Edifier M90 Review: Compact Active Speakers with HDMI eARC

STEREO GUIDE test verdict

86%

86%

Compact stereo Bluetooth speakers with surprisingly powerful bass, precise soundstage imaging, and versatile connectivity including HDMI eARC. The Edifier M90 impress in our review with high dynamics, good build quality, and extensive app control. Minor compromises in tonal accuracy in the mid- and high-frequency range do not detract from the overall excellent price-performance ratio.

Pros

1. Three-dimensional imaging with excellent focus
2. Rich bass for their size with good punch
3. HDMI eARC input, subwoofer output
4. Wireless remote control and connection cables included

Cons

1. Somewhat cool voice reproduction
2. Volume control on the back

• Tonal balamce / transparency

  7.4
• Bass / Dynamics

  8.4
• Spatial imaging

  8.9
• Usability/ Connectivity

  9.4
• Price/Performance

  9.1

Edifier is not only very popular with our readers in German-speaking countries. Yesterday, on our English site, four of the five most popular posts were reviews of devices from this Chinese brand, founded 30 years ago, which hardly anyone in the mainstream had on their radar just a few years ago. However, the rapidly increasing popularity does not surprise me at all after numerous tests of Edifier Bluetooth speakers. Even if you disregard the excellent price-performance ratio, the products impress with very decent build quality and, above all, excellent sound. So I was really excited about the brand new Edifier M90, which reached us directly from distant China for a first sound test in Germany. According to the manufacturer, these Bluetooth desktop monitors should also be available in Germany by mid-April.

Although I had already browsed the technical data before the test, I was surprised when unpacking the speakers: The small box with the speakers, just over 21 centimeters high, was heavier than one would expect given its dimensions. But that’s not the only thing that speaks for good build quality. The rear panels of the bass-reflex enclosures, available in black or white, are precisely fitted with ten Allen screws each.

Uneven Distribution of Technology

As usual, Edifier also asymmetrically distributes the technology between the two speakers of the stereo Bluetooth speaker set in the M90, connected by a five-meter-long special cable with multi-pin connectors: All the electronics, including the DSP, digital power amplifiers, and physical connections, are bundled in one master speaker. Using the Edifier ConneX App, depending on your setup, you can swap the channels with the secondary speaker from the default right channel for the primary box. This is practical for optimizing cable management. Additionally, the level control for electronic volume adjustment is also located on the back of the primary speaker.

On a desk, however, it probably won’t make a significant difference which side the master box is on: The volume control on the back is not easily accessible either way. The developers did a better job with the Edifier M60, the M90’s smaller sister models, the MR3, or the MR5. There, the corresponding rotary knobs are optimally placed on the front of the primary speaker.

Optimized for Rich Bass

The aforementioned long-throw mid-woofer features a stiff but light aluminum diaphragm with a diameter of 10.16 centimeters. Edifier designed it for precise and controlled low-frequency reproduction. It is complemented by a 1-inch silk dome tweeter (2.5 cm diameter), which is intended to provide fine and detailed high-frequency resolution.

Control is handled by an integrated amplifier module with two highly efficient Class D power amplifiers. Together, they deliver a total output of 100 watts RMS. For each of the two speakers, 15 watts are available for the tweeter and 35 watts for the mid-woofer. This power reserve is intended to enable dynamic and powerful reproduction even in medium-sized rooms.

Hi-Res Certified

The internal signal processing is fully digital. Edifier relies on continuous 24-bit/96-kHz DSP processing, which is used for both digital and analog sources. The latter are integrated into the digital signal processing via high-resolution analog-to-digital conversion. The goal of this architecture is the most precise signal processing possible with minimal distortion and consistent sound quality regardless of the source.

With dimensions of 13.3 × 21.2 × 22.5 centimeters per speaker, the M90 remain comparatively compact. Despite their small size, the manufacturer promises that the system will deliver room-filling sound. The speakers also carry both Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification. According to the data sheet, Bluetooth version 6.0 is even on board.

Connectivity

The Edifier M90 are designed for flexible use cases and offer a range of different connectivity options. Particularly noteworthy is the integrated HDMI eARC port. This allows the speakers to be connected directly to compatible televisions and used as a compact TV sound system, including automatic volume control via the TV remote control.

In addition, an optical digital input and a USB-C port are available to fully exploit Hi-Res Audio quality.

For classic audio sources, an analog AUX input is also integrated. This allows, for example, turntables with integrated phono preamplifiers (you can find our guide on this topic here), portable players, or other analog sources to be connected.

Furthermore, the primary speaker even has a 3.5mm jack output for connecting a subwoofer. This should be particularly interesting for gamers or when used as an AV sound system.

