Edifier S880DB MKII Review: Almost Perfect Speakers with One Critical Flaw

Explore the strengths and flaws of Edifier S880DB MKII speakers, powerful compact Hi-Fi speakers with excellent connectivity but some notable issues.

When it comes to the best compact active speakers, Edifier S880DB MKII truly stands out! These bad boys pack a punch that rivals many other Hi-Fi pairs, particularly excelling in the low and mid-frequency ranges. How? Thanks to an impressive array of modern inputs — analogue and digital alike. Fancy that!

But wait, there’s more! These speakers feature a subwoofer output, making them surprisingly loud and versatile. Plus, they come with a remote control that supports gesture commands! You can switch inputs, tweak the volume, and manage multiple EQ profiles right from your couch. Total sound command at your fingertips.

Yet, despite all these high-tech perks and a sleek design, the S880DB MKII aren't without their little hiccups. The remote sometimes lags in response, and the bass reproduction occasionally stumbles—a common issue among many compact bookshelf speakers. So perfection? Not quite yet!

Though these minor drawbacks exist, they become more apparent when you consider other Edifier models, like the superb MR5 monitors, which are both cheaper and, in many ways, better in quality.

Still, the Edifier S880DB MKII impresses overall. It's a refined upgrade in a fiercely competitive niche, boasting notable improvements that make it a strong contender worth considering.

Price and Launch Date

• Price: $449.99 (roughly $450)
• Launch: September 4, 2025

Edifier is a major player in the budget audio world, offering gear that often punches above its price tag. I personally enjoyed testing their MR5 monitors a few months ago and was blown away by how well they sound for the price.

However, the S880DB MKII belongs to a different class—universal active bookshelf speakers designed for a range of uses: a Hi-Fi setup in your bedroom, desktop monitors for work, or an extra pair for your small home theater. Why not?

This versatility is driven by a robust internal amplifier, thoughtful features, and upgrades that enhance both sound and usability compared to the original S880DB.

Features That Impress and Innovate

• Wide variety of inputs and an extra output
• High-resolution wireless LDAC Bluetooth connection
• Convenient gesture-based remote control surface

These compact active bookshelf speakers offer wide connectivity options, fitting into nearly any home listening scenario. As successors to the original S880DB, they retain familiar elements while boasting major upgrades: improved acoustics and tech conveniences.

The biggest sound upgrade? The new drivers. The original 1-inch titanium tweeter grew to 1.25 inches with a larger voice coil, and the mid-range driver was redesigned to boost bass output—a crucial advantage for such small speakers.

Thanks to their compact size, 88 watts RMS power, and wide frequency range, the S880DB MKII make an excellent low-profile addition to a home PC setup or a multifunctional Hi-Fi or home theater system, especially with their versatile inputs.

Wired connections include dual RCA inputs, Toslink optical, coaxial, and a brand-new USB-C port with its own DAC architecture, allowing direct laptop connection without extra gear. Note: the USB-C port lacks 5V power delivery, which is a bummer for powering peripherals.

New to the MKII is the 3.5mm TRS subwoofer output, significantly boosting these compact speakers' bass capabilities.

Wireless wise, Bluetooth 5.3 upgrades the previous 5.1, adding Sony’s hi-res LDAC codec. Rear-mounted controls handle bass, treble, and volume, with five preset EQ profiles: Classic, Monitor, Dynamic, Vocal, and Custom.

The remote is a silver-white, gesture-based device operating on 2.4 GHz. It senses your hand’s approach, controlling input switching, Bluetooth access, volume, and EQ profile selection, with a pleasant vibration confirming changes. There's also an Edifier ConneX app offering similar controls plus a 6-band EQ for fine-tuning your personal sound.

An OLED display on the front discreetly shows input, volume, and profile info—minimalistic yet cool.

Feature Rating: 5/5

Sound Quality: Brilliant Highs, Powerful Volume, But Bass Woes

• Crystal-clear highs
• Surprisingly powerful for their size
• Troubling bass reproduction

These speