Edifier R1700BT Review: Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker

This post details the results of my Edifier R1700BT Review. It will help you whether you're thinking of buying your first speaker or planning on replacing an existing one?

Choosing between the Edifier R1700BT speakers or a floor-standing speaker can be a tough nut to crack for many folks.

This is partly because we always associate larger speakers with better sound (and that would be right most of the time). However, other factors should be considered when it comes to choosing a speaker for your home (we’ll get to that in a moment).

If a compact, yet powerful bookshelf speaker is what you’re looking for, then you can’t go wrong with the Edifier R1700BT speakers.

And if you’ve already decided, check out the Edifier R1700BT on Amazon.

Let’s get started on this in-depth review of the R1700BT or use the following table to focus on your specific area of interest.

What to Consider Before Buying the Edifier R1700BT?

Making the decision on the type of speakers to get for your home can be a tough choice. This is because there are several vital factors which need to be taken into account before you make a decision, such as:

• Floor space
• Sound quality 

Floor space – how much space you can afford for the speaker. You wouldn’t want to invest in a speaker that gets in the way.

Sound quality– a speaker that’s too large will not blend well with smaller rooms while opting for a speaker that’s too small will not get you that deep bass sound quality.

When it comes to choosing speakers, you have to find the sweet spot. This is where speaker size meets performance and blends well with your room dimensions without getting in the way. 

Presenting the Edifier R1700BT Speakers

Edifier is a speaker brand that started way back in 1974, in Canada, but was later on relocated to Beijing, China, in the 90s.

Ever since they found their new home, the brand has experienced tremendous growth and is now amongst the famous speaker brands in the world.

Known for its excellent quality speakers, the brand has ventured out into designing music systems and even headphones, which have also gotten rave reviews.

Here, we are going to take about the brand’s forte, which is speaker systems for home use, and in particular, the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers.

It’s easy to see that Edifier has filled a gap in the market by catering to the consumers who are looking for:

• The best sound quality.
• Do not want to fork up large amounts of money to get home speakers from one of the big-name brands.

This is a niche where Edifier fits in nicely by manufacturing home speaker systems that deliver an above-average sound quality (at worst), while still being light on the customer’s pocket.

The Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speaker is the latest offering from the brand that has delivered a slew of successful bookshelf speaker designs. While previous models such as the R1000DB and the R2000DB were well accepted and are still used today, theR1700BT has proven to be no slouch either.

It’s easy to see that the R1700BT, which is from the brand’s latest line-up of bookshelf speaker systems, is designed to deliver an exceptional level of sound quality thanks to some smart design and technology tweaks.

Pros of the Edifier R1700BT:

• Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
• Dynamic Range Control (DRC)
• 19mm “Eagle Eye” dome tweeter
• Sophisticated slanting design
• 4-inch sub-woofer
• 66-watt power handling

Cons of the Edifier R1700BT :

• Early sub-bass roll-off
• Controls are placed poorly

Let’s have a closer look at the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers.

Sophisticated Designed10-Degree Angle Directs Sound Straight to the Listener

One thing you will notice with the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers, right out the box, is their unique design.

The folks at Edifier clearly went back to the drawing board while designing the aesthetics of the R1700BT, and it shows.

This time around, the bookshelf speaker has been designed not just to look visually appealing, but also for a purpose. Some of the more notable features of these bookshelf speakers are:

• A 10-degree angle, which works to direct the sound straight to the listener. The walnut vinyl enclosure gives it a premium-quality look.
• The sleek, smooth lines provide an elegant overall appearance to the speaker.
• The unique design makes the R1700BT blend effortlessly into any living space.

However, the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speaker’s design has more going for it than just a design tilted at an angle. The R1700BT is enclosed in premium quality walnut vinyl, which, according to the company, has been hand-picked for the R1700BT bookshelf speakers.

The premium-quality wood finish lends a classic look, while the 10-degree tilt ensures listeners are treated to clear sound quality without any interference.

When it comes to bookshelf speakers (or any speakers, for that matter), the controls are a significant part of the overall speaker design. With the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers, you get conveniently located control dials on the side of the speaker for easy reach. You also get two separate dials that control the bass and treble output of the speaker.

The smart, chic design of the R1700BT makes it an excellent choice for those who are looking for a bookshelf speaker that’s able to deliver a solid sound and look great while doing it.

