Speakers

The hulking Edifier S3000 Pro speakers are the latest of Edifier’s devices to hit our testing room, and they pack a real punch.

Active speakers are gaining popularity with people with homes or lives that don’t lend themselves to a full-sized audio system. The concept of a great pair of speakers with an amplifier built in and connections for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and legacy inputs is brilliant. Active speakers save space and offer flexibility for streaming music from a smartphone and hooking up legacy equipment like a vinyl turntable or CD player.

The latest pair of active speakers to reach me for review come from Edifier. This innovative audio brand Edifier has launched the S1000W wireless bookshelf speakers, joining the brand’s impressive line-up of premium and affordable technology.

The S1000W are a gorgeous pair of speakers finished with a luxury wood veneer and a leather inlay that makes them as good to look at as they sound. Each speaker is slightly raked back to account for the slightly different speeds that the frequencies travel from each driver. An acoustically transparent cloth grille covers the speaker drivers. The styling would fit in with almost any kind of décor.

Each speaker houses a one-inch titanium dome tweeter with an extended frequency range that tops out at an impressive 40kHz. Meanwhile, the main woofer is a 5.5-inch aluminum alloy driver delivering a beefy bass response that can dip as low as 45Hz thanks to a reflex port on the rear of each cabinet. Each tweeter is powered by 25W of digital amplification, while the woofer gets 35W per channel. That’s an overall total of 120W output between the two speakers. This loud system has sufficient muscle to fill even a large living room with impressive sound.

The right-hand speaker acts as the main unit, while the left-hand speaker acts as the satellite. There’s no switch to reverse the position, so the right-hand speaker must be positioned close enough to a power outlet. All the electronics are housed in the right-hand main speaker, linked to the satellite unit via a special five-pin cable. The S1000W isn’t entirely wireless, but the cable supplied is long enough to connect the two speakers and create enough space for a beautifully wide soundstage.

When it comes to inputs, the Edifier S1000W offers plenty of options. The Bluetooth function supports apt-X and the Wi-Fi connection works with Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Amazon Alexa. However, there’s no microphone built in, which will please people who worry about digital eavesdropping. You’ll need to use your smartphone to issue commands to Alexa. The latest firmware update for the speakers adds Tidal Connect capability to select music using the Tidal app on your smartphone. Then, the S1000W establishes direct contact with the Tidal server, bypassing your smartphone.

As well as the wireless inputs, the Edifier S1000W speakers offer optical and coaxial digital inputs for connecting to a TV using a TOS-Link. The coaxial input is ideal for connecting a source like a CD player. In addition, there are two RCA line-in connectors for hooking up a tuner or other analog music source, such as a turntable with line-level output. Inputs can be switched using the smart-looking infrared remote control, which includes a power button and volume controls. Inputs can also be selected on the main speaker or by using the Edifier Connect app.

The digital heart of the Edifier S1000W is built around a Texas Instruments Burr-Brown PCM9211 DAC, delivering a finely tuned sound that serves up plenty of detail and clarity but never sounds harsh and mechanical as many digital audio systems can. This sound system feels more analog than digital. And thanks to the PCM9211 DAC, the S1000W can handle files with resolutions up to 24bit/192kHz.

Getting the S1000W connected to a Wi-Fi network is incredibly easy. I didn’t even have to enter my network name and password using the Edifier Connect app. The app automatically took the info from my iPhone and connected me in seconds. Once connected, I was offered the option of a firmware upgrade and that was also a superbly smooth process. Finally, the app asked if I wanted to link the speakers to my Alexa account. That took just a few seconds and I was ready to go.

For anyone who wants to stream music using Bluetooth on their smartphone or computer, the S1000W has impressive support. The Bluetooth circuitry is built around a Qualcomm chipset, which uses Bluetooth 5.0 and can handle aptX, AAC and SBC codecs.

The Edifier Connect app is a slick piece of software and makes using the S1000W super easy. There are no EQ controls built into the app, but on the rear of the main speaker, there are three rotary knobs for adjusting volume input, bass and treble. The controls make quite a difference and it’s good to have them; I only wish they were a little more accessible. Another missing feature is the provision of a headphone socket for personal listening.

