PC Speakers

[Quicks]

Maybe you guys have tested or used these speakers, and would recommend the one over the over?

Microlab Solo 16

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or
Edifer 1700BT

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or
Edifer R2000DB

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www.takealot.com

I know they not on the same price range and specials (now now) very close to each other, what would you recommend?

Do RMS power output still put out better sound or not?

Solo 16 180W RMS

1700BT 66W RMS

R2000DB 120 RMS

 

[Barbarian Conan]

Maybe you guys have tested or used these speakers, and would recommend the one over the over?

Microlab Solo 16

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.

www.takealot.com

or
Edifer 1700BT

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.

www.takealot.com

or
Edifer R2000DB

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.

www.takealot.com

I know they not on the same price range and specials (now now) very close to each other, what would you recommend?

Do RMS power output still put out better sound or not?

Solo 16 180W RMS

1700BT 66W RMS

R2000DB 120 RMS

I don't think more power ever meant better sound.

The R2000DB is significantly larger than the R1700BT iirc, so they should have a "larger" sound. The extra power will also help if that's what you're looking for. Their normal price are double the sale price of the R1700BT though, but at the R4500 they go for on the edifier site (until 31 oct) it might be worth it.

My in progress reviews of the R1700BT:
Review 1:
I'm still playing mine in and will probably do a review early next week after listening to them side by side with the other speakers and headphones I have.
So far I can say that they are pretty good and a bit smaller than I expected them to be. Instrument separation is good, and I've noticed some new details in some songs. When doing my side to side comparison I'll find out if it was my mind playing tricks or not.

This video helped me choose the R1700BT over the R1280DB:

I still need to do a proper side by side comparison with my headphones and logitech Z5500s. So far I can only say that they are definitely better in every single way than my JBL Charge (1 and 2) portable speakers which they replaced on PC speaker duty. Considering the price difference, and that they are completely different product, it really should come at no surprise.

I expect my Z5500s to be better for movies and games and these to be better for music, but still need to do a comparison. The Z623s probably have a similar sound profile than the Z5500s, but I haven't heard them.

Some negatives:
The cable between the two speakers of the R1700BT is proprietary, and about 3m long.
The power cable is about kettle plug thickness and size, but it isn't interchangeable. It is about 1.2m long I think, which is actually just slightly too short for my needs.
They are loud enough, but even at max volume you can still hear yourself speak.

Review 2:

I have made some more listening comparisons, and can say that they are really noticeably better than the logitech Z5500s when it comes to music, and the Z5500s were rated as pretty damn good when they came out.
I'm not an audiophile, but it sounds like the R1700BT has more upper bass and lower mid range? The Z5500s sounds like they have an area in the freq response where they fall a bit flat.

At first listen, I was a bit disappointed, but they just need to be played in for a couple of days.

They are small speakers, so they won't match proper home theater speakers, but for music I am very happy with them.

Edit:
Size comparison between the edifier, Z5500 satellite, and the JBL charge 1 and 2. The R1700BT really is only a bit bigger than PC desktop speakers.

 

[Barbarian Conan]

I'm very happy with my R1700BT, but based on the way they differ in rock music in that comparison vid, I would spend the extra R1500 and get the R2000DB.

If you like to rock out at a night club volume where you can't hear yourself speak the R1700BT won't do. At full volume in a townhouse, your neighbors will still listen to your music whether they want to or not.

 

[Quicks]

Well bought the Microlab SOLO 16 speakers first and they are not that great, had some issues with one speaker having a rattle when playing heavy bass songs. The quality control at Microlab is not good at all I guess.

I then bought the Edifier R2000DB, holy crap the sound is much better!

 

[|tera|]

I bought a Logitech 5.1 set a few years ago.
Can't remember the cost.
Yes, they aren't premium speakers.
They haven't given me a day of trouble.

I still make use of sound processing software on Windows.
Without it the sound is sometimes flat.

 

[ponder]

Budget?

 

[Barbarian Conan]

Can I just hijack this thread to ask if Edifier is a reputable brand? I have never heard of them before but in my search for a decent pair of stereo speakers for my PC I came across the R980T. Are they good value for the money while still offering good quality sound?

I heard about them for the first time a couple of months ago, and they seem to be relatively well known for offering decent speakers. You will find reviews on them on Reddit and Zeos' youtube channel, and reviews are typically pretty good.
They seem to be considerably better than the likes of Microlab. They also make better "music" speakers than Logitech in my opinion.
You will want to read reviews about those specific speakers to find out if they are any good.

