We purchased the Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Speaker so that our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and review it. Read on for our full product review.
Cheap active speakers that even an audiophile can love | Edifier R1700BT review
The Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth speakers are the perfect solution for those who just can’t decide what they want. Do you want bookshelf speakers for casual listening? Do you want a Bluetooth device that’s loud enough for small parties? Do you want something that will work well for your TV sound system? The R1700BT does it all, and mostly does it well. Much like the less expensive options in Edifier’s mid- to low-end speaker line, these sound far better than their price tag would suggest. They don’t skimp on style, either, with beautiful accents and a classic aesthetic. Plus, with some added connectivity that you won’t find in the non-Bluetooth versions, these are versatile speakers for those who need something that covers a lot of the bases.
One thing that’s hard to achieve is designing a speaker that looks great but also doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. It’s a tricky balance to strike; you want a speaker to be sleek and unobtrusive enough so as not to draw too much attention to itself, but go too far and it becomes boring. The R1700BT looks striking, a fact you’ll notice as soon as you take it out of the box.
The main chassis is built from a textured black plastic composite material that isn’t all that different from most passive bookshelf speakers. However, Edifier has put its classic twist on these speakers by placing two walnut/cherry wood planks on the sides of each speaker, hinting at the classic 70s speaker cabinet aesthetic.
