Speakers are available in numerous sizes. These range from handy small to bulky devices that you can hardly carry alone. Edifier’s R1010BT system is rather the first category: a small 2.0 speaker pair that is probably best suited for the home desk.
Two drivers per loudspeaker are advertised with Bluetooth compatibility: a 106 millimetre woofer with ceramic paper cone, which is probably used as a mid-bass driver, and a 13 millimetre tweeter with silk cone.
Edifier also emphasizes that the cabinet of the Edifier R1010BT is made of 15 millimeter thick MDF and should be a kind of new edition of the R1000TCN speakers. The two systems are at least visually similar: they look almost identical. This test is intended to clarify whether the sound tuning of the loudspeakers is convincing, and what it looks like with the equally important points of workmanship and connectivity.
Technical Data
| Art: | 2.0 Stereo |
| Frequency range: | 70 Hz – 20 KHz |
| Output power: | R/L: 12W+12W |
| Chassis: | Tweeter: 3/4 inch (13mm), silk cone Bass-midrange driver: 4 inch (106mm), ceramic paper cone |
| Inputs: | Cinch A, Cinch B, Bluetooth |
| Cable: | connecting cable loudspeaker: 2,5m Cinch cable: 1.7m Adapter cable: jack female to cinch male |
| Price: | € 89.99 * |
Design and Workmanship
Edifier says that the loudspeakers inside should be made of MDF – the so-called wooden panels are the standard established in loudspeaker construction. However, not too much of the compacted fibreboard can be seen on the outer skin: The R1010BT uses plastic with a wood look for the outer skin. However, this is not inferior to normal veneer: The wood reproduction is well done, optically and haptically the material is praiseworthy. On the other hand, the gap dimensions are not quite perfect: On closer inspection, slight irregularities can be seen here in places. In view of the price, however, this invisible flaw in the company is negligible.
The bottom line is that the Edifier R1010BT are optically well done, even if this is of course a purely subjective rating. The rounded wooden-look elements, which are also bevelled at the top front edge, prevent the loudspeakers from looking bulky, and are definitely the more dirt-resistant solution compared to the high-gloss enclosures sometimes used.
Equipment, Connections and Assembly
The loudspeakers are based on a combination of tweeter and mid-bass driver and can be connected either via Bluetooth or four chinch plugs (two pairs). All connections and adjustment possibilities are located on the right speaker; but by swapping the connections of the chinch connectors, the position can of course be swapped.
Edifier places all controls and connectors on the back of the speaker, which helps the look. On the other hand, you don’t have to adjust the volume directly on the front of the device: The corresponding controller is located on the back and is therefore difficult to reach. Whether or not it is necessary to adjust the volume depends on the user profile: in most cases, the required volume range can be completely covered by the software without any significant deterioration in sound quality. Ideally, the input signals should be (approximately) maximum and then brought to the required volume by the amplifier. If the input signal is not extremely reduced, however, the real sound difference is hardly perceptible.
Edifier, on the other hand, has to put up with criticism for implementing the volume setting himself: This is not done as usual by a potentiometer, but by a rotary encoder. This has a relatively large idle speed near the zero position and limits the resolution especially in the quiet range. In addition, the adjustment of the volume depends a little on the volume.
The background for using a rotary encoder instead of a potentiometer quickly becomes clear: If you press the rotary knob, the speakers change the input mode from Bluetooth to Cinch and back. As already mentioned, you have to reach behind the cabinet – for users who want to change the operating mode frequently, the loudspeakers are therefore only suitable to a limited extent.
Better is the setting of the crossover: Here a potentiometer with a pleasant rotary speed is installed, which covers a sufficiently large range. Positioning is not a problem here either, as the loudspeaker’s sound is rarely tuned to one’s own preferences.
Edifier only advertises the treble setting with an integrated adjustment, depending on which analog input you use. A second potentiometer would have been the better choice and would have covered a larger bandwidth. Finally, there is a toggle switch at the rear of the (control) loudspeaker to disconnect the loudspeakers from the mains.
Sound Quality (Analog)
In terms of sound quality, Edifier’s R1010BT loudspeakers deliver a solid result that is quite commensurate with the price. The FiiO E10K Olympus II-DAC used for control provides good detail reproduction; the speakers offer solid tuning. Of course, miracles are not to be expected: The subwoofer is missing for very strong bass, and there are also better products for treble in the higher price segment. Given the price, however, this is hardly surprising, and the loudspeakers are doing well for this.
So while the R1010BT doesn’t set new standards in a particular frequency range, it offers a good balance: the sound is warm and pleasant, many details are easy to perceive. However, the lack of adjustment possibilities for treble could have possibly helped to achieve somewhat more audible details here.
As usual with loudspeakers, the best you should do is to listen to them yourself before making a purchase decision – the opinions and selection criteria are too subjective. Who prefers a “full” sound, as it is achieved by the quite present bass, can be quite happy with the speaker system tested here. If, on the other hand, you enjoy listening to bright instruments in a more differentiated way, you might be better off with a different loudspeaker system, because the separation of the instruments is only average with the Edifier R1010BT loudspeakers.
Praiseworthy the small loudspeakers cut off in the point overdrive: When used in a room with 100m² of floor space, it was possible without any problems to provide a sound system that was not deafening but quite loud, without the reproduction quality suffering too much. Only when the bass is amplified at a very high volume does the sound quality suffer more; however, the Edifier R1010BT can definitely cope with the usual use of such small loudspeakers.
Playback via Bluetooth
The main loudspeaker of the system houses the control module on the front, on the left between the two chassis, which probably also houses the Bluetooth receiver. This indicates which input the speakers are currently using: If the built-in LED is green, signals are received via the chinch inputs, if the LED is blue, signals are transmitted via Bluetooth. As already mentioned, the two modes can be switched via the volume control on the rear panel.
As soon as the speakers are in Bluetooth mode, they can be found as usual via a playback device under the name “EDIFIER R1010BT”. Once the connection is established, the playback functions as usual. The range is no problem in closed rooms: Even if the playback device is located in the neighboring room, the music is still played without problems.
When transmitting sound via Bluetooth, the digital-to-analog conversion takes place in the loudspeaker. The corresponding DAC does a good job: the sound reproduction is also well implemented here. Compared to our other playback devices, there is no significant coloration of the sound by the control.
Result of the Edifier R1010BT Review
Edifier’s R1010BT loudspeakers are well-done in many respects. A positive aspect is the sound reproduction of the small loudspeakers, which offers a warm and pleasant sound. The control via Bluetooth is also praiseworthy; the built-in analogue converter does a good job.
The appearance is of course highly subjective, but in our opinion the loudspeakers have a thoroughly harmonious, modern and in some eyes perhaps also an elegant design. The materials used are pleasant to the touch and the quality of workmanship is commensurate with the price.
Edifier, on the other hand, has to put up with criticism for the implementation of the volume control: The positioning of the corresponding control element on the back is a matter of taste, but a potentiometer instead of a rotary encoder would have been the better choice: The built-in control has a “blind spot” at the beginning and can only cover limited low volumes. Again positive is the wide range, which is covered by the bass control, but a separate adjustment for the treble would have been a nice extra.
If the mentioned weakness is not a striking disadvantage for yourself, Edifier’s R1010BT loudspeakers are a good choice, especially considering the price. Accordingly, our verdict is positive.
Edifier R1010BT
Design and workmanship
Features
Sound
Value for Money
Balanced Speaker With Small Weakness
