With the S880DB MKII, Edifier presents the revised version of its renowned speaker series, which is characterized above all by a contemporary design, high-quality workmanship and impressive sound. As the successor to the S880DB, the MKII version now promises significant improvements in terms of sound quality, functionality and, last but not least, user-friendliness. New features include the display of status information on an OLED display and a fundamentally revised remote control. The technology under the hood has also been brought up to date, so that operation via a cell phone app is now possible.
After we took a close look at the previous version in 2018(our test), the successor now follows a good seven years later. The test will show whether the new features offer added value and whether the package can convince at the current price of around 330 euros.
Technical data
The product | S880DB MKII |
Total power (RMS) | 88 W (highs: 2x 12 W, mid-lows: 2x 32 W) |
Driver | 3.75 inch long excursion aluminum cone mid-woofer 1.25 inch titanium cone tweeter |
Frequency response | 50 Hz – 40 kHz |
Signal-to-noise ratio | ≥ 85 dB(A) |
Audio inputs | USB-C, optical, coaxial, line-in 1, line-in 2, Bluetooth |
Bluetooth | Version 5.3 |
Codecs | SBC, LDAC |
Dimensions (W x H x D) | Active speaker: 145 x 237 x 207 mm Passive loudspeaker: 145 x 237 x 192 mm |
Weight | 6.27 kg |
Price | € 279.99 * |
Scope of delivery
- Includes speakers, remote control and various cables
- Cable set for all common connection technologies included
In addition to the two speakers themselves, the Edifier S880DB MKII also comes with a remote control and a set of various cables. In addition to the mains cable, the latter also includes the connecting cable for the two speakers and a USB-C to USB-C cable. Finally, there is also a 3.5 mm cinch audio cable and a cinch to cinch audio cable. Of course, the usual documents such as a quick start guide and safety instructions are also included.
Appearance & workmanship
- Timeless design in wood look and white finish
- Well-matched components with tweeter and woofer and OLED display
- Precise buttons and high-quality membranes
Visually, the two speakers of the Edifier S880DB MKII have a timeless design. The speakers have a wooden look on the sides and a white finish on the other parts. This makes them ideal for the desk at home, but their design also makes them easy to integrate into the living room. The Edifier S880DB MKII is probably not the right model for gamers or people who value bling-bling. You won’t find RGB lighting here.
All other cornerstones, however, are very well coordinated. The small tweeter with a diameter of approx. 3.2 cm is located at the top of the front and the woofer with a diameter of approx. 9.5 cm is located underneath. The open design is probably the most striking feature, as the black cone and the white surface of the speakers blend cleverly into one another. A small OLED display with automatic dimming function is located underneath the membrane on the side of the active speaker. The passive speaker, on the other hand, has the EDIFIER logo in the same place. All controls, connections and a bass reflex port are located on the rear of the speaker pair as usual.
The manufacturer has no weaknesses when it comes to workmanship. The three rotary knobs feel good and the top one, which controls the volume and input selection, gives clear feedback when turned. The other two control the intensity of the treble and bass, although there are no stops here. All in all, it can be said that the Edifier S880DB MKIIs have a very good finish, which can also be seen from the aluminum and titanium cones used. The increased weight due to the aluminum frame underlines this statement.
Features & operation
- Versatile connections and high-quality signal processing with Texas Instruments chipsets
- Innovative remote control with soft buttons, but unreliable swipe gestures
- Mobile app with additional functions available for Android and IOS
Connections
In terms of features, the Edifier S880DB MKII offers a range of connections. While the passive speaker only has one connection for the connection cable, the active speaker is equipped with several connections. High-performance chipsets from Texas Instruments and the XMOS XU216 are used for acoustic signal processing. Among other things, these enable support for high-resolution audio signals with up to 24bit/96kHz.
In addition to the optical and coaxial digital input, the other interfaces also include a USB-C input for direct connection to a PC or laptop. Those who prefer classic playback devices can use the RCA input. Alternatively, a portable device can be connected directly via the 3.5 mm RCA audio cable. And if you want even more convenience, you can use the integrated Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC support. If a subwoofer is also to be integrated into the active 2.0 stereo system, the SUB OUT connection is available for this purpose.
