Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+

PC Audio Edifier S350DB Review, A new successor to my old S530D?

views
     
TSpower911
post Apr 29 2017, 12:52 AM, updated 8y ago

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

First of all I would like to thank Edifier Malaysia for giving me a chance to review this unit.

I've been able to test most of Edifier's high end "Signature series" speakers for a while now and since this S530DB came out I was very interested.
My personal unit S530D has been through days of me blasting movies/music whenever I'm back from work and it has served me well but I've always wanted more out of it.
I crave for deeper bass and shinier sparkly trebles out of my ol' S530D.

Fortunately the S350DB came in and fulfilled my needs.

user posted image
user posted image
user posted image

It came in a full colored box. Surprisingly no "box in a box" packaging like how most high end Edifier speakers come with.

user posted image
user posted image

Top of the box reveals its frequency spectrum. Looks flat to me. We will know later when I'm done setting this up. cool2.gif

user posted image
shakehead.gif
I'm not sure if this was already dented or the courier did this but this painful dent did not hurt the product so it's going to be fine.
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


TSpower911
post Apr 29 2017, 12:52 AM

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

user posted image

Included are these items to make it work.

user posted image
-RCA to 3.5mm

user posted image
-Optical cable

user posted image
user posted image
-5 pin DIN cable as speaker cable

user posted image
-And the remote

I love how good the remote feels. It has a perfect weight to it. Reminds me of a hockey puck.
Despite mostly plastic with rubber buttons, the puck weights just enough to feel solid.
Controls basically all inputs and playback if you're connected to bluetooth
(oh did I mention this also has Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX technology? Yeah they sound as good as direct cable plugged in. No more ugly distorted bluetooth audio rolleyes.gif )

Probably the only drawback about this hockey puck design is that it is circular with no notches or braille point guide to guide my hands. I had to look down to the remote to confirm that I'm pointing the right direction. Would be good to add a braille point or some sort of touch indicator to the remote.
Maybe raise the LED indicator on top to a tactile feel point? Just suggesting. devil.gif
TSpower911
post Apr 29 2017, 12:53 AM

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

Lets dig in deeper into the box shall we?

user posted image

user posted image

Satellites first rclxm9.gif
I mean check out the deep colors of the wood drool.gif
Even the S1000 and the S2000PRO doesn't go as dark as these.
I personally am a fan of dark wood. Reminds me of cherrywood. Only Edifier can tell what wood they're made of. notworthy.gif

user posted image

Featuring titanium dome tweeters and a 3.5 inch mid-range driver made with aluminum diaphragm and frame.
I'm no judge to their parts but the titanium dome tweeters seemed like the same ones used in the S1000 and I like it thumbup.gif
However the 3.5 inch mid-range driver doesn't seem aluminum to me. The dustcap is the only one that feels like aluminum. (judging from my experience on holding soda cans. rolleyes.gif ) and the cone is some sort of treated paper.

The speakers came with exposed drivers and fortunately they were protected with molded plastic during shipping as I almost poked my fingers into the drivers as I carry them out of the box. It is afterall a fashion design. I personally liked the old design of removable grill as that gave me a choice to leave it exposed or not but this doesn't come with any so... sweat.gif

Just be careful alright?

The small little oval black window below is the Infrared receiver as well as an input selector indicator. cool2.gif
Pretty nifty way to display it since the existence of S1000 innocent.gif


user posted image

Ported satellites. As well as a VGA connector as this is the right speaker that holds all controls to the unit as well as transmits audio to the right unit.
There's a "R" indicator in case you missed out showing you its the right satellite.

user posted image

Looking to the right of the "Right" speaker displays analog treble and bass control knob as well as a digital step volume control on the bottom which serves as an input selector if you press on it.
The LED will only glow white to show power. Not an indicator for input as most of the input details are on the infrared window.

user posted image

The left side is a boring piece with nothing but speaker and the socket for the speaker cable. Nothing but a slave.

TSpower911
post Apr 29 2017, 12:53 AM

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

user posted image

The 8" subwoofer, just like the satellites, are exposed to show its beauty. This however didn't come with any protection in packing. And yes I grabbed the cone surround and gave a good press into the foam. sweat.gif

No damage so far but oh my the wood is extra smooth and slippery. Making this weighty sub quite difficult to carry unless my palms get sweaty enough to grip it out.
The legs aren't really tall so your fingers had a hard time gripping the gap if you were to place it on the floor.

user posted image
I'd just grab the sub air port on the side to lift it up.
The port is somewhat small and looking inside reveals some padding covering the port. (It kinda made the port chaff a little)


user posted image

Well organized inputs. Note how every RCA connector is gold plated to perfection rclxm9.gif


user posted image
user posted image
user posted image

The whole unit combined.
What a beauty.


user posted image

Alright. Back to my messy table for some serious listening.