This combination of HDMI, digital, USB, and analog connections makes the M90 a versatile speaker system for TV, desktop audio, and classic stereo sources.

Operating Concept and App

The Edifier M90 can be operated either via the included remote control or via a companion smartphone app. This Edifier ConneX App is available for both iOS and Android devices, as usual. Only the volume control can be adjusted directly on the device. I find it noteworthy that the remote control works via 2.4 GHz radio frequency, not infrared as is common. This allows the user to control their stereo speakers even without a clear line of sight.

In addition, the app provides access to further functions and settings of the system. Here, for example, the frequency response can be adjusted via a 9-band equalizer or various presets can be selected. The app thus serves as a central control interface for fine-tuning the system and extends the basic operating options of the speakers.

The technical data and the variety of connections already promise a lot. But it only gets exciting in the listening test. This is where it becomes clear whether the M90 can live up to their performance promise in terms of sound.

Sound Test: How Rich Small Can Sound

Even during the setup of the very compact stereo speaker set, it was noticeable that Edifier had generously dimensioned the connecting cable between the primary and secondary speakers, allowing for optimal placement of the two M90s under practical conditions. Sometimes, the included cables are so short that the two speakers cannot be spread far enough apart for a proper stereo panorama. Speaking of stereo panorama: the soundstage imaging was captivating from the very first notes of “Urgent” by Foreigner in the live version. The lead singer’s voice stood as if nailed and very tangibly three-dimensional in the center of the imaginary listening stage.

No matter which recordings I played from our publicly available Qobuz playlists through the Edifier M90, the imaging was convincing in all aspects. The focus and the sharply defined representation of solo voices in the center of the stage impressed me, even when I momentarily disregarded the relatively affordable price. More so: With the sound effects of the famous album “Remeixes 81>04” by Depeche Mode, it became clear that every phantom sound source could be precisely located across the entire width of the panorama.

But it wasn’t just the staging that impressed me sustainably. The lively dynamics and the broadband reproduction, underpinned by a solid bass foundation, also surpassed everything one expects from such compact stereo Bluetooth speaker sets – even if, like me, you have already tested the even smaller Edifier M60. Of course, due to their ultra-compact dimensions, they had the maximum surprise effect. But the new M90 not only offered astonishingly much bass and dynamics, but also a decent degree of differentiation in the lower octaves and precision. In addition, there was excellent transparency. In sum of these properties, the small Bluetooth speakers are not only recommended as monitoring speakers for the desk. These powerhouses are also suitable as a purist stereo system replacement, provided one is willing to make certain compromises in terms of maximum volume, which are due to their small dimensions.

Where you have to turn a blind eye in terms of sound, however

Photographers know that with so much light, there are also shadows. With the Edifier M90, this concerned the tonal accuracy in the mid-range and brilliance. The two speakers tended to be somewhat cool and, depending on the recording, also rough. Interestingly, however, the “Dynamic” sound preset dampened this slight drawback, contrary to my expectations. With the default “Classic” setting, my point of criticism became somewhat more prominent, and with “Monitor” of all things, it sounded particularly cool. However, those who, like us testers, are more deeply involved in the matter can compensate for the effect to a certain extent with the 9-band EQ. But even without corrections, what is offered is far beyond the expectations for a speaker in this price and weight class.

Edifier M90: Conclusion and Alternatives

After the totally astonishing surprise success of the tiny M60, the new Edifier M90 added a whole lot more. Especially in terms of bass foundation and precision, but also in terms of resolution and, not to forget, soundstage imaging, there are significantly more HiFi qualities for a moderate surcharge.

The compact Bluetooth speaker set offers a sonic overkill for the desk and thus targets demanding gamers who expect rich sound even without exploiting the subwoofer option. But the M90 is also an affordable alternative as a replacement for a classic stereo system, with its truly excellent staging beyond its price range and its high playfulness. This is especially true if criteria such as liveliness, localization precision, and resolution play a greater role than the last spark of naturalness in the mid-high range. And thanks to the HDMI eARC input, the two stereo speakers also position themselves as an alternative to small soundbars like the JBL Bar 300 MKII.

Further alternatives can be found in our Bluetooth speaker raking

Edifier M90: Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer’s recommended price: approx. 300 Euros / 350 Dollars
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 13.3 × 21.2 × 22.5 cm
• Weight: 6.05 kg (pair)
• Special features: AUX input, USB-C port, Bluetooth 6.0, wireless remote control, app with 9-band equalizer, extensive connection cable set

• Edifier M60 Review: Desktop Speakers with Bluetooth
• Edifier MR3 studio monitors review
• Edifier MR5 review The surprisingly grown-up 3-way desktop monitor
• Edifier R1700BT review: active speakers at a competitive price
• Edifier D32 review