Edifier R1700BT review: active speakers at a very competitive price

Active speakers in a real wood housing for 170 euros – can the dream of high-quality music on the desktop come true? Yes, in the case of the Edifier Studio R1700BT, the manufacturer has not confused the price per pair with the price per unit; the entire stereo speaker set actually costs that much (or little). User reviews on mail order portals and also some reviews from the gadget and computer sector are full of praise for the sound characteristics of the Edifier. This aroused our curiosity.

And we can also confirm the technical features, from wireless Bluetooth playback and IR remote control to genuine fully active circuitry with separate power amplifiers for woofers and tweeters. We have not measured the 66 watts RMS, but it sounds plausible in view of the dynamic results with four power amplifier channels.

Incidentally, we reviewed the latest version, the Edifier Studio R1700BT 2.0. It hardly differs visually from its predecessors, but offers Bluetooth 5.0 and a subwoofer output with a 3.5 mm jack socket. For a small budget, you get a pair of stereo speakers with a real wood look, but they are by no means boxy. Due to the angled base, the speakers are angled upwards by about 10 degrees, which makes perfect sense for desktop use. The advertising photos suggest that they are also suitable for the living room on the lowboard. However, only the hearing test can clarify whether we can make a recommendation for this application.

Bluetooth or analog?

Compared to its more expensive competitors, the Edifier set is somewhat stingy when it comes to playback options. However, with two analog inputs, the Bluetooth interface and the source selection on the remote control, you can already speak of a simple complete system. However, televisions, computers and the like should preferably have an unregulated analog output in stereo so that the signal can be fed to the Edifier at full level.

Bluetooth 5.0 with the very high-quality aptX HD codec is available for wireless playback. At least for owners of Android devices that have a corresponding chip installed. For Apple or Windows devices without this chip, the quality level falls back to the minimum codec SBC. Digital cable connections from optical via USB or HDMI, on the other hand, are completely missing from the entry-level set.

Ambitious active technology?

Not too much has been promised with the term “active speaker”. Today, anything with a built-in amplifier is often marketed as such. Studio and hi-fi experts therefore like to speak of fully active loudspeakers when a genuine active crossover and separate power amplifiers are used for each driver. This is exactly the case with the affordable Edifier, the stereo pair has four power amplifier channels: 2 x 15 watts for the two tweeters, 2 x 18 watts for the two woofers.

Surprisingly, the latest version of the Edifier even promises a digital active crossover with a digital signal processor (DSP). In addition to the crossover and limiter function, it has another ace up its sleeve, namely a switchable basic widening function, which is intended to provide a better stereo room image. The master speaker has bass and treble controls and a potentiometer for level adjustment. However, this volume control has a life of its own, as it is not synchronized with the smartphone via Bluetooth. Those who do not use the analog inputs will find this very impractical, as we do.

Long line

A four-wire cable with a special plug is used to transmit the line from the master box, which is always subscribed to the right channel, to the left. The cable supplied with the Edifier R1700BTs alongside the RCA cable is 5 meters long. This is particularly generous in view of the low package price. It’s not just for casual use as a desktop monitor on the desk. The five meters also ensure maximum flexibility for use in the living room. However, the manufacturer was less generous with the power cable. This is unfavorable in that it is permanently connected to the master speaker, while the already very long connecting cable between the speakers can be replaced by a separately available long version with 9 meters.

The look with the wooden side panels and the speaker chassis is somewhat reminiscent of high-end monitors from the 1990s. The 19-millimeter silk domes, which are responsible for the high frequencies, make an equally high-quality impression. They are installed in a sound guide, a so-called waveguide, which harmonizes the dispersion angle over the area of application. This should provide a larger sweet spot for near-field listening as well as a certain focus in the living room.

This is how the Edifier R1700BT monitors sound

After the workmanship and the range of features had already left an extremely positive impression, the two Edifier R1700BTs underlined their reputation in the listening test with a remarkable sound quality. The small desktop monitors offered an astonishingly well-balanced sound tuning for the extremely low price compared to the speakers of the established hi-fi brands from Europe – which often also have inexpensive products manufactured in China. Both female and male voices maintained a level of neutrality that was even sufficient for classical and jazz recordings such as “Concierto De Aranjuez” by Rabih Abou Khalil. In this piece, the two active speakers also shone with refreshing liveliness and showed good impulse processing.

It is true that the reproduction of vocals could not offer that special touch of melodiousness that gives audiophiles goose bumps. But in those illustrious circles, it’s not unusual to pay more than 170 euros for a single speaker cable. And here you get a pair of very well-made loudspeakers that do not require an external amplifier. The Edifier R1700BTs don’t even need a signal source, as long as you have a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with a music archive or access to online music services.

The Edifier monitors even make a good impression in terms of bass

Equally impressive: even if you disregard the price, the two Edifier monitors produced a controlled, clean and even rich bass in the review, even for their small, desk-friendly dimensions. The two bass reflex speakers managed the balancing act between sufficient punch and a minimum of bass well. We listened to the R1700BTs not only on the desktop, where they did a really great job as powerful-sounding, practically designed PC speakers. In view of the price, you can forgive them for not having a digital input apart from the Bluetooth interface.

We were so impressed by the sound quality that we tried out the Edifier R1700BT in a relatively large living room. The result did not need to hide behind similarly compact hi-fi speakers, regardless of the price. There are speakers that play even more neutrally and focus better. But level reserves, impulsiveness and resolution clearly fell into the hi-fi category. With a wall distance of around 30 centimeters, the bass reproduction didn’t need to hide either. Under these extreme conditions, the mini speakers lacked a bit of authority, depth and differentiation with tracks like “Sing It Back” by Moloko. However, in view of the physical limits with small woofers and cabinet volumes, what was on offer was beyond what could be achieved with a conventional solution consisting of a hi-fi amplifier with passive mini speakers.

Hands off this function!

The only unconvincing feature was the base extension from the DSP bag of tricks, which can be controlled via two dedicated buttons on the supplied infrared remote control. You could clearly hear the effect and some inexperienced listeners might even like the whole thing, depending on the recording. However, with the glasses of experienced audiophiles, one must attest that the reproduction without the DSP effects appears more natural and precise.

Activating the base widening adds a touch of laundry room to the music. The sound becomes more reverberant and washed out, which is ostensibly intended to create an impression of spatial depth, but not wider. In addition, the DSP gimmick reinforces the small problem areas in the mid-range, which is crucial for naturalness. The already not overly warm, full-bodied or nuanced voices then drift into the cool, overcast depending on the pitch. As much as we recommend buying the Edifier R1700BTs after our extensive testing, we strongly advise you to leave out the superfluous DSP effect. Then you get a great speaker for little money.

Verdict and alternatives to the Edifier Studio R1700BT

Due to their low price and explicit orientation as desktop speakers, the Edifier R1700BTs are a little out of our league.

If you want more connection options and sound resolution at a significantly higher price, you should take a look at the similarly compact Nubert nuBox A-125.

Technical data: Edifier Studio R1700BT

• Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 170 euros
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 15.5 x 25.5 x 21.5 cm
• Weight: 3.7 kg (Master)
• Special features: 2 x RCA, Bluetooth, remote control, sound control
• More at: edifier.reactwebdesign.com

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