Edifier S350DB Review
Many soundbars and speaker systems claim that they provide fantastic surround sound. However, in the world of audio, you get great quality sound at affordable prices very rarely.
With how speakers are made, the more you spend, the better sound you get. Getting a great 2.1 system is no exception.
The Edifier S350DB is the exception, however.
Currently one of the best sound systems in the market, the S350DB is more affordable than most of its competition. It sounds great, it looks great, and it can be a wireless system.
Getting two speakers and a subwoofer for this price and quality is nothing short of impressive. That’s why it is so popular.
Where to Buy?
| Seller | Price |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Check Price |
What Is The Edifier S350DB?
The Edifier S350DB is a 2.1 sound system that provides amazing quality sound. The system comes with two speakers and a single subwoofer, just like all 2.1 systems.
The speakers are bookshelf-sized. They are designed for use in large living spaces and can look great in every setting.
These speakers are manufactured by Edifier, a 25-year-old company with a reputation for combining affordable pricing with excellent quality sound. While not everyone likes the design aesthetics of Edifier speakers, there are very few who can deny that the speakers sound good.
In terms of looks, the S350DB is not one of the divisive products. It looks great with a simple aesthetic that forgoes the use of any grills on the facade.
The black vinyl front and the cherry-wood veneer create a great combination. Some do call this style “old-fashioned,” though it might just be called timeless.
Even though the S350DB looks like three individual units, that’s only physically. In essence, it is a single system in three different bodies. The satellite speakers rely on the subwoofer to receive and split signals.
The solid 8-inch subwoofer is capable of producing deep, booming sound. The size of the subwoofer at this price is again something to be impressed about.
If you are worrying about overpowering bass, then rest assured that the tweeters are capable of producing clear high tones. The tweeters have a titanium dome that allows them to produce incredible highs.
You can connect the S350DB in multiple ways. You have the option of using AUX, RCA, optical or coaxial connections. If you want to live cable-free, you even have the capability of using these speakers via Apt-X Bluetooth.
The speakers are powerful and capable of using 15W of power for treble and 25W of power for mids and lows. This subwoofer can use 70W of power. The frequency response is solid as well, so you don’t need to worry about power efficiency.
The Edifier S350DB is a great choice for people who want a good sound system without shelling out a fortune for a 5.1 system.
Design, Features, And Performance
So that you can have more clarity about the Edifier S350DB, let’s talk about its design, features, and performance. This way, you can know whether this is the right product for you.
Design
The Edifier S350DB speakers stick to the classic speaker look. They are old-school when compared to modern-looking speakers. This is not to say that they are bad-looking.
The speakers have cherry-wood veneer paneling on either side. For the front, the traditional grille that most speakers have is missing. This gives the S350DB a sharp, sophisticated look. The front panel is made out of black vinyl that stands out in contrast because of the exposed drivers.
The back panel is mostly covered with wood veneer also. Of course, there is a small exposed panel for connections. It’s not the best-looking back panel, especially on the subwoofer, but it gets the job done. It is neat and clean, however. There are much worse back panels out there.
All the input connections are on the back of the subwoofer. You can find coaxial, optical, RCA, and AUX ports all in the back. There are also ports for both satellite speakers. Both of the satellite speakers use different kinds of cables.
The power switch is also found on the back panel of the subwoofer.
The subwoofer does have a large side port for air movement. The speakers are decently large. It is often the case that satellite speakers are tiny and provide no sound, and the subwoofer has to pick up the slack. In the Edifier S350DB, the satellites are bookshelf-sized speakers.
This does make the weight of the system a bit higher. The entire system weighs in at just under 20 lbs. That’s not extremely high, but it is certainly not a lightweight speaker.
Even without the weight, there is little to no chance of wall mounting these speakers.
The subwoofer connects to the satellite speakers through cables. These cables are quite thick and not very pliable either. The right speaker even has its cable hardwired. So, the cables prevent you from putting these speakers up in a wall mount.
The difference in cables for the right speaker is because it comes with side-panel controls. All the control switches apart from the power switch are placed on the side of the right satellite speaker.
This removes the need to go to the back panel of the subwoofer every time you want to adjust the sound.
The controls on the right speaker let you control the overall volume, the treble, and the bass for the system.
Features
The 8-inch driver on the subwoofer draws 70W of power at RMS. Though it is not stated outright, looking at the power ratings of the satellite speakers, it can be determined that those speakers are bi-amped.
Bi-amping produces better quality sound and isn’t a feature you’d expect at this price.
Another feature that isn’t normal for speakers in this price range is the full titanium dome for the tweeters. The driver on the satellites is a solid 4-inch one.
The S350DB comes with an Apt-X Bluetooth connection. This means there is no compression loss over the Bluetooth connection. Not only that, but the Apt-X also reduces latency. It has a CD-like quality sound.
Do keep one thing in mind, both devices need to be Apt-X compatible to get its benefits. If the pairing device with which you are using the S350DB isn’t Apt-X compatible, you won’t get any benefits. However, most modern devices from reputable brands come Apt-X compatible.
The Edifier S350DB doesn’t have many advanced features. It lets its sound quality do the talking. We can’t blame Edifier for not adding additional features either, as the S350DB is already a steal when it comes to sound quality.
One of the features that the system does have is the side panel controls on the right speaker. We already talked about that previously, but we’ll reiterate.
The side panel controls allow you to change the volume, bass, and treble levels without reaching into the back. It is just a convenient way to adjust your sound.
Performance
With how it is designed, the Edifier S350DB can produce amazingly great quality sound. While the lows and bass often drown out the highs and mids, the bi-amped titanium tweeters can keep up with the large subwoofer.
The lack of digital processing isn’t always felt, but it should be noted. It’s mostly felt for the lows at higher volumes.
The sound is loud where it needs to be, and the loudness doesn’t lack much depth. More importantly, the bass is clear and doesn’t warble. The lows are full and rich.
What’s impressive are the mids and highs. For speakers in this price range, they can either produce good lows or good highs and mids. They can rarely do both well.
That is why it is surprising that the S350DB can recreate most of the sound range incredibly well.
Another feature, or drawback depending on your point of view, is that it comes tuned from the factory. There is not a lot of fiddling you can do beyond the basic sound settings.
The basic settings perform admirably well. You can set up the sound level to have a better experience, but you don’t have to.
Should You Buy The Edifier S350DB?
The Edifier S350DB is an excellent choice considering its sound quality and input options. Although a bit heavy, it has a great build. It has efficient sound separation.
While the subwoofer provides deep lows, the tweeters deliver clear highs. The side panel offers a good range of bass sounds.
Moreover, it comes with a wireless remote for remotely controlling the volume and playback.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Classic design
- Amazing quality audio
- Multiple connectivity options
- Apt-X Bluetooth compatible
Cons
- LED indicator is too small
Final Verdict
The Edifier S350DB is a great 2.1 system that produces sound way above its punching weight. The ability to get such sound at these prices is incredible. Though the speakers aren’t easy to place, they still do their job amazingly.
The only downside is the inability to add other speakers to the system, but the S350DB performs amazingly with what it has.