I'm running my usual sources.
Stock Realtek ALC887 soundcard
T-Muso PCM2704
Edifier Optical in

As well as bluetooth connectivity with my Xiaomi Mi3

Give it some music~
And I've expected how this should sound. Honestly very similar to the S1000 and the S2000PRO
I don't have the speakers to compare side by side but my fuzzy memory gets me reminded on how the signature series sounds like.

Crisp sparkles, luscious mids, deep bass that punches gently to the mood.

user posted image
The bass is sure a deep acoustic bass rumbles that responds well to most jazz and slow beat music.
It extends very well deep down to the claimed 40Hz but I believe it still sounds well down to 26Hz before any filtering cuts the woofer off.
If I were to say how a sub should sound, this is how a sub should sound. It should provide resonant feel to the listener as they listen to it

Many Edifier of the past had subs that doesn't go low but only low mids. Like my Edifier S530D, it is a warm and responsive subwoofer but it doesn't rumble deep enough to make the listener feel. This I believe will surpass the Edifier S730D's 10" woofer in terms of lows.

Listening to this version of Hotel California just sums out how a kick drum should sound like in a live event with multiple 18" subwoofers. Yes. the bass of the S350D simulates the deep lows just like a live concert all in your small room.
Can't help but to always crank that bass knob max


user posted image
The mids are just as good as the S1000 and the S2000PRO. Natural and warm. There are times it felt like you stick your ears close to someone's mouth and they talk to you and that's how full it sounds. In fact they do sound quite similar to my Edifier S530D just slightly brighter and cleaner.
Giving it a play with Historia de un Amor by Laura Fygi would unleash the quality of the mids of how a lady should sound. Lovely, warm tones that matches the color of the nylon guitar strings resonating through the hollow wood of a guitar body.


And lastly the trebles.
Titanium tweeter is shiny and reflective, just like how sparkly and bright the trebles sound. I can only think of wind chimes and crystal shooting stars when I describe its attack. Drummers would understand how cymbals should ring as they crash. The attack on every splash or china cymbal has that mid tone in it with the sizzle brightness but every speaker turns it into a walkie talkie radio treble. The S350DB doesn't do that. It simulates how it sounds like. Give it a volume and it could hurt like the real drum kit.
It is a joy to hear a fast drummer attack the hi hats with these tweeters. I felt no fatigue even when I crank the trebles to the max other than pure enjoyment.
Acoustic guitar may be famous for its mid tones but having the fingers rubbing the roundwound coiled strings gave a wonderful finger slide sound with the S350DB.

Giving anime songs a try like this unleashes the potential of the tweeters. Guitar slides, high pitched female voice, violin and glockenspiel driving the tweeters into a great song. Voices of shakers filling the empty gaps are well blended without overpowering the accompanist violin. Never forget that she is basically singing in a whispering tone and the tweeters projected every breath in proper tone.


I gave this overall a good movie based speaker despite rarely talking about movie in my audio tests mostly on a few key points.
-Deep rumbling bass
-strong vocal point
-even Edifier promotes these to match a tv console rather than a PC setup.

I gave a couple of my old movies collection a run namely Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift and The Martian. No doubt it is a very "movie catered" tone in it.
Tokyo Drift (or many other Fast series) are always about car engine and tire screeches blending along with fight scenes. While there isn't much gunfight like the latest fast series, one will be able to enjoy how the sub performs with the mids on simulating a riced car engine roaring in your neighborhood.

While I never bothered too much finishing two of those movies I mentioned, I immediately proceed to play some games. Never fully tried all I had but I gave "Rise of the Tomb Raider" a demo. Oh dear, this speaker scare me too much. The representation of in game sounds are well too intense to be played loud. Gunshots are blasting loud and impactful while falling down the rubbles into a tomb gave it a good hit on the subs. I was fully immersed when I fell into the water. The realism is fantastic. Games were meant to be matched with Movie themed.



Leaving all aside, I really didn't talked much about the bluetooth connectivity didn't I?
I mean it is easy to connect. Just find Edifier S350DB and pair it. Good to go.
It plays just as good as wired. No loss no distortion.

Overall the speakers are a fantastic piece of equipment. They made my past S530D sounded dull and muddy. Any new house should be equipped with a proper stereo setup and this is a good startup for a tv console setup. Maybe a tad overkill for a home pc setup but no harm as they are good close field speakers too.