Newly Developed Eagle Eye Tweeter Delivers Clear Sound Quality Every Time

It goes without saying that Edifier has tried hard to create a design that’s able to deliver incredible sound quality, and one could say it has succeeded with the R1700BT bookshelf speakers.

Edifier achieves this fantastic feat by delivering:

• An excellent level of sound quality
• Modern speaker cabinet design, and
• Cutting-edge technologies featured under the hood.

The Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers sport Eagle Eye tweeters. The 19mm dome tweeters have been newly developed to work together with the sub-woofer to deliver excellent sound quality across the spectrum.

The dome tweeter has been designed to produce unmatched quality of sound. It does that by attaching the voice coil to a dome-shape component, which is made out of either extremely delicate metal, fabric, or some other material.

This is attached to the powerful speaker magnet or a top plate with the help of a low-compliance suspension. This results in solid sound production.

Thanks to the inclusion of the Eagle Eye tweeters, which utilize the latest technologies, the R1700BTis able to deliver a more complete sound as compared to its predecessors.

Eagle Eye technology has lived up to its reputation when it comes to providing excellent sound quality, and the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speaker is the perfect example of this technology in its most elegant form.

4-Inch Bass Drivers Deliver Solid Highs and Rich Lows

Another major highlight of the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers has got to be its rich bass quality. The R1700BT boasts of 4-inch bass drivers enclosed in each of the speakers. These are smaller than the R1000DB but are still able to deliver a respectable, thumping bass.

Another much-appreciated tweak in the design of these bookshelf speakers is the front-facing bass reflex port, which keeps the bass distinct and tight, even when you crank up the volume.

One thing you will notice with the R1700BT is that low frequencies have been emphasized with this speaker technology. This boosts the bass sound, giving it more power and reach even with the somewhat small 4-inch bass drivers. 

That said, the bass on the R1700BT can feel muffled at times, which could be a drawback for some customers. However, these speakers deliver a powerful mid-bass, too, which can be seen as a good measure of sound quality when it comes to speaker systems.

Another great surprise for fans of these bookshelf speakers is that the bass does not bleed into the mids despite having a frequency response of 60Hz and 20Hz. This means these speakers perform considerably well even while playing music, which heavily relies on a sub-bass rumble.

Dynamic Range Control and Digital Signal Processing Technologies Deliver a Bright and Clear Sound

The Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers have a lot going for them. This makes them a smart choice for anyone who is considering investing in a reliable pair of bookshelf speakers. 

Edifier has always been a speaker system brand that has pushed the limits of what can be delivered. This embrace of bleeding-edge technology when designing speakers has been seen in the past and is even more visible with the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers.

It’s safe to say that what the R1700BT lacks in bass output, it more than makes up for with the excellent level of sound quality which is delivered courtesy of the DSP and DRC technologies.

Edifier has employed two powerful technologies for its R1700BT bookshelf speakers – Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Dynamic Range Control (DRC). Both of these technologies have been integrated well into the speaker’s design, which eliminates sound distortion. This also results in the speaker having enough oomph to fill up a medium-size room, which is quite impressive considering its price point.

That said, while these speakers deliver powerful sound thanks to the smart combination of its design and technology, don’t expect to be waking up the neighbors any time soon.

Bluetooth and Remote Control Makes the Edifier R1700BT an Excellent Way to Enjoy Your Favorite Tunes

With the R1700BT Bookshelf Speakers, Edifier has uncompromisingly taken its speaker design to the next level. The R1700BT comes complete with easy-to-use controls along with Bluetooth compatibility and a slick remote control, giving you full control over the speakers at all times.

You can enable Bluetooth access by only using the remote control which comes with the speakers or by simply pressing the volume knob to play music from a source device.

One engaging feature to note with the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers is that it can be on pairing mode even when a line-in is selected as long as it’s turned on. A nifty trick.

What Do Buyers Say?

The Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers are impressive right out the box, so let’s take a closer look at what others are saying:

Overall, the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers enjoy positive reviews from fans of the brand and first-timers alike, which is uncommon when it comes to speaker systems. This alone says a lot about the quality of sound which the R1700BT delivers.

While these desktop speakers have gotten mostly positive reviews, there are some who nit-pick about the mid-range sound quality, which is what you would expect from a bookshelf speaker at this price point.

Alternatives to the Edifier R1700BT Bookshelf Speaker

Here are some alternatives to the Edifier R1700BT bookshelf speakers that you might take a shine to: