Introduction

After reading iF360 review from power911, I think most of us have something in our mind about how it performs and how it looks like. Now, I’d like to present to you my review of Edifier iF360. Edifier iF series speaker is, specially designed to pair with iPod and iPhone. Although the size of the speaker is small, it is not a joke at all. It can perform at high volume but does not feature an extra volume boost function like Edifier S530 and above. This system features a few types of input, which is CD player, a USB 2.0 port, SD memory card reader, FM radio and an AUX input. I only tried MP3s on it but not WMAs, as I did not preload my iPod Shuffle with WMAs.

First Impression

The Suggested Retail Price (SRP) of this speaker is RM 1199. Considering a branded iPod speaker is normally sold at such price tag, I personally think that the price is still ok but perhaps could only target higher end market.
A decent home theater can sound very good but it will take up a lot of space in a bedroom, while this speaker is being marketed to be for bedroom use. And also, home theater lacks of iPod support, which might be a minus point for high end user.

Packaging and what’s inside

I received the test unit in a white cardbod box, which has a small handle for ease of carrying it around. Once I opened it, I found it in between of two multilayers foam surrounding it. Alongside with the Edifier iF360, a IR wireless multipurpose remote control, power cord, radio antennae and several iPod dock holders.

The Design

The moment I unwrapped the bag that contains the unit, I saw a black, mirror-finished surface on top. I find it rather suit bedroom use than describing it as sexy (perhaps I like curvatures more). I personally find the VFD display quite nice. The colour matching is quite okay to me. Red-coloured touch buttons on top and green coloured words on the VFD display, accompanying the black beauty. The touch buttons will glow more when you exert force on it, like when you scroll the volume control pad to turn the volume louder of softer.

The iPod dock comes with a cover, which is a very careful step to prevent oxidation of the dock and dust collecting on it. The dock serves to read the contents of iPod, as well as charging it. The iPod dock and the CD input is in the front whereas other inputs such as SD card reader, AUX input and USB input are located at the back of the unit. However, I find it okay as in bedroom, when you set up your system properly, you will not want to change it so often. Moreover, as I mentioned in the “First Impression” section, the target might be higher end market, where they tend to change iPod and CDs more instead of AUX input. In addition, I do not find headphone output useful as this unit serves the purpose right.

The featured touch buttons are awesome but still need to take a little time to know what it means, as not all buttons are functional on all inputs. Although they are user-friendly, I think a user manual is required to explain the functions of the whole unit. As this unit can accept USB 2.0, CD input and iPod, which are inputs that are familiar among normal users, it needs detailed explanation on the part of using the touch buttons and the remote control. Moreover, it needs explanation on file formats that it supports. Before reading the specifications on Edifier website, I thought it could support lossless format, like FLAC and APE. But I find it can’t even work on WAV format.

Regarding the remote control, I have only a few comments about it. I find it not that attractive as other remote controls in whole. I personally prefer the one the provided by Edifier S series speakers. The surface is mirror finished and looks attractive in only that way. But the round base should be specially designed for bedroom use, as I find it don’t wobble on bed but only on flat, hard surface. The number buttons are rather cramped but the play/pause, next, previous, menu button are quite well located as the thumb can move easily around that small area. However, the remote control has two weaknesses. First, the volume control button is located too low and it is not easy to reach when you are holding it by one hand, especially when you are dealing with play/pause button. Second, the IR strength is quite weak compared to Edifier S series speaker remote control. I have to point the remote control straight to the front panel in order for it to function. The first time I tried it, the unit was placed higher in altitude than where I sat, so I faced some difficulty to control it well. However, normally, the speaker should be placed somewhere lower, if not almost same in altitude. So, this won’t be a big problem.

Sound Quality

I have tested the speaker through almost all kinds of sources, except the SD card reader and the USB 2.0. I do not own a SD card and the USB 2.0 do not work with lossless, so I just proceed with testing with other inputs. Nevertheless, I find it works well with iPod and I think Edifier has made a lot of work to make it well paired with iPod. The bass and treble can be adjusted too but I do not find it too useful, as they do not make much difference.

I have used a few CDs to test it on the first testing, which will be named below:
-David Foster - You’re The Inspiration
-Westlife - Turnaround
-Josh Groban - Self Titled
-Various Artists - Now It’s Classical
-Various Artists - The Best of Dance(MP3)

Starting with the first test material, my iPod Shuffle, I paired it with a cheap mini-RCA interconnect via AUX input and it really sounds bad. The whole feel is not right. Then I switched to use CDs and it sounds better. Guess it is fussy on its source.

Starting with You’re the Inspiration, Kenny G’s saxophone sounds not bad on the unit and it really feels much better than using my iPod shuffle. I was guessing the problem is with the MP3 format but it proved me wrong later. That’s why I said it is fussy about the source earlier. After listening a few tracks on this CD, I felt that when not many instruments or too many sides to take care with, this unit can perform well or otherwise.

