Edifier E3350

The sound quality of the Edifier E3350 speaker system, designed for use with computers, is more than adequate for any casual listener, with the rich mid-range and clear treble only slightly hampered by inadequate bass.

The E3350 is part of Edifier's Lifestyle range, and the two satellite speakers and the subwoofer enclosure have distinctive modern styling. Despite being constructed from matte black plastic, the satellites and subwoofer are quite heavy, with the total weight being slightly over five kilograms. While it's currently only offered in black, Edifier plans to release a number of coloured versions in the upcoming month.

The speakers are reasonably powerful, with each satellite capable of outputting 9W; the subwoofer is rated at 32W. We were able to drive the E3350 using a CD player to extremely loud volumes, with the sound easily able to fill a large room. A 3.5mm input for MP3 players is also included here.

After a quick setup we performed a range of listening tests to establish sound quality. Our initial results were positive, with the system performing well on many varied musical styles.

Listening to music was a pleasure, with all the elements being clearly defined. Jazz and male vocals were consistently rich and accurate, and classical music was reproduced with fine detail and separation. We did find, however, that rap and hard rock lacked the powerful, punchy bass that competing systems had.

Treble is definitely a strong point and sounds consistently crisp and clear. The E3350 gains a new tweeter and mid-range driver over its predecessor, improving definition significantly. High female vocals were reproduced clearly and seamlessly at normal to high volumes. Crash cymbals in electronic and pop music were excellent.

The mid-range is slightly quiet compared to treble frequencies, but is still able to convey relative warmth and richness in music and games. Guitar tones and jazz instruments were faithfully recreated, with no noticeable resonance or distortion from the satellite's small mid-range drivers at normal volume levels.

The subwoofer has its own dedicated volume control, though we found that the most useful range was between full and three-quarter volume. When at full volume it was a pleasant addition to the system, but the subwoofer failed to extend particularly low in the bass range, often leaving audio from movies and video games sounding slightly hollow and empty.

We did notice a slight amount of distortion through the satellites at high volumes, especially in mid-range sound. This was only noticeable in close proximity to the speakers though, and didn't detract from audio quality too much. On the plus side, the soundstage was quite wide, with audio given fairly impressive depth and position.

Edifier is a relatively unknown competitor compared to the PC speaker giants of Creative and Logitech, but nonetheless they have made a good product in the E3350. This system offers detailed, rich sound at a slightly lower price than products from Logitech and Creative with similar specifications.