Before we begin our Edifier R1700BTs review, here’s a snippet about Edifier’s origin that you should know. Edifier was founded by a “small group of ambitious music aficionados” in 1996 in Beijing, China. The brand has made quite a reputation for itself since then, with distributors in more than 70 countries. Besides the US, the publicly-listed company has a strong presence in Asia and Europe.
Today, we are reviewing their latest Edifier R1700BTs Bookshelf Speakers. Incredibly high-quality and packed with useful extras, the R1700BTs speakers are an excellent buy. An attempt at appealing to a wide range of customers resulted in a feature set that covers most bases, making these speakers a steal for anyone looking for desktop or bookshelf speakers.
Edifier R1700BTs overview
Here are the pros and cons of the Edifier R1700BTs speakers:
Pros
- Superb audio quality
- Easy-to-use controls
- Stylish appearance
- Value for money
Cons
- Lacks USB input
- The speaker connector cable is longer than needed
Edifier R1700BTs Specifications
- 66W RMS total output power
- Class-D amplifier system with DSP and DRC
- Bluetooth V5.1 with Qualcomm® aptX HD
- Sub Out port for bass output to external subwoofer
- Dual RCA inputs
What’s In The Box
The R1700BTs speakers arrive in sleek packaging that displays a picture of the speakers themselves. Inside the box, you get the following:
- RCA to RCA cable (180 cm)
- RCA to 3.5mm jack cable (180 cm)
- 4-pole speaker connection cable (500 cm length, 6 mm thickness)
- Infrared remote control
- Multilingual operating instructions manual (e.g. English, German, Spanish, French) and warranty card (English)
The remote control is tiny and thin, and its buttons are soft and responsive. The only issue I have is that the button labels aren’t always easy to read, especially in dim conditions, but I’ve learned to memorize where the volume controls are.
Edifier R1700BTs features and review
Let’s take a closer look at these speakers as we deep dive into our Edifier R1700BTs review.
Design & Build
The build quality is satisfactory for the price — strong but not top-tier quality. The components have a satisfying amount of weight to them, holding them securely in place and giving them an overall robust feel.
The MDF cabinet is made not only to look good but also to minimize acoustic resonance and distortion. Each speaker has a base that is tilted at an angle of 10 degrees to improve the clarity and impact of the sound.
The cabinet’s standard-issue MDF framework is wrapped in a vinyl walnut woodgrain finish. When I looked at it more closely, I realized that this vinyl cover could be damaged over time and start peeling. This might be an issue sooner rather than later if you are constantly exposed to high humidity at home or the workplace.
This, however, is conjecture based on the quality of vinyl coatings. There’s hope that Edifier has found out how to keep the quality consistent. It’s noteworthy in any case. Regardless of the durability of the vinyl coating, Edifier R1700BTs look great with the vinyl walnut woodgrain finish.
The accompanying remote control is functional and has a nice aesthetic to it. Nothing too fancy, but it seems to be a major upgrade from the original R1700BT’s remote, as it had reports of fragility, fewer buttons, and coating issues (where it began to bubble up where the buttons are located).
Performance & Sound Quality
The Edifier R1700BTs has a forward-firing bass port and a 4-inch bass driver. As a consequence, even the lowest-end delivery will be enjoyable. The 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter handles high frequencies with ease.
The frequency response of 52Hz to 20kHz is likewise quite good. It can provide deep, resonant bass and clear, articulate treble with plenty of breathing room.
The Edifier R1700BTs is quite loud, clocking in at 85dBA. This is in excess of what is required for most uses. While sitting in one spot, you can hear the speakers from another room easily. In my opinion, speakers shouldn’t be operated at full volume for extended lengths of time. However, no significant distortion is audible, even at the maximum level.
The speaker’s high-performance Class-D amplifier technology, with both DSP and DRC (Dynamic Range Control), is tailored to meet your need for high-quality audio. The two midrange/bass drivers comfortably tackle the deep lows, while the treble drivers provide clear highs.
An ideal environment for the R1700BTs speakers is a close listening area, such as a home office or bedroom. Each speaker has a backward-sloping front surface, and the drivers are angled slightly upward, making them ideal for positioning on a desk next to the listener on each side of a display.
You can also connect a subwoofer to the Sub Out connector to upgrade to a 2.1 setup and experience increased bass output.
Connectivity
The Edifier R1700BTs offer versatility in terms of connectivity. In addition to Bluetooth, you also get an AUX-in but no USB inputs.
There are two sets of RCA inputs, so you can plug in two devices simultaneously. You may change inputs using the remote or the volume control on the side of the unit. You’ll also find two different RCA cable sets within the package.
Another great addition is a cable that converts from 1/8″ (3.5mm) to RCA. This significantly expands your selection of possible connections. This way, you may link up your smartphone, tablet, and media player, among other gadgets.
Bluetooth V5.1 ensures high-quality audio transmission, resulting in high resolution, consistent transmission, low power consumption, and versatility. Enjoy high-quality tunes without the annoyance of wires thanks to Qualcomm® aptX HD support.
When using Bluetooth, connections are stable and dependable. The volume control also acts as a button to re-establish a Bluetooth connection. There is no way to save and switch between numerous connections. You’ll have to manually pair devices every time you wish to swap them again.
Despite that one drawback, the R1700BTs provide enough adaptability for most requirements.
Remote Control
All Bookshelf speakers from Edifier come with a wireless remote. The latest iteration for R1700BTs has a completely new design, and the buttons and layout are both sleek. The original piano lacquer black finish has been preserved.
All of the design decisions made here make sense and are easy to grasp. The circle has buttons to rewind and fast-forward alongside the volume up/down. The input selection buttons, Bluetooth on/off, and volume controls are all conveniently located.
The power button is placed at the very top. One notable aspect is the presence of On/Off switches. This toggles the “sound field extension” on or off.
Pricing & Availability
Edifier R1700BTs Bookshelf Speakers are priced at $199 and are available to purchase on Edifier’s website and through online e-commerce platforms like Amazon.
Edifier R1700BTs review verdict
Even though they are bookshelf speakers, their sound is surprisingly expansive. In terms of sound quality, they are on par with or surpassing industry standard-bearers like Bose, Harman Kardon, etc. For the asking price, they compete favorably with my Bose Revolve in terms of sound quality and volume (both are around the same price. However, the Revolve+ may be a bit more expensive).
The build quality is top-notch. The knobs have a satisfying weight to them and are well-made. There is absolutely NO indication of shoddy build quality.
The Bluetooth connection to my iPhone was quick and trouble-free, and the sound quality was excellent. It’s a similar story with my other Android phone — this was likely owing to Qualcomm’s aptX HD technology. Honestly, I just tried the speakers out over Bluetooth. I can imagine the sound quality would be even better with the line level RCA inputs.
The sound is incredibly high-quality. I have owned Bose, Harmon Kardon, etc., and I was really blown away by this product. Value for money at this pricing of $199.99 is excellent. In addition, I cranked up the volume all the way and experienced no distortion.
The volume was extremely high (104dB on my Apple Watch) without the sound stage being affected in any way, and the full frequency range was reproduced beautifully (high-fidelity sound, for sure!).
If I had to rate these speakers, I’d give them a perfect score. I can’t comment on what other reviews have said, but they are a good option for bookshelf speakers that can be used with wireless or wired devices (a turntable would go excellent with these). I can’t fathom how their pricier speakers must sound.
If you have any questions about this Edifier R1700BTs review, feel free to leave them below!