Moving on with Josh Groban, it feels okay with the first track and third track. However, I feel the thick mids of Josh Groban could not really be displayed on this unit. Especially on the eighth track, Let Me Fall, it started to distort when his voice is going to higher and higher.

On Turnaround CD, it sounds not bad but I find something in common, which I think is a weakness of the speaker and will be further elaborated in next section.

On the last two CDs, this unit performs quite well. In addition, on the MP3 CD, this unit is able to display the track name as it is being tagged in the CD. However, it cannot display the name of tracks when using iPod input or AUX input. For iPod input, it will only display iPod 5th Gen for my case.
In conclusion, this baby works well with modern pop songs and still work okay with instrumentals, as long as it does not involve too many instruments. On most of the cases, the bass seems to be dominating most of the times. I suppose Edifier purposely design to emphasize on bass part. However, on instrumentals, when bass is not that important but is it emphasized, it seem too much for me.

Other comments

This baby can be very loud but I do not feel it is that important as I usually listen songs at low volume. In a living room of 20 x 15 feet, the iF 360 fills the room quite well at a volume of 25 when playing CD. In my opinion, its performance is mainly limited by its driver size. With 3” driver size, you can’t expect much from the unit but the bass really shocked me. However, I feel that is not really a good sign, as the Edifier speakers I normally listen to mainly focus on clarity.

I was not able to test the radio function, as my area is not well covered. However, I am greatly impressed with the iPod pairing with the speakers. Although the songs in the iPod Classic I have are in lossy formats, yet they sound great on this system. Thus, I suppose this is more towards iPod use.

I tested it the second time by connecting it to my PC soundcard (Audiotrak Prodigy HD 2) via Audiotrak Prodigy HD 2 stock RCA interconnect. I am able to play lossless files on it. And it still shows a lot of bass on it, where it should not be.

The time and date function cannot be neglected, as they are very useful in bedroom. I think there is also alarm function on it. So, this unit is really for bedroom use. To be frank, it can read CD fast, like within 5 seconds.

My expectations

This speaker, Edifier iF360, really suits bedroom use a lot. However, if the price could be lowered a little or the functions could be improved, I feel that it is a good buy.
To your surprise, some of my female friends tend to listen to radio and in country with slow internet speed; I do not really expect Internet Radio to be that useful. Therefore, radio function is quite useful but provided that there are improvements in radio antenna receiving power.

In my point of view, I feel that it is great if it could play popular lossless files, like FLAC, APE, WMA lossless etc. They are indeed quite useful especially when the users are of audiophile type.

And I expect the speakers to deliver more clarity and highs, where the bass can be slightly neglected in this case, like what is delivered by Edifier S330 and Edifier S530.
In conclusion, this speaker is good for bedroom use and for people who listen to modern pop songs. The features are especially great for people who live in modern world, where iPod is important to them.

Written by:Albert Chai

bedroom ftw

kinda agree bedroom is suitable... the feel of air cooler,the bed,the silence environment...
relaxing mood with gentle speakers...

nice review
very positive... ahaha

I thought it is for bedroom,isn't it?
But the first time testing,I placed it in my living room.
Second time,I tried in my bedroom.
Well,there's really standard there.
But I might be a little biased as I don't really like the lows to dominate.
Considering all the factors add into it,it is really not bad.
My comments are all in the review.

ipod speakers are designed to place anywhere

but the eddie suits bedroom best

I just test them all
basshead,treble-freak,clarity obsession... you name it lol

so... maybe I expect too much?

do love headphone output cuz my sis kept complaining that I play music during midnight even at super low volume like 5-10

This post has been edited by power911: Oct 12 2010, 11:36 PM

hmm,actually i conclude it from the photos that edifier provide.
as u can see,those ads by edifier about this speaker is in bedroom.
and they targeting high end market,so they dun really need a headphone output.
but i'd really like them to improve their remote control IR strength.

yea... same here.
somehow my tv remote is more sensitive than this

Pls try to change a new battery cause the battery we provide is more than 1 year old.

I don't have a new battery to test with.
And I think it is ready to be shipped back to the HQ already.
And I need to thanks Mr.Edifier a lot for giving me this chance to review.
Really honoured if really can get this unit as the gift.

changed the battery (as stated in my review)
still not very sensitive

in the end throw back the old batteries

Good that you tried with a new battery.
No wonder I remember someone commenting about the not so strong IR strength.
But it's still ok for normal use,just not so convenient at some times.

But i used it in my home, very responsive.
It must be my daughter keep throwing to the floor until internal damage

Anyway, thanks for the review

This post has been edited by Edifier: Oct 13 2010, 04:14 PM

Then maybe we have leave that section blank.
But people will consider it not only the remote control,for sure.