Edifier Studio R2730DB Speaker Review

1. Introduction2. Unboxing and First Look3. Testing4. Closing Thoughts5. View All Pages

The Edifier Studio R2730DB Bluetooth speakers are aimed at those who want uncompromising audio quality, a range of connectivity options and appealing aesthetics – all without breaking the bank. The speakers certainly look good, but how do they perform? We will find out.

Priced at just under £200, the Edifier Studio R2730DB speakers are not a cheap audio solution – so if you are looking for a basic replacement for an ageing pair of computer speakers, you will need to look elsewhere. Then again, they are by no means near the top-end of available hi-fi systems. We will assess the R2730DB set and see if they find a sweet-spot between price and performance.

Features:

• Active bookshelf speaker with Bluetooth pairing capability for music playback
• Dual Digital (optical, coaxial) and dual analogue (RCA and 3.5mm) audio inputs for versatile source connection
• 6½ inch (178mm) bass driver, 4 inch (116mm) mid-range and ¾ inch (19mm) NdFeB tweeter drivers
• Calibrated, front mounted bass reflect port effectively extends bass response
• Professional 5 pin XLR canon type speaker connecting cable with angled connector
• Class D amplifier with DSP based electronic crossover and dynamic range control minimize system distortion
• Stand-alone bass signal output available for connection to external active subwoofer
• Multi-functional wireless remote control and side panel control on active speaker
• All MDF wooden enclosures to minimize acoustic resonance
• Universal 100V-240V power supply

Specifications:

• Total power output: RMS 14W × 2 (treble) + 14W × 2 (mid-range) + 40W × 2(bass) (DRC ON)
• Signal to noise ratio: >85 dBA
• Frequency Response: 45Hz-20KHz(@+/-6db)
• Input Sensitivity: Line 1: 700 mV ± 50 mV , Line 2: 500 mV ± 50 mV, Bluetooth, OPT, COX: 350mFFs ± 50mFFs
• Input Type: RCA/Bluetooth/Optical/Coaxial
• Bass Unit: 6½ inch (178mm)
• Mid Range Unit: 4 inch (116mm)
• Treble Unit: 19 mm silk dome tweeter

The packaging for the Edifier Studio R2730DB speakers is a fairly standard affair. On the front you can see the pair of speakers and some key details about the set.

The sides of the box simply list the product specifications in a variety of languages.

Accompanying the speaker set is 1x RCA-to-3.5mm cable, 1x RCA-only cable, 1x digital optical cable, a handy remote control, a set-up booklet and power cable.

Inside, the R2730DB speakers come well protected by a wedge of polystyrene, and there is also a plastic sleeve around each individual speaker unit to prevent any scratches.

Once all the packaging and accessories are out of the way, the user is presented with a pair of very good-looking speakers.

The R2730DB speakers are entirely black – meaning they look stylish and will adapt very well into most environments. They are made from MDF, though the facia has a simple wood grain effect – which means the R2730DB set looks better than it would have if the panels were plain black.

The front panel, where the physical speakers are housed, is protected by a foam cover which is easily removed. Once that is out of the way, the three drivers on each unit are visible. The bass driver is 6½ inches (178mm), with the 4 inch (116mm) mid-range and ¾ inch (19mm) ‘tweeter' drivers above it. You can also make out the bass reflex port just above the bass driver.

On the side of the right-hand speaker is the bass, treble and volume adjustment options. Bass and treble can be tuned to +/- 6, allowing a good degree of flexibility for each user to change the sound as they wish.

Furthermore, the back of the right-hand speaker also houses all the connections to and from the R2730DB set. There are dual RCA inputs, as well as 1x digital optical and 1x coaxial input – and obviously there is the option to connect via Bluetooth as well.