The Edifier S1000W serves up a marvelously robust tone with plenty of bass and a silky-smooth treble thanks to the titanium alloy dome tweeters. There’s plenty of volume coming from the 120W of digital amplification and the speakers are more than adequate, even for larger rooms. The sound has lots of detail, but the most impressive aspect is the lack of hiss when the speakers are idling or playing quiet passages. Although there’s plenty of bass coming from the woofers, the sound is uncolored and neutral, enabling plenty of clarity and very little clouding of the music.

Verdict: The Edifier S1000W1 is a fabulous active speaker system for the money. The sound quality is impeccable and there’s almost every input option you could wish for. I’d like to see balanced XLR connections so the speakers could be used as studio monitors, but that’s not the target market. The Edifier S1000W are a fantastic pair of active speakers with great sound and a superb finish for anyone needing a compact audio system for streaming music or connecting legacy devices. Highly Recommended.

Tech Specs:

• Power output: 35W × 2 (woofer) + 25W × 2 (treble) 120W total.
• Amplification; Digital Class D.
• Frequency response: 45Hz – 40kHz.
• Noise level: ≤25dB(A).
• Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥ 90dB(A).
• Inputs: RCA Line-In x 2, 1 x Optical TOSLink, 1 x Coaxial, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.
• Driver unit: 5.5″ woofer and 1″ tweeter.
• Dimensions: 19.81 x 34.54 x 29.46cm / 7.8 x 13.6 x 11.6 inches (WxHxD).

Edifier is a brand we have reviewed a number of there products from headphones to speakers and they are back with another pair of studio monitor loudspeakers the MR4 that allow you to enjoy your music without the need for headphones in your home office or chilling in your living room after a long day.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I have recently just had a new office built in the garden so the timing of Edifier MR4 arriving could not have been better. The Edifier MR4 currently costs £129 via Amazon so they fall in that budget-friendly zone and are available in white or Black in the review we were sent the Black version.

The two key benefits when reviewing a product from Edifier is they are always value for money and you can always bet on excellent performance and the MR4 continues that trend.

If you have tried powered speakers or studio monitors before they share lots of similar features. However, studio monitors are generally tuned for a flat frequency so any left is quite audible. They are designed to provide a louder and more immersive listening experience. Powered speakers are made for the enjoyment of music and have intentional non-linearity to enhance engagement. What you will be pleased to hear the MR4 provide something for both types of listener

DESIGN/BUILD

The Edifier MR4 offer a 2-way design using a 4-inch low-frequency diaphragm woofer to produce a stronger bass and more accurate overall sound. The speaker also comes with a 1-inch silk dome tweeter to produce a smooth and high-frequency sound placed inside an MDF-made cabinet with a special coating to ensure a more natural and refined treble. As mentioned the monitors can be in all black or white with a black driver style.

Size wise the speakers measure up the following 140 x 228 x 197.5mm and you will have no issue with them fitting on your desk. Moving to the front it has waveguides moulded for both drivers to sit and then there is a couple of inches of free space and the controls are located on the right monitor. You also have two 3.5mm ports on that speaker positioned on the left side and these ports can be used as a headphone jack there is also an AUX input as well. Next to the port is the volume control that can also be used as the power button. When you power on the speaker there is also a small LED to indicate the speaker is on.

Moving to the rear of the speaker you have round bass ports which are located at the top of the speaker. There are also a set of spring terminals on both speakers. The primary speaker also has input jacks such as a 6.35mm TRS balanced input jack for direct connection to consoles, mixers and other equipment above that, you have adjustments for both bass and treble. Finally in the bottom right is that fixed power cord.

The monitors are also packaged with a speaker cable that is used to connect both monitors together also included is an RCA audio cable, a 3.5mm audio cable and a user manual.

The Edifier MR4 studio is easy to set up simply plug in the fixed power cord into a power supply and use that provided speaker cable between the two speakers and then connect your input source. You will notice the speakers do not come with any wireless compatibility which is understandable considering these will be wired for connection.

