Edifier M60 evaluate: The audio system have an understated, stylish look.
The Edifier M60 compact desktop audio system take up little or no house in your desk. However they’re going to declare your coronary heart while you hook them as much as your Mac for the primary time.
I am traditionally an earbuds kinda man, however the Edifier M60 audio system’ repute caught my consideration. After spending a number of weeks with them linked to my Mac, I do not know what took me so lengthy to provide a pair of audio system one other strive.
In truth, I feel the final time I used audio system with my pc was again within the late 2000s. I used to be an enormous gaming PC fanatic again then, and I am afraid to confess, I had a 5.1 speaker setup in my bed room.
Nowadays, I am all about listening to podcasts and YouTube movies with the most recent pair of wi-fi earbuds to cross my desk. However one thing modified after I put in Edifier’s diminutive audio system.
Now, I solely fish these earbuds out after I’m listening to one thing my youngsters most likely should not hear, like a True Crime podcast. Or one thing significantly embarrassing, like one other video about one thing the identical youngsters would mercilessly mock me for.
However for all the pieces else, I flick my 16-inch MacBook Professional over to the M60s. Certain, I agree that Apple’s laptop computer audio system are fairly good in their very own proper. However these Edifier audio system actually do put them of their place.
As effectively, they need to. They’re small, sure, however they’re ginormous in comparison with Apple’s built-in audio system, so the disparity is to be anticipated.
What I did not count on was simply how a lot of a distinction that disparity would make through the eight-to-far-too-many hours I spend at my desk day-after-day.
Let me clarify.
Edifier M60 audio system evaluate: Design
The very first thing that I seen after I unboxed these little wonders was the aesthetic. They arrive in black, white, and traditional oak finishes. I obtained the black ones for testing.
For those who’re a fan of minimalism, you may be proper at dwelling with these audio system in your desk. From the entrance, you see the tweeter and mid-low drivers and a gold Edifier emblem.
The dearth of any guards on the entrance of the audio system does, after all, make them a mud magnet. However I feel that the seems outweigh the necessity to wave a duster at them each every now and then.
Edifier M60 evaluate: The included stands angle the audio system in direction of your ears.
The remainder of the speaker is as black as the remainder, in my case. Nearly all of the touchable floor is ever-so-slightly matte and virtually rubbery to the contact. Nearly, however not fairly — it is laborious to explain.
On the underside, the audio system have 4 ft to dampen vibrations while you crank the amount up. Patrons additionally get a silver stand for every speaker, irrespective of which coloration is chosen.
The stand props the audio system as much as a 15-degree angle so the sound is pointed extra squarely at your ears. Edifier is aware of that almost all of its M60 audio system will wind up on desks, clearly.
Across the again, we discover the connectivity choices. There is a 3.5mm AUX port in addition to a USB-C connection. The ultimate ports are someplace to plug in some energy, and the cable that connects the left and proper audio system collectively.
A phrase on that cable, for a second. It is wanted as a result of solely the proper speaker is energetic, handing off the left channel audio and energy to the left speaker for stereo sound.
That cable measures 1.8m, which is probably going lots lengthy sufficient for most individuals. However I am utilizing the Innocn 49-inch ultra-wide monitor I reviewed some time again, so the cable is a slight concern.
It really works, I admit. However the cable is stretched such that there’s little room for error. In truth, there’s even much less room for any sort of cable administration.
I admit that most individuals aren’t utilizing a monitor this huge, however I do assume the cable must be longer. Regardless of your monitor, a good distance between the audio system makes for a greater stereo expertise, in any case.
This all brings us to maybe one of many coolest components of those audio system — the contact controls.
The highest of the proper speaker performs host to controls for energy and quantity. All the buttons are contact delicate, with the facility button additionally dealing with the switching of sources.
Every button is backlit and appears nice. The colour modifications relying on the supply, so blue for Bluetooth, purple for USB-C, and inexperienced for AUX.
Not everybody likes contact controls, I am conscious. However I feel they seem to be a good compromise right here as a result of they maintain the clear, minimalist traces Edifier was clearly going for. I am a fan.