Pros
-Sound beyond size
-Deep bass
-Very forward luscious mids
-Easy to use Bluetooth connectivity
-Looks fantastic

Cons
-Exposed driver design prone to itchy fingers poking or leg kicking
-Circular remote with no directional sense for blind navigation


user posted image
Lastly I thank Edifier for giving me a chance to test this unit. Oh how I wish I'm able to keep this unit innocent.gif

This post has been edited by power911: Apr 29 2017, 12:55 AM
tinytech89
post Apr 29 2017, 01:07 AM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
104 posts

Joined: Aug 2011


how much?
TSpower911
post Apr 29 2017, 12:07 PM

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

QUOTE(tinytech89 @ Apr 29 2017, 02:07 AM)
how much?
*
Unsure about the market price but Lazada sells it for RM1088
egkhor
post Apr 29 2017, 06:12 PM

New Member
*
Junior Member
16 posts

Joined: Jun 2010
I owned this set of speaker almost a month. Yeah, I bought this before it's officially launch from InterAsia.
Attached Image
Attached Image
Attached Image
I am so impress with the overall design, sound quality, built quality and extraordinary of the materials. I think the wood shelf is MDF not real wood, and for your concern on the damage on the box by courier. Frankly, thanks to Edifier. This speaker is pack in dual boxes protection. I agree with the 2 drawbacks mentioned above. That's why I place the woofer on the table to prevent accidentally kick on it. As for the circular shape of remote, yes sometime I tense to click wrongly.
Man55
post Apr 29 2017, 08:46 PM

New Member
*
Newbie
1 posts

Joined: Apr 2017
I see your review for edifier 5.1 S760D before..
from your experience does S350DB produce better sound than edifier S760D ?
which do you recomend for PC desktop? :\
TSpower911
post May 1 2017, 10:22 PM

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

QUOTE(Man55 @ Apr 29 2017, 09:46 PM)
I see your review for edifier 5.1 S760D before..
from your experience does S350DB produce better sound than edifier S760D ?
which do you recomend for PC desktop? :\
*
Clarity wise I'd agree its better due to its new active crossover design vs S760D passive crossover design.

I'm not too clear on what Edifier did but since they implemented active crossover by driving each speaker with individual amp, they made almost all their speaker sounded similarly clear.
You can call it Edifier's new sound signature.

The S760D is a bit on the deep bass section with missing mid-lows which they somewhat missed since the S550 and S730D. Which is why I opt for the S530D to prevent missing frequency.

But you gotta remember it's a 5.1 setup and they can do more with the Dolby ProLogic II compared to the stereo S350DB
Both are good for Movies and Games icon_rolleyes.gif
Topet
post May 4 2017, 11:11 AM

schadenfreude
*****
Senior Member
994 posts

Joined: Jun 2009
From: Sabah


QUOTE(egkhor @ Apr 29 2017, 06:12 PM)
I owned this set of speaker almost a month. Yeah, I bought this before it's officially launch from InterAsia.
Attached Image
Attached Image
Attached Image
I am so impress with the overall design, sound quality, built quality and extraordinary of the materials. I think the wood shelf is MDF not real wood, and for your concern on the damage on the box by courier. Frankly, thanks to Edifier. This speaker is pack in dual boxes protection. I agree with the 2 drawbacks mentioned above. That's why I place the woofer on the table to prevent accidentally kick on it. As for the circular shape of remote, yes sometime I tense to click wrongly.
*
Please put the sub below and find some cloth to cover the driver.
calvinlaw510
post May 4 2017, 11:43 PM

Enthusiast
*****
Senior Member
766 posts

Joined: Oct 2007
From: Penang Island


I gonna replace my R2800 with this 1....Been using R2800 more than a year, the size is too huge for my pc table.
TSpower911
post May 6 2017, 02:22 PM

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

QUOTE(Topet @ May 4 2017, 12:11 PM)
Please put the sub below and find some cloth to cover the driver.
*
Wouldn't recommend. Subwoofer come move too much and will cause cloth to rattle
tarm
post May 26 2017, 02:41 PM

Enthusiast
*****
Senior Member
805 posts

Joined: Jan 2003
From: Kuala Lump...


Just getting this yesterday, originally want to get C3X or Logitech Z263 (budget only RM500+), however after auditioned those speakers, reading this review and auditioned S350DB.... what the hell, just boost my budget (and prepare for major cutting of meal, puasa is starting tomorrow anyway) and bought this baby.

Best decision i've made this year.
Phantom Renegade
post Jun 5 2017, 04:56 AM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
214 posts

Joined: Sep 2005



Where in Penang can I get this thing?

Was looking for a replacement for my Creative Gigaworks T3... accidentally stumbled across your thread. Now my eyes are fixated on this.

Good review by the way... thumbup.gif
Edifier
post Jun 5 2017, 07:39 AM

Look at all my stars!!
*******
Store Representative
9,164 posts

Joined: Jan 2003
From: Edifier, Stax, Noctua and AirPulse


QUOTE(Phantom Renegade @ Jun 5 2017, 04:56 AM)
Where in Penang can I get this thing?

Was looking for a replacement for my Creative Gigaworks T3... accidentally stumbled across your thread. Now my eyes are fixated on this.