 

[Mr Justice]

I prefer the mid-range Logitech Z533 over the entry-level Edifier. For pc use the volume knobs on the Edifier is a problem. Also this Edifier is underpowered.

 

[Mr Justice]

This Edifier on the other hand is bargain if the site can be trusted: https://freshtech.co.za/products/edifier-r1280t-powered-active-bookshelf-multimedia-speakers

 

[Neoprod]

This Edifier on the other hand is bargain if the site can be trusted: https://freshtech.co.za/products/edifier-r1280t-powered-active-bookshelf-multimedia-speakers

The 1280T is on special at Takealot also...200 bucks more than this site. I'd get it from Takealot if I was getting it.

Takealot also had the Edifier S350DB for around 6 grand earlier on this month on a Blue Dot special and I was mighty tempted. Didn't succumb and ended up replacing the satellites on ye auld Logitech Z2300 with some surround speakers from an Energy Take Classic system I haven't been using (I experimented with 5.1 sound in the living room years back and found it not worth the hassle).

 

[Neoprod]

Thanks, I decided to go for this deal. Especially since the site offered me an additional 5% off my purchase + free delivery. So I paid R95 less than the advertised price.



I found a post over at Carbonite from someone who said Freshtech is legit. That and saving R300 over Takealot's price made it an easy decision for me.

Nice...enjoy

 

[longboy]

I'm still using my old Creative Labs with the powered subwoofer. Bought it ten years ago or so and still sounds the same as the first day.

 

[wizardofid]

I'm still using my old Creative Labs with the powered subwoofer. Bought it ten years ago or so and still sounds the same as the first day.

lol 10 years ago ?

I still have my original Creative Labs Inspire 5200 5.1 from 2003, the sub went and I build a new box for it. Lol I haven't used them since last year and mostly on head phones these days

 

[longboy]

lol 10 years ago ?

I still have my original Creative Labs Inspire 5200 5.1 from 2003, the sub went and I build a new box for it. Lol I haven't used them since last year and mostly on head phones these days

Fark me, those speakers are built to last. I think an old friend of mine has the same ones as you mentioned, working but packed away in his garage.

 

[Digilus]

I'm still using my old Creative Labs with the powered subwoofer. Bought it ten years ago or so and still sounds the same as the first day.

Same here (Creative aka "Cambridge SoundWorks"). I had the sub+2 set and then also the sub+4 speakers set. Stereo one died .. but sub + 4 is still working (admittedly I only use 2 of them .. just awkward to setup the extra 2 "surround" ones in my office) Hard to find a replacement that has such nice small speakers that fit under the monitor.

 

[Mr Justice]

Thanks, I decided to go for this deal. Especially since the site offered me an additional 5% off my purchase + free delivery. So I paid R95 less than the advertised price.



I found a post over at Carbonite from someone who said Freshtech is legit. That and saving R300 over Takealot's price made it an easy decision for me.

I also want this deal. Let me know when you have a tracking number and who the courier is. I am waiting for the ministeress of finance to approve my budget for self-indulgence.

 

[Lupus]

My dad is still using my old Logitech Z5500s from 2005, still going strong.

 

[wizardofid]

Fark me, those speakers are built to last. I think an old friend of mine has the same ones as you mentioned, working but packed away in his garage.

Yeah I am in the mood to go set them up now, Also have a 2.1 divoom set, that is over 9 -10 years old was planning on rebuilding the creative back into that box but never got around to it, my jig saw broke

 

[Barbarian Conan]

Thanks, I decided to go for this deal. Especially since the site offered me an additional 5% off my purchase + free delivery. So I paid R95 less than the advertised price.



I found a post over at Carbonite from someone who said Freshtech is legit. That and saving R300 over Takealot's price made it an easy decision for me.

Seems legit enough. I personally like to know more or less what I'm getting in terms of customer service.

 

[Barbarian Conan]

Same here (Creative aka "Cambridge SoundWorks"). I had the sub+2 set and then also the sub+4 speakers set. Stereo one died .. but sub + 4 is still working (admittedly I only use 2 of them .. just awkward to setup the extra 2 "surround" ones in my office) Hard to find a replacement that has such nice small speakers that fit under the monitor.

I bought 2 x 2.1 systems for something like R250 each on a sale. Ditched them when the volume control stopped working.