Edifier, a Chinese audio brand, is well-known for manufacturing headphones, earbuds and speakers that are budget-friendly. I, personally, have either reviewed or used many of Edifier's products, and they've always been decent if not great. But that recently changed, and I've started seeing this traditionally "budget" brand for more than just that — and it all happened when I tested the Edifier QR65 gaming speakers.
It's always a great time when I get to test the best computer speakers. Right behind testing cameras and drones, it might be my favorite thing to do at work. After all, I just listen to my favorite tunes and play my favorite games and analyze the sound quality — who could complain? And testing the QR65 has made me a very happy camper.
As soon as I took the QR65 out of the box, I was obsessed with their look — who doesn't love a bit of infinity mirror LED lighting and faux leather! But their looks aren't all that the QR65 have going for them. Technologically well-endowed with two tweeters and two mid-low drivers, the QR65 pack plenty of punchy bass and deliver clear vocals, regardless of whether you're listening to music or slaying bosses in an RPG. Here's why they've become a permanent part of my setup.
Love at first sight
If there's one thing the Edifier QR65 succeed at (although there are plenty), it's their drop-dead gorgeous design — and that's coming from someone who's quite picky when it comes to the design of products. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, and what looks good to me doesn't necessarily mean it'll look good to you — but one thing I can say for certain that the QR65 are sure to please most people.
The rectangular speakers are wrapped in textured faux leather which feels soft to touch and lends the QR65 a premium look. It feels like touching the dashboard of a fancy new car, to be honest, and I love it. The speakers come in black or white and regardless of the model you get, both come fitted with LED lighting on the inside which gives an "infinity mirror" effect.
Thanks to the customizable LED lighting and their shape, the QR65, essentially, combine the aesthetic flair of gaming speakers with the acoustic DNA of high-end bookshelf speakers — a winning combo, really. You don't even really need to be a gamer to get the QR65. Because they sound so good when listening to music, I'd recommend them as bookshelf speakers too, to use with your record player or your TV. They're like the gaming equivalent of the also excellent Edifier S880DB MKII.
Plenty of 'oomph' for everyone
In a few words, how do the Edifier QR65 sound? Really, really good. The QR65 utilize two 1.25-inch tweeters as well as two 2.75-inch mid-low drivers to cover a frequency range of 55Hz to 40KHz. While the sub-bass is a little lacking as it goes down to only 55Hz, you can plug in an external subwoofer for additional oomph.
Featuring directional audio where sound travels from one channel to the other, the QR65 create immersive soundscapes, especially in RPGs and FPS titles, where you feel engulfed in the hums of cities and echoes of tunnels. And when you're listening to music, it feels like you're in the artist's studio. You can read all about my in-depth testing in my full Edifier QR65 review.
The reason I say the QR65 would serve you well as just bookshelf speakers is because of the plethora of connectivity options at play, which makes them very versatile. You've got an "active" speaker which houses all the buttons and various ports, and a "passive" speaker which needs to be connected to the former.
The "active" speaker houses... a lot. Around the back, you've got RCA and USB-A input, a subwoofer out port, and two USB-C and a single USB-A port for charging your devices (because the QR65 has got a built-in 65W GaN charger).
If you want wireless connectivity, you've got that in spades too. You get Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs, and the QR65 supports hi-res 24bit/96KHz playback when using a music streaming service like Qobuz. The QR65 has a lot going for it, and the fact that I can quickly swap between playing games on my laptop and listening to music on my phone with the touch of a button is one of the primary reasons why they're never leaving my desk.
Worth the premium?
I'll be honest: I didn’t think a traditionally budget brand could make such good premium speakers, but I'm always happy to be proven wrong. The Edifier QR65 has done just that. Priced at $499 / £329 at Amazon, they're far from the cheapest speakers out there. If you're on a budget, the Edifier G2000 Pro might be more your speed — great speakers in their own right.
But if you aren't on a budget, I can't see why you wouldn't want to get the QR65. These are the most good-looking speakers I've ever had the pleasure of reviewing. Their LED lighting, faux leather, and 10-degree stands make them look and feel premium. The sound quality can only be described as peerless, with powerful bass, good low-end impact and clear vocals with plenty of warmth to them.
If you want a pair of speakers that look good and sound even better, the QR65 should be your port of call. That LED lighting really puts a smile on my face in the mornings — and it makes my desk look über cool.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