At the bottom of the rear panel is the power socket, as well as an on/off switch. There is also the accompanying ‘left speaker out' cable to connect to the other speaker unit. Finally, and usefully, there is also a standalone bass signal output to allow users to make use of an external subwoofer should they so desire.To test the Edifier R2730DB speakers I used them in a variety of situations over a couple of weeks. I listened to music, played games and watched videos to gauge how the speakers perform in a variety of different scenarios. To do this, I connected them to my desktop PC using the supplied RCA-to-3.5mm cable, but I also used my phone to play music via Bluetooth.

Almost immediately I had a good impression of the R2730DB set. Music playback is very satisfying, with huge bass reproduction clearly evident despite the lack of subwoofer. This is obviously present on dance tracks which typically have strong basslines anyway, but in other genres – such as heavy metal and jazz – the bass comes through very well, too. It is hard to convey how powerful music can be using words, but suffice to say I was astounded by the amount of bass these speakers pack in for a 2.0 system.

They are also very loud – on full-volume they could easily be heard throughout my house. At the highest volumes, the top-end frequencies do lose some clarity, but in normal circumstances you are unlikely to be using the speakers at that volume for any amount of time – as they are very loud. At a reasonable volume, the top-end is very crisp indeed.

In games, they do the job very well too. Thanks to the whopping bass, FPS games sound very full-on as gunfire and explosions feel very close and intense. I had a trip down memory lane playing the original Crysis and the beginning of the level ‘Assault' features bomb after bomb – my desk was almost rocking from how close it all sounded thanks to the R2730DB speakers.

I found Crysis 2's more atmospheric soundtrack (rather than in-game sound effects) sounds great, too. The eerie rumble of the bass contrasts with the screeching violin to create a great sound and demonstrates a solid mid-range too.

Due to the strong bass, with default bass/treble settings, voices in films and videos are slightly muddy. However, turn down the bass a notch and turn up the treble and you will find voices are much clearer. Thanks to the adjustment settings being on the side (rather than the back) of the right-hand speaker, you do not even have to faff about by moving the speakers to get access to the rear panel.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the performance via Bluetooth. Connecting is easy – just hit the Bluetooth button on the speaker remote and the R2730DB name will appear on your device's Bluetooth list. I found music playback was perfect up to around 7-8 metres, and this includes leaving the room. While you get better quality using a wired signal, Bluetooth is worth using if you have a group of friends over and don't want to keep passing the aux cable around.

On the whole, I loved using these speakers – they are well balanced, great for gaming as well as music and have the extra bonus of Bluetooth connectivity.Overall, I found the Edifier Studio R2730DB speakers hit the price-to-performance sweet-spot. At just under £200 they are not crazily expensive, but they offer great quality for the price.

For starters, they look really good and come with a wealth of cables and connection options – you can have 5 devices (four cables plus a Bluetooth signal) connected to the R2730DB speakers at any one time.

The sound quality is very impressive, too. For a 2.0 system (so no subwoofer), I was blown away by the amount of bass the 6½ inch driver packs in. There is even a bass-out option for connecting an external subwoofer but I very much doubt you will need this.

My only complaint about quality comes when the speakers are at maximum volume – as the higher frequencies lose clarity. That said, the sound is so loud at this volume you will not be having extended playback with the volume cranked all the way up.

It is also worth mentioning the bass/treble adjusters on the side of the right-hand speaker unit. This means they are more easily adjusted than if they were at the back of the device, and it is a good thing too – as at default settings, voices are slightly muddy. However, tune down the bass and tune the treble up slightly and speech becomes crystal clear.

On the whole, I heartily recommend these speakers to those who want good quality without breaking the bank on a system costing thousands of pounds.

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You can pick up the Edifier Studio R2730DB speakers from Overclockers for £199.99 HERE.

Pros

• Attractive.
• Huge bass.
• Crisp high-end at all but maximum volume.
• Bass/treble adjusters on the side panel for easy tinkering.
• Good balance of price-to-performance

Cons

• High-end loses some clarity at maximum volume.
• Spoken word is slightly muddy at default settings.

KitGuru says: For all but the most picky of audiophiles, the Edifier Studio R2730DB speakers will do a great job at a reasonable price.

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