Good review by the way... thumbup.gif
*
You can contact E Tech, G Tech, Digital Match and etc.

Phantom Renegade
post Jun 7 2017, 06:40 PM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
214 posts

Joined: Sep 2005



QUOTE(Edifier @ Jun 5 2017, 07:39 AM)
You can contact E Tech, G Tech, Digital Match and etc.
*
Decided to buy through Lazada (dealing with Inter-Asia). Didn't want to waste my time going to Penang (its quite far from my home). Afraid I couldn't find this specific models since Penang's IT mall didn't usually carry higher end stuff.

Anyway received mine today. So far so good bro. Dammm the woofer is heavy lol (as compared with my previous Creative Gigaworks T3). Even the size of the satellites is considered gigantic as oposed to the satelites speaker of T3.



uc0
post Jun 7 2017, 09:20 PM

New Member
*
Newbie
10 posts

Joined: Jun 2016
QUOTE(Edifier @ Jun 5 2017, 07:39 AM)
You can contact E Tech, G Tech, Digital Match and etc.
*
Went digital match qb today. Nothing much there. beside some old display sets, was told not much stock too
skylinelover
post Jun 10 2017, 04:16 AM

Future Crypto Player😄👊Driver Abamsado😎😎
********
All Stars
11,265 posts

Joined: Jul 2005
haha not bad but I still waiting 4 the true S730 successor and I already topping my budget RM1999 laugh.gif brows.gif

S730 I buy RM1199 back in 2010 laugh.gif rclxms.gif
TSpower911
post Jun 10 2017, 06:02 PM

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

QUOTE(skylinelover @ Jun 10 2017, 05:16 AM)
haha not bad but I still waiting 4 the true S730 successor and I already topping my budget RM1999 laugh.gif  brows.gif

S730 I buy RM1199 back in 2010 laugh.gif  rclxms.gif
*
if edifier suddenly come up with a 15" woofer my legs will tremble
skylinelover
post Jun 10 2017, 06:04 PM

Future Crypto Player😄👊Driver Abamsado😎😎
********
All Stars
11,265 posts

Joined: Jul 2005
QUOTE(power911 @ Jun 10 2017, 06:02 PM)
if edifier suddenly come up with a 15" woofer my legs will tremble
*
Lets hope they come out soon laugh.gif rclxms.gif
LanzaDelRelampago
post Feb 6 2018, 11:35 PM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
77 posts

Joined: May 2012
From: Konoha


s350db and s1000db if compared side by side for multipurpose use such as music, youtube, vlog, games, movies and etc, which is better and if need to choose between those two, which will you choose hmm.gif
TSpower911
post Feb 8 2018, 10:59 AM

Misguided Angel of Death
*******
Senior Member
6,513 posts

Joined: May 2009
From: I'll follow wherever Tira goes

QUOTE(LanzaDelRelampago @ Feb 7 2018, 12:35 AM)
s350db and s1000db if compared side by side for multipurpose use such as music, youtube, vlog, games, movies and etc, which is better and if need to choose between those two, which will you choose  hmm.gif
*
my opinion may vary. I like bass. S350DB is going to sound more flexible in many things especially for your needs. (plus they're cheaper)

The S1000DB sounds full and exquisite and can only be appreciated if you can afford it. I'd choose if you don't need the cinematic bass experience because they are overall fantastic sound.
andrekua2
post Feb 23 2018, 12:14 PM

10k Club
********
All Stars
13,478 posts

Joined: Jan 2012


QUOTE(LanzaDelRelampago @ Feb 6 2018, 11:35 PM)
s350db and s1000db if compared side by side for multipurpose use such as music, youtube, vlog, games, movies and etc, which is better and if need to choose between those two, which will you choose  hmm.gif
*
If you had a woofer, then there is flexibility of watching movies with it.

I dont have both speaker but I do have the older S2000 and S730. Bought S2000 and I was very happy with it when I was listening to chinese/country song a lot. Vocals stands out especially. After years, now I start to pick up kpop and S2000 is definitely lacking. It is also lacking when watching movies with lots of bass. I got the chance to pick up S730 for just RM850 at edifier warehousesale 2 years ago. Really enjoy it for movies and kpop.

But it also depends on your usage. I was looking to fill my living room thus the S730 fits the bill. It was overpowering when I tried it in a small room and when you turned the volume down, it just does not shine.

I would personally advice against R2700/2800. Bought one before and sold it a year later. My personal opinion... its probably more suited to studio use than personal usage.
Cruxs
post Jun 21 2018, 10:41 AM

Enthusiast
*****
Senior Member
826 posts

Joined: Jun 2005


Some1 wanna sell s730?

 

Change to:
| Lo-Fi Version
0.0363sec    0.50    6 queries    GZIP Disabled
Time is now: 15th December 2025 - 03:42 AM