Edifier R1700BT Speakers: A Blogs & Little Things Review

Near-field monitors have been very popular for years now and many brands are fighting for the best price while hoping the sound quality is enough for most. Edifier seems to not be racing to the bottom and is keeping the audio quality at the forefront. Does the $180 R1700BT justify its price and a spot on your desk? Let’s find out!

Unboxing the R1700BTs really shows how much effort Edifier put into keeping them safe from shipping damage, much better than other speakers in this same price range. Included are all the cables needed to get rocking and rolling. I definitely do not like the proprietary cable to the left speaker. It’s long but not as long as you might need. It also is quite thick and will be difficult to run into tight spots through your desk or wall. I worry that getting a replacement cable in the future will be difficult if not impossible.

There is an included remote which is tiny and easy to use. Bluetooth is seamless, I had no issues, and it sounded fine. The grilles are easy to remove but I do like the very clean look with the grilles on. Normally I take the grilles off most speakers but the R1700BTs look great with them on. The controls to the speakers are all built into the side. I am a fan of this design; it keeps them hidden but still easy to access unless you use the remote. The forward tilt-up cabinet design keeps the tweeters pointing at your ears and the near-field design is very clear, these are dedicated desktop speakers.

Listening Setup

• DAC – SMSL DO300
• Interconnects – AudioQuest

Sample Music

• Valiant Hearts – Alaska
• Talk to a Friend – Rain City Drive
• PVRIS – White Noise
• Young Medicine – Lost Boys

Sound quality is of course key here and boy do these speakers sound great. The EQ knobs on the side are a welcome sight and I did adjust the treble up slightly and the bass more so. I really didn’t expect much bass, given the 4-inch bass driver but I was pleasantly surprised with these. I highly recommend playing with the EQ settings. I found at the defaults they were rather flat and stale but bumping both knobs up a bit brought the speakers to life.

Interestingly, I found the R1700BTs to sound even better at high volume. The bass was far more pronounced. At lower levels, the mid-bass and vocals held the advantage. Not too unusual for near-field monitors in this price range, but very noticeable. The highs of course are excellent and so is the mid-range. I can’t really find any negatives about the sound worth mentioning. The R1700BTs do a fantastic job of just sounding great overall.

If you’re looking to spend $200 on an entry-level audio system, the Edifier R1700BT is a top pick. To get a better sound you’ll have to jump into separates and spend a lot more dough.

They are compact, yet full sounding, and the added EQ knobs allow for excellent adjustment to your music tastes. If you don’t mind using the proprietary cable, you’re golden and this will be a great option. They get a glowing recommendation from me, and I hope you give them a chance on your desktop.