SOUND QUALITY 

The best way to test the MR4 was as a studio monitor via my laptop and I was very impressed with the bass considering the size of the woofers the sub-bass is rolled off below 80Hz and can be a little limited. The bass we got from the MR4 was well-controlled and cleaner than I thought I was going to get. I found the clarity and detail impressive.

The mid-bass performed even better and offered even more clarity and texture in the sound. This is when I kept the volume at a max of 75% or lower.  Taking the volume above 75% did cause distortion and this also affected the treble so if you want the best quality sound keep it at an enjoyable level.

Once you have selected the right volume level in this case about 55% the extension was good and the detail compared to other studio monitors on the market.

The Edifier MR4 also comes with a unique feature it allows the user to switch to music mode. The mode provides a tonal balance creating a warmer sound signature with a focus on the mid-bass and lower treble and more focus on that vocal range as well. The music mode is best when listening to music, podcasts or in a small window I get a chance to watch films these do a fantastic job.  The monitor mode is designed for critical listening because there is a more linear sounding frequency range.

Overall I found the sound quality to be crystal clear and crisp but only as mentioned below that 75%. Personally, I found keeping the level at 55% the best for me as this allows for listening at a comfortable level. I think these speakers are ideal for a home studio and are clearly a step up from your standard set-up and will enhance my new work office set-up.

An example of its performance is when watching the opening part of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 the opening sequence is complex and the surround sound was handled very well and never seemed muddied.

 VERDICT

The Edifier MR4 is ideal if you are on a budget and are looking to create a home studio or increase your sound system for listening to music while at home. I was also impressed with the lack of room they needed in my room they are ideal for these with limited space.

The overall sound quality works well and is transparent and comes with an impressive level of texture. However, if you try and push the volume too hard it will not sound nice and will distort. Keeping the volume at a mid-level will provide an impressive-sounding pair of monitor speakers for those on a budget. 

The Edifier MS50A aims to accomplish an interesting feat because it wants to be a full-fledged smart speaker, while also maintaining some trace of privacy. And it technically managed to achieve its goal, although the user may not be that happy about it.

That’s because it doesn’t have a microphone which is great for privacy reasons, but to interact with the speaker, you still need to use a third-party device, so in the end your data is still collected, just not from the Edifier MS50A. Even so, the speaker does have support for Apple AirPlay 2 which opens up an interesting array of possibilities, it will also work with Alexa, TIDAL Connect and Spotify. Additionally, Edifier says that the MS50A supports the multi-room function if you’re not bothered using Amazon Music (for a better music file formats).

Besides that, the Edifier MS50A is very nicely built, and it promises to offer a good sound reproduction (with a slight emphasis on the bass, so it’s in line with what the larger majority of people prefer). And in terms of connectivity, it uses both Bluetooth and WiFi. So, it does seem that Edifier has built a proper contender to the Sonos One, but does it sound as good and can it truly surpass it, as well as its other competitors? The speaker does have the potential to be a user favorite in its category (especially due to its price tag), so let’s put it to the test.

Build Quality and Design

The Edifier MS50A is built in a traditional meets modern fashion. There is a walnut veneer enclosure which gives some more weight to the speaker and makes it look classy, as well as a bit more traditional. Also, the case is not a simple rectangular block, no, the veneer does curve around the case, enforcing a cylindrical shape instead. I am really a fan of this approach since it makes the device seems more expensive than it really is, but the ‘modern approach’ involves plastics and LEDs.

Don’t worry, there is a modern touch here as well because at the top of the Edifier MS50A, there is a hard plastic area where you can find the controls. There are no buttons or switches, but a touch-sensitive section which reacts to both taps and finger slides. I did mention that the speaker has gained some weight and indeed, at 4.98lbs (2.26kg), the Edifier MS50A will stay steadily in place. That’s also thanks to the five silicone feet at the bottom of the case.

It’s worth noting that the speaker is a bit larger than some of its main competitors (it measures 8.6 x 5.7 x 5.7 inches or 21.0 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm), such as the Sonos One, but this should have allowed for a better bass and potentially a far better sound reproduction. Still, a large case doesn’t necessarily equate a deeper bass since as I saw with the GravaStar Venus, even a small speaker, when tuned properly, can be a total beast.

