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Today we are going to take a look at the Edifier Predator 2.1 Speaker System which promises to combine a unique design with excellent sound quality characteristics. It uses a simple configuration which consists of a large subwoofer unit with a pair of front facing drives. This makes it ideal for those users who are looking to enjoy good sound quality but who aren't concerned with having a surround sound system.
Edifier aren't a particularly well-known brand in enthusiast circles as their products are designed with the multimedia and lifestyle markets in mind. The Predator 2.1 is a slight diversion from their usual markets as it's designed to appeal to the sci-fi crowd. The name ‘Predator' describes the rather unusually shaped subwoofer unit which appears to have been modeled on a character from the film.
Features
- Downward firing 5 inch subwoofer and one 2 inch front firing full-range driver in each satellite
- One 2 inch passive radiator in each satellite for enhanced audio output
- Angled satellites for enhanced sound projection
- Auxiliary input port for versatile connectivity to external devices
- Master volume and on/off dial located on the top of the subwoofer with blue halo indicator light
- Separate bass adjustment control for bass output
- All speaker drivers are magnetically shielded
- Universal 100V-240V power supply
The Predator is supplied in an attractive box which features a simple white colour scheme. The front of the box features a large image of the speaker system located within. The box itself feels very good quality and should do a good job of protecting the unit during transit.
Turning the box around reveals a few further images depicting various features of the speaker system alongside a list of features and specifications in an assortment of languages.
The included bundle isn't particularly plentiful but everything you really need is included. There is a 3.5mm cable to connect the unit up to your devices and an AC adapter. Edifier thoughtfully include a small cleaning cloth with the speakers so you can keep them clean.
It's clear that Edifier are trying to differentiate the Predator from the competition with the unique design that isn't like anything else we've seen before. The subwoofer has an elongated helmet shape, drawing inspiration from the ‘Predator' in the film of the same name. The unit seems well screwed together and the materials used in construction are good quality.
It's finished in gloss-white plastic (black is also available) which looks great. We aren't sure how well it will stand the test of time, though, as this type of finish can be prone to picking up dirt and scratches.
The subwoofer unit is the centre of the system and acts as a hub for the various connections. There is a rotary volume dial located on the top of the unit which also acts as the power button, turning the system off when turning it far enough anti-clockwise. The periphery of this dial is illuminated blue when the unit is powered on.
While this may be a convenient location for the volume dial for those who choose to have the subwoofer on top of their desks, it's not ideal if you want to save some space and hide it away somewhere underneath. We imagine that most users investing in a unit with such a unique design as this will choose to have it in full display on top of their desk, though.
The two satellites connect via a single 3.5 mm connector which splits off into two separate cables straight away. This prevents you from connecting the right and left speakers the wrong way round!
The rear of the unit also features an AC-in jack and a 3.5 mm input jack for connecting your preferred audio source. The 3.5 mm interface ensures compatibility with the vast majority of devices on the market.
At the top of the rear of the unit there is a rotary dial for adjusting the bass level of the subwoofer.
We actually find the subwoofer itself on the underside of the unit, pointing downards. There is a large void under the unit, though, so the sound shouldn't be restricted. The driver is 5 inches in diameter and has a maximum output of 12W.
The two satellite speakers each feature a 2 inch driver which can output a maximum of 4W. The satellite units themselves have a similar aesthetic design to the subwoofer, however the helmet shape is reserved for the back of the unit. One of our only minor gripes with the speaker system from a design point of view is the top-heavy nature of these satellites which are incredibly easy to knock over.
This seems to be the result of the lightweight plastic bases which really should be weighed down with some metal inside.
Specification
- Model Number: e1100MKII
- Total power output: R/L: RMS 4W x 2 SW: RMS 12W
- THD + N (testing level): 10%
- Signal to noise ratio: ≥85dBA
- Frequency range: 48Hz – 20kHz±12dB
- Frequency response: R/L: 200Hz – 20KHz SW: 20Hz – 100Hz
- Distortion: ≤0.5%
- Channel Separation: R/L: ≥40
- Input sensitivity: R/L: 1000mV±50mVSW: 850mV±50mV
- Audio input type: 3.5mm Auxiliary
- Adjustment: Master volume adjustment and on/off dial, bass adjustment dial
- Speaker unit: Bass unit: 5 inch (131mm), magnetically shielded, 4ΩTreble unit: 2 inch (52mm), magnetically shielded, 5Ω
- Dimension: Subwoofer: 186mm x 196mm x 278mm (W x H x D) Satellite: 85mm x 172mm x 94mm (W x H x D)
- Weight: 2.8Kg (net) | 3.86Kg (gross)
The Edifier Predator 2.1 is designed with the mainstream audience in mind so we will be testing the speakers in a number of different situations to emulate what we expect most consumers will replicate.
We hooked the speakers up to an Asus Xonar Xense audio card which is installed in one of our test systems, running Windows 7. We will be focusing our testing predominately on compressed audio formats as this is what we would expect most customers of these speakers to be using.
Our testing commenced with Chopin's Nocturne in Eb Major (Op. No. 2), which is a classical piano piece. The Predator exhibited a generally well balanced sound but seemed slightly withdrawn in the upper frequencies. We were impressed with the fullness of the mid-tones when we moved on to more popular music from the likes of Adele and Emeli Sande.
Going to the other end of the popular music spectrum, the lower registers of the Predator's soundstage were especially impressive when listening to music from the Dubstep and Drum and Bass genres. The mid-tones were also impressive when we listened to more Indie/Folk music from the likes of Mumford and Sons and Of Monsters and Men.
Moving on to movie playback we got out our old favourite, The Dark Knight on Blu-Ray. The opening scene is ideal for testing a speaker system's ability to create an immersive experience. The deep bass notes were rendered with considerable presence and the sound panning was as good as you could expect from a stereo set of speakers. Obviously, surround sound is preferable for an immersive experience but the Predator does a good job, considering.
Obviously, at KitGuru we couldn't conclude our tests of a speaker system without throwing in a few gaming tests, even though the speakers aren't specifically designed with this in mind. We tested the speakers with Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, in which we found the sound balance to be well suited to this type of game. Background sounds weren't overshadowed by gunfire and explosions were rendered with quite a presence.
The maximum volume of the speakers is fairly impressive and there was very little distortion even when closely approaching the maximum output level.
Overall we are impressed with what the Edifier Predator 2.1 has to offer. The unique design is sure to make the speakers stand out on a desk and the ‘sci-fi' theme is subtle enough that only those who have seen a movie based Predator in action will appreciate the inspiration behind the design.
The Predator doesn't disappoint when it comes to sound quality, either, as it performed well throughout all our tests. We would say it's best suited to those PC users who spend more time listening to music and watching films than gaming. While it didn't perform badly in our gaming tests, a surround sound setup would have been preferable.
Our only issue with the Predator was the placement of the power and volume control. It's located on top of the subwoofer unit which some users may choose to position under their desk. This would make it quite a hassle to turn the unit on and adjust the volume regularly. Ideally we would have liked to see some kind of external control for these functions.
At a price of around £60 from most leading retailers, we feel the Predator offers reasonable value for money considering what you get. It offers a winning combination of stylish design and great sound quality which make it an excellent choice.
Pros:
- Stylish design.
- Impressive sound quality.
- Feels well-built.
Cons:
- Volume control placement isn't ideal.
- Glossy plastic will pick up dirt and scratches readily.
KitGuru says: A stylish set of speakers that will appeal to your inner sci-fi geek!
