encompass sound tips or RGB.

Talking of which, every satellite tv for pc homes a 3.5-inch  principal driver and a 0.75-inch tweeter, together with the aforementioned bass port. This combo permits every speaker to assert a mixed 40W RMS of audio energy alone, with RMS being a far stricter measure of true audio energy than the height figures offered for many audio system. These satellites can ship a sonic vary of 160Hz – 20kHz.

As for the sub, it homes a single 8-inch driver with a bass port venting from the proper aspect of the cupboard. It’s rated to an enormous 70W RMS for a mixed system energy of 150W, and its rated frequency vary goes from 40Hz to 160Hz.

Sound high quality

Fairly merely, these audio system blow each different competing set of gaming 2.1 audio system out of the water with regards to general sound high quality. The quantity of quantity, the depth and energy of the bass, the readability, and the smoothness of transition between subwoofer sounds and satellite tv for pc sounds is in contrast to some other set of laptop audio system we’ve examined. There’s loads of competitors within the extra Hello-Fi oriented area, however for plug-and-play laptop audio system, there are vanishingly few direct options of this class.

Beginning with that all-important bass, the massive 8-inch driver can dole out enormous quantities of energy, shaking your flooring and desk at ample quantity. It doesn’t arrive with fairly the in-your-face, bass-heavy tuning to the general setup because the Razer Nommo V2 Professional, however as an alternative, it lets no matter you’re listening to ship the bass when it needs to. It’s so clean and pure sounding.

Crucially, utilizing a system with a sub like this actually makes you understand fairly the place most cheaper 2.0 speaker techniques and soundbars simply aren’t in a position to ship true bass. You get a thumping decrease mid-range impact with these techniques, nevertheless it doesn’t hit you within the chest or make the air really feel prefer it’s vibrating round you. That’s what you get right here (once more, quantity and bass stage dependent) and it’s totally absorbing.

The draw back is that in many homes in additional densely-populated areas it would all be an excessive amount of so that you can use, significantly on higher flooring. The bass from the sub will roll proper on by a picket flooring, in contrast to a typical set of two.0 audio system sitting on a desk.

As for the satellites right here, they’re simply nearly as good because the sub. Their general energy with the shared load throughout two completely different drivers means they will get very loud and but preserve crystalline readability. Once more, there’s a purpose Hello-Fi audio system price a lot cash, however for many listeners, these might be among the many best-sounding laptop audio system they’ve ever heard.

Together with the readability of those audio system, it’s their skill to ship full, mid-range heat that integrates so seamlessly with the subwoofer that impresses. With so many cheaper 2.1 techniques, the satellites and subwoofer deal with excessive and low frequencies nicely, respectively, however they have an inclination to depart a little bit of a hole within the mid-range. That’s simply not the case right here.

So, whether or not you’re listening to rock, EDM, or hip hop, firing up a cinematic recreation with digital encompass sound (which, if it’s software-based, will nonetheless work by this setup), or settling in to look at the newest Christopher Nolan audio problem, these audio system deal with the lot.

Value

With a value of $399.99, the Edifier S350DB isn’t an affordable set of audio system. Nevertheless, it provides glorious worth for the options, construct high quality, and sound high quality you’re getting. A number of extra gaming-oriented manufacturers have similarly-priced choices that focus extra on gaming extras than the sound high quality right here.

Alternate options

Razer Nommo V2 Professional

If you happen to’re after an identical stage of sonic energy on this value vary, however need a bit of extra deal with gaming options and RGB, this Razer Nommo V2 Professional set is right. The audio system don’t sound fairly as sonically completed, with a barely extra pressured bass sound and fewer readability throughout the sonic vary. Nevertheless, they nonetheless sound first rate, have plenty of energy and bass, and their Razer software program options are nice for video games.

Learn our full Razer Nommo V2 Professional overview.

Verdict

For these looking for only a high quality set of laptop audio system that may flip its hand to something you throw at it, the Edifier S350DB is the one. With sufficient quantity to energy a home social gathering or drive a house cinema setup, plus readability that places most gaming-brand options to disgrace, they actually can’t be crushed by way of bang per buck.

You don’t get loads by way of gaming options, although. There’s no RGB, not one of the game-specific audio enhancements of some choices, and maybe most crucially, you’ll be able to’t simply plug these straight into your system by way of USB. In any other case, they arrive extremely beneficial, as long as you don’t thoughts disturbing your neighbors/family with the thumping bass.