On the front of the Edifier MS50A, the manufacturer has added a removable mesh (which is common for this type of speakers) and, after taking it off, I could see the drivers and other elements.

In the middle, sits proudly the 4inches (102mm) wool diaphragm woofer (for mid-bass) which occupies almost half of the space and at the top, there is a 19mm (0.75inches) silk diaphragm tweeter (for treble). Underneath the woofer, you can see the vent. It is possible to leave the drivers exposed, but the mesh looks good as well and it offers some extra protection, so I suggest that you leave it on. I did move around the case in the hope that I could see some ports or connectors, but the wood case seemed uninterrupted, so I checked the bottom of the speaker.

There is a rectangular carved-in section where you can insert the Power cable, as well as a cut to let the cable flow outwards freely, but again, no other ports were present. It seems that Edifier went for a Wireless / Bluetooth -only speaker which is fine at the moment, and it does lower the cost of the device substantially. But that may not be the case in the future. Bluetooth is a very tricky technology and not really the best medium to move high fidelity sound packets – that remains the cable. The WiFi is also ever changing since we are pushed from one standard to the other every few years.

I highly doubt that the Edifier MS50A would still work after we have all moved to completely new standards with no backwards compatibility, but it’s best to keep at least some way of connecting the speakers via cable, since we should not be fond of creating this type of precedent. Before moving on, is the Edifier MS50A suitable for outdoors? Not really. The speaker doesn’t have any IP-rating, nor has the manufacturer mentioned that it may be splashproof, so it’s best to keep it indoors.

The Controls

There is a single LED ring at the top which will shine blue when the speaker is connected via Bluetooth, and it will be white when it’s connected via WiFi. In the middle, there is the Power button which you need to press and hold for about 3 seconds to turn on and off the device.

This touch-sensitive button can also Mute the track if you tap on it once. The Play/Pause button also has two functions, one is the obvious pausing or resuming of a track, but if you press it for six seconds, it will return the Edifier MS50A to its default settings. The Left and Right buttons can be used to return to a previous track or to skip the current one.

I won’t deny that it could have been a bit more intuitive, but it’s still far better than a lot of other ‘minimalist’ approaches that I saw on the market. I need to mention the volume control which is very interesting. If you slide the finger over the circular area in a clockwise manner, then the volume will rise. Doing the same, but counterclockwise, it will lower the volume. What I didn’t like was the three seconds latency which happened regardless of clicking the controls on the app or tapping on the touch-sensitive area. This only happened with WiFi, but not on Bluetooth, where the latency was 1 second or lower.

Internal Hardware and Connectivity

If you read the previous sections, then you know that there is a tweeter and a woofer, the former is 15W, while the latter is 25W. So, considering the size of the Edifier MS50A, it’s more than acceptable. Plus, Edifier says that they’re tuned for bass booming and treble spiking, so I expect a very mainstream sound, which is fine for the majority of people.

Additionally, the manufacturer has mentioned that the noise level is equal or below 25dB and, inside the case, the Edifier MS50A uses the AP6265 IC chip which both encodes and decodes audio data. And there is also the amplifier technology and the DSP tech which are both common and pretty mandatory on any modern audio hardware.

As for the wireless connection, the Edifier MS50A uses Bluetooth 5.0 which has a good coverage – about 30 feet with no line of sight – and there is also support for a higher data rate. But does the Edifier MS50A use better codecs? I didn’t see anything ‘exotic’, so it should only be the basic SBC. As for the WiFi, the speaker can connect to both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz networks (802.11ac), so we’re moving in the right direction with the client devices.

Connecting via WiFi: The App

The Edifier MS50A can be connected to the WiFi network, and you need to use the app to set up the connection. The app is called Edifier Home and it’s available for both iOS and Android. I chose the former, so after installing and running the app, it required no account (which is a bonus), but it did need permission to use Bluetooth (if you want to switch between the two available modes) and to find devices in the local network (not a necessity since you can select the device from the list).