Edifier M60 audio system evaluate: Specs
Speaker specs aren’t at all times essentially the most attention-grabbing of issues, nor are they essentially the most prolonged. With that in thoughts, let’s get these out of the way in which so we are able to transfer on to one thing extra attention-grabbing.
Every speaker is rated for 15W treble and 18W mid-low audio from their 1-inch silk dome tweeters and 3-inch long-throw aluminum diaphragm mid-low drivers. Frequency response is available in at 58 Hz – 40 kHz with a signal-to-noise ratio of 85dB(A).
Edifier M60 evaluate: Contact controls might be discovered on the highest of the proper speaker.
Bluetooth 5.3 is supported alongside the aforementioned wired connectivity, and the SBC and LDAC codecs are additionally supported. AirPlay 2 help would have been good, however beggars cannot be choosers.
As for the scale, Edifier measures its M60 audio system at 100mm huge x 168mm excessive x 147mm deep. I knew they have been small, however I wasn’t ready for simply how small they have been after I unboxed them.
Lastly, these audio system with the Edifier Connex iPhone app, the place you may change sources, select your most well-liked EQ settings, and extra. It is a workable app, if uninspiring, and it will get the job executed.
However none of this issues if these audio system do not additionally get the job executed. Fortunately, they do.
Edifier M60 audio system evaluate: A simple alternative for Mac homeowners
For those who’re studying this, you are most likely going to hook these audio system as much as a Mac. Perhaps join an iPhone or iPad through Bluetooth, too. And also you completely ought to.
As I discussed, these audio system have spent the previous couple of weeks linked to my 16-inch MacBook Professional through USB-C. They have been linked to the Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 dock I reviewed beforehand.
Connectivity labored as anticipated, and with out fuss. I plugged all the pieces in, switched the Mac’s output to the “Edifier M60” possibility in my Menu Bar, and waited.
I waited as a result of I needed to give my go-to speaker and earbud testing music to get going. Dire Straits’ Cash for Nothing, through Apple Music, if you happen to should know — I am in my 40s and spent my youth listening to my Dad’s alternative of music within the automotive.
If you realize the music, you may know that it takes a minute to get going. Then as soon as it does, there is a drop with loads of drums and guitars that, frankly, nonetheless makes the hairs on the again of my neck get up. Particularly after I’m listening through the proper gear.
The Edifier M60 audio system didn’t disappoint.
Edifier M60 evaluate: The speaker connecting the audio system collectively could possibly be longer.
The bass is surprisingly robust given their measurement, all whereas avoiding all the pieces else changing into muddy and vague. Do they sound like world-beating audiophile audio system? No, after all not.
However they sound like what they’re — a superb pair of small desktop audio system which might be at dwelling taking part in your favourite rib-breaking music as they’re taking part in YouTube movies.
I additionally put the audio system by their fair proportion of gaming. For those who’ve learn my critiques earlier than, you may know I am an Nvidia GeForce Now subscriber, and the audio system have been nice when taking part in the PC variations of Avowed, Atomfall, and Doom: The Darkish Ages, amongst others.
Once more, the bass did its job whereas the stereo separation meant that I might simply inform the place enemies have been taking pictures at me (and normally hitting me) from. And the amount goes excessive sufficient that my household needed to come and inform me to show it down greater than as soon as. So there’s that.
So you know the way I really feel concerning the Edifier M60, however how a lot will they price if you wish to add some to your individual desk? They usually retail for round $200, although they’re usually obtainable for a smidge much less right here and there. All three colours are the identical worth, too.
Are there cheaper methods to ditch your earbuds? Completely. However will you get a significantly better expertise, aesthetic, and importantly, sound for spending the $200?
Once more, completely.
Edifier M60 audio system evaluate: Execs
- Extremely small audio system
- A lovely aesthetic
- Robust bass with out includes elsewhere
- Three connectivity choices
Edifier M60 audio system evaluate: Cons
- The speaker cable could possibly be longer
- No AirPlay 2 help
- Not everybody likes contact controls
Edifier M60 audio system evaluate: 4 out of 5
The place to purchase the Edifier M60 audio system
The Edifier M60 audio system can be found from Amazon in all three colours for $199.99. Nevertheless, there are sometimes reductions that scale back that worth by various quantities.