Remote control
As all the controls are located on the back of the speaker and are difficult to reach depending on the positioning, operation via a remote control is more convenient. Unlike conventional remote controls, this one does not rely on batteries or a CR2032 cell, but can be recharged via USB-C. When not in use, it goes into an energy-saving mode and switches back on automatically when it is entered or lifted. In principle, this makes sense, but it should be noted that there is a delay before inputs are made from energy-saving mode. It may well take three seconds for the signal to be transmitted. However, there is no delay when the remote control is active.
Admittedly, the handling here is somewhat ambivalent, even if the original approach seems innovative. The softbuttons work perfectly and controlling the features in the ring is uncomplicated. The swipe gestures, on the other hand, are difficult to assess. It often happened that we wanted to swipe to the next or previous song and suddenly the source changed or the song paused. The same applies to circular swipe gestures, which are supposed to increase or decrease the volume like a slider.
App connection
The Edifier ConneX app for Android and IOS is also available as an alternative control. However, the currently tested app version 1.0.17 with around 52 MB is currently only available in English.
This makes it possible to control the volume via the smartphone, select one of the four preset sound modes or adjust the sound individually using the equalizer. The source can also be selected variably and further parameters can be found in the settings, such as specifying the HD audio codec. It may therefore be worth taking a look at the application when using it for the first time.
Sound quality
- Clean sound image with powerful, natural bass without subwoofer
- Warm sound style emphasizes acoustic details
- Wide stereo playback with Hi-Res Audio support
Now we come to the core of the Edifier S880DB MKII, namely the sound quality, where the two speakers undoubtedly show their strengths. First of all: the sound is very clean throughout and the bass is extremely powerful, even without a separate subwoofer, without being overly prominent.
Highs and mids
In detail, this means that the highs and mids are reproduced accurately and concisely. By nature, the sound style tends to be warm-toned, giving acoustic pieces in particular a high level of detail. This is also noticeable in the mid-range, which focuses on naturalness and makes voices sound lively and present. The authentic volume of vocals or speech is particularly impressive with jazz or rock music.
Bass performance
As already mentioned, the woofers of the Edifier S880DB MKII deliver powerful bass without being intrusive. The result is a controlled and pleasant sound for bass-heavy tracks. However, deep beats in rap or electronic genres also come across well. However, you shouldn’t expect a true bass miracle when you first switch it on. So if you want to go one better in this area in particular, you should switch to the Dynamic profile. Here, the bass is even richer and the treble is also boosted to a certain extent.
Spatial sound image and use case
The bottom line is that the two speakers with a certain distance between them provide a wide stereo reproduction with impressive depth. The modernization of existing connections to the latest generation and the option of using Hi-Res Audio with up to 24 bit/192 kHz are also pleasing in this context. So anyone who values the playback of songs in high quality will get their money’s worth here.
A hint of clipping was nevertheless noticeable in the test, especially when the volume was turned up almost to the maximum. However, as this is hardly the case in practice and the Edifier S880DB MKII are not generally intended for sound reinforcement of an entire hall, we have decided not to give them a rating.
Edifier S880DB MKII test: Conclusion
In summary, it can be said that the Edifier S880DB MKII represents a sensible revision of its predecessors, which is reflected above all in the usability and sound quality. Not only has the remote control been modernized with swipe gestures, but the connections have also been brought up to today’s standards. Edifier has also equipped the stereo speaker system with app integration. In terms of design, the most striking innovation is the more timeless appearance in combination with the OLED display on the side of the active speaker.
But it’s not just the innovations that make a good package, the sound also has to be right. And here too, the Edifier S880DB MKII can flex their muscles in the wooden casing. The sound remains balanced and impresses with its richness of detail. The clear treble range, the warm mids and the precise, powerful bass remain impressive without being intrusive. This makes the S880DB MKII suitable not only for brittle, quiet background music, but also for action-packed movie scenes and bass-heavy moments.
If you have the necessary budget and appreciate rich sound in the workplace, you can buy the Edifier S880DB MKII without hesitation. On the other hand, if you only listen to music occasionally and don’t necessarily need the best, you’re probably better off in a lower price category.
- Timeless design
- Rich, detailed sound image
- Operation via app, remote control or buttons
- Numerous connections, including subwoofer output
- Controls difficult to reach depending on the arrangement
- Remote control sometimes recognizes incorrect inputs
- App only available in English so far
Edifier S880DB MKII
Processing
Equipment
User comfort
Sound quality
Price-performance ratio
95/100
Despite their compact design, the Edifier S880DB MKII offer a very detailed sound that lacks neither depth nor volume. Thanks to their timeless and elegant design, they fit effortlessly into any living room or office.