In my case, it discovered the speaker automatically and then the app asked permission for precise location which it did not receive. That meant that I had to manually insert the WiFi username and password, which was fine by me. Don’t forget to properly match the security type of your networks and also be aware that there is only support for up to WPA2, not WPA3 which is the newer and better standard. A few seconds later, I got the message that the Edifier MS50A was connected and that I could upgrade the firmware.

This is where things got a bit weird. Despite the speaker saying that the firmware was updated, the app hanged and, after I forcibly closed it, I had to redo the entire installation process again. Then it finally became stable. So, there are still some occasional bugs. In any case, the app interface is simple and easy to explore, the dashboard giving the option to play/pause, skip a track or return to a previous one. You can also adjust the volume and underneath, there are three icons. The first is called Add to Pair and it’s the way to pair two identical Edifier MS50A in stereo mode (I only had one unit).

Next, you can choose the Input which can be WiFi or Bluetooth. Then, there are some dedicated Settings which are more like status info because you can only see the network details and the signal strength but can’t change them.

Airplay 2, Alexa, Spotify and Multi-Room

If you have an Apple device, then you can cast the audio to the Edifier MS50A using Airplay first and second generation. The Airplay 2 comes with a new feature which allows you to stream the music towards multiple devices at the same time and it works in a very similar manner to the Amazon Multi-Room which also allows you to group multiple speakers that have Alexa support and blast music towards all at the same time.

I only had one Edifier MS50A, so I couldn’t really test these features, but there is definitely support for both Alexa and Airplay 2 within the speaker. But be aware that you will need to use a third-party device to send vocal commands towards the Edifier MS50A because, as mentioned in the intro, there is no microphone built into the speaker.

Also, this multi-room feature is brand-sensitive, so you can’t use Edifier speaker alongside other brands, all need to be from the same manufacturer (this is also true for Sonos One). As for Spotify Connect, it’s also a supported feature for people that have subscribed for the premium offer.

The Sound Quality of the Edifier MS50A

I positioned the Edifier MS50A at ear level with its back side against the wall and before anything else, I checked the driver quality test. Ideally, there should be no buzzing, but the speaker did reproduce some buzzing at the lower frequencies, but besides that, it was quite clean across the spectrum. I usually also run a driver matching and binaural test, but since I only have one unit, these tests are currently irrelevant.

Moving on to the actual songs, I first checked a song that’s focused on low bass called Faded by Zhu and I immediately noticed the bass has a lot of substance and it makes itself very much present. But I also realized that the sound stage is not that wide which is to be expected considering the use of a single speaker.

Still, I am fairly sure that even in stereo mode, the sound stage is narrower than expected, which could be seen as a more intimate experience. But that’s very akin to your personal taste. Moving on to the mid-bass, I listened to Morph the Cat by Donald Fagan and I realized that the sound was a bit bright, so the mid-bass is clearly boosted quite a bit and it does slightly bleed over the voice of the singer. I also checked Sofi Tukker – Déjà Vu Affair for those juicy multiple bass beats and again, the song seemed a bit bright, but I liked the reproduction of the bass beats; there was very good instrument differentiation and clarity.

Things do take a bad turn when listening to crowded, complicated songs. I chose System Of A Down – Mr Jack and the sound was muddy, it was difficult to differentiate the instruments, but the voices were properly placed only to get overshadowed at certain times by the bass. Moving on to the mids, I first checked how well the male voice is positioned by listening to Vance – She Burns, and the song was clean and clear, the voice was properly placed, so this is one of the places where the Edifier MS50A shines.

Edifier MS50A
Next, I checked the position of the female voice by listening to Ariana Grande – Breathin and again, there is a good instrument differentiation, the voice was properly placed, so all is good in relation to the mids. As for the treble, I chose Sweet Child o Mine by Guns n Roses and the song is clearly a bit bright which may cause fatigue, but the voice is, again properly positioned. Also, even if the treble is a bit boosted, it doesn’t interfere with any other frequency.

The Conclusion

The Edifier MS50A works really well as a Bluetooth speaker, being able to reproduce a very mainstream sound, the build quality is great and, while I was skeptical of the controls at the beginning, they’re actually more intuitive than expected. As a WiFi speaker, the experience is a bit different mostly due to the omission of the microphone. I am one of those people that applaud privacy-related features, but I am not entirely sure if it truly made sense in this case. Regardless of that, it doesn’t take away that much from the experience, since another device can take the role for vocal commands, so if this is not a deal-breaker, then the Edifier MS50A is one of the best in its class, especially considering the price tag.

Despite their looks, the Edifier Hecate G5000 gaming speakers are surprising and offers something different to the table when it comes to gaming peripherals.

“A passion for sound” is Edifier’s slogan. The audio equipment maker prides itself on its roster of products, but the Hecate G5000 has a lot to live up to. Having browsed other outlets for some background information on the company, Edifier seems to have picked up a reputation for great speakers, but only in certain markets.

Edifier’s attempt to enter the gaming market has gone down well well, but within the circles we populate, they’ve been a relative unknown. It’s why the G5000 is interesting to us. A speaker system that wants to work within the confines of the gaming industry, with the backing of a reputable audio company?

Edifier’s Hecate G5000s then, have to do something to stand out from an overcrowded market that is desperate to one-up each other.

Key specs

• • Frequency: 70Hz – 40kHz
  • Noise level: i>
  • Audio input: Bluetooth, AUX, USB, Optical, Coaxial
  • Bluetooth version: 5.0
  • Audio decoding: APTX HD, APTX, SBC
  • Digital sampling: Up to 24bits/192kHz

Design

Upon first glance, the Hecate G5000 didn’t get a positive response from us. The garish gamer aesthetic, with the sickening rainbow RGB made for something that we just didn’t want to position around our setups.

We get why they chose to go with this look, as it is what everyone else is doing. However, looking at their other offerings in the high-end speaker department, made me yearn for that wooden paneling and elegant aesthetic. Something where you wouldn’t be embarrassed about having them on your shelves.

After a few weeks with them around us, the design never grew on us. Turning off the lights helped, and with winter setting in, the darkened room helps disguise them.

We loved that they’re quite chunky though, which only made us want that typical speaker design. It frustrates us that these companies dive into the industry, expecting that these rather ugly designs are what’s wanted. While we’re sure a marketing department somewhere has done the research, having some ‘grown-up’ equipment would have been appreciated.

Features and audio quality

The G5000s frustrate further through its design, because the feature set and actual performance from them are really good. From having onboard Bluetooth, AUX, COAX, and optical options, nothing was spared in giving full access. In fact, the optical cable – while tiny – was included, which is always a bonus.

There’s also a delightful, very broken English voice that mispronounces every mode as well, which is something that we see Edifier improve on in the future.

Edifier Hecate G5000 Music mode

Edifier has fitted the speakers with different modes, focused on music, movie, and games. Music is the best overall, offering thick bass and a comforting, warm sound that fills the room.

Music tracks we tested for this review included:

• • • Weird Al’s UHF and Now You Know
    • Mick Gordon’s BFG Division
    • David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World
    • Pink Floyd’s Money and Brain Damage
    • Dethklok’s Murmaider
    • Brendon Small’s Prophecy of the Lazer Witch
    • Run the Jewels’ Love Again

Each song we chose was intended to attempt to cover a few bases in terms of how far we could push the speakers. Weird Al, Bowie, and Pink Floyd’s older mixed tracks – played over Spotify and Apple Music – felt rich, as the speakers brought each stereo mix to life.

The harder, more intense sounds of metal from Mick Gordon’s DOOM 2016 soundtrack and Brendon Small’s Dethklok and Galakticon projects benefitted from the all-encompassing hardware inside, but felt as if they could have been assisted by a dedicated subwoofer. The same went for Run the Jewels, although not to the same degree.

Movie mode with the G5000

Heading into movies, YouTube, and TV, we tested the following:

• • • RedLetterMedia’s Ninja Turtles review
    • Bleach
    • Classic Doctor Who
    • Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
    • Wednesday
    • Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure

It is during our testing of this type of media, that we found these speakers aren’t supposed to be running solo. Movie mode takes away the bass so that you’d reroute it to your subwoofer and other devices.