Edifier D12 Stereo Bluetooth Speaker
£99.99/$119.99
“The big, distinguished sound is produced from silk dome tweeters and four-inch woofers for a bass that thunders”
Key features
70W RMS • Bluetooth 5.0 • 54Hz-20khz • AUX • Line-in
Learn more edifier.online
Available from amazon.co.uk
EDIFIER’S NEW BLUETOOTH BOOKSHELF SPEAKER CAN REALLY KICK IT OUT, serving up 70 watts RMS of distortion-free power and delivering clear, unblemished, room-filling audio.
This big, distinguished sound is produced from two 19mm silk dome tweeters that are backed up by twin, fourinch woofers for a bass that really thunders when it kicks in. The resulting cacophony is very pleasing to the ears and easily outperforms many other speakers in this class, largely thanks to the inclusion of two independent cavities within the cabinet to avoid phase interference between the left and right channels for a more exact sound.
You can hook your Mac or IOS device up to the D12 via Bluetooth 5.0 for a reliable connection, but there are also AUX and line-in options if you want wires (RCA cables are included). There is also a line-out port on the back of the unit so that you can connect an extra subwoofer or active speakers. Not that you’ll need to though because the noise this makes is perfectly adequate to fill large spaces.
The speaker enclosure is wooden, to minimise acoustic resonance, with a removable grille on the front. An infrared receiver/input indicator sits in the topright corner behind the grille, and the light changes colour in accordance to the selected input method. Hidden behind the grille are front-facing reflex ports designed to widen the soundstage and channel out that lovely deep bass. On top of the D12 is a cutout housing bass, treble and volume controls (the latter can be depressed to select the input), which are undoubtedly
this speaker’s low point –they’re hideous! We would certainly have favoured smooth, metal dials instead of the cheap plastic knobs on display here but, mercifully, thanks to the included remote control (which is of decent quality), you shouldn’t have to touch them too often.
Sound and vision
You can also use the remote control to switch the soundstage between music and movies (the latter dials down the bass and makes dialogue more clearly defined), power on/off the speaker and adjust the volume. Although the thin plastic remote feels a little lightweight, the rubber buttons are a nice touch and we never had any response issues.
“There’s a trade-off going on between five-star sound (when compared to other sub£100 speakers) and three-star looks”
The neutral colours of the D12 mean it blends in to any surroundings – whether it’s perched on a shelf or placed in a more prominent location – so it’s a shame that it’s not a speaker you’d necessarily be proud to display. There’s a very distinct trade-off going on here between fivestar sound (compared to other Bluetooth speakers in this price category) and threestar looks; and since you can generally find an all-round package to suit your needs in the sub-£100 market, there is a chance the D12 could get overlooked, which would be a shame. Look beyond the bland, cheaplooking exterior though and you have a great-sounding boombox.
Verdict
The D12 bulldozes itself to the front of the sub-£100 speaker pack with exceptionally good sound and plenty of power, but the low-grade looks won’t catch anyone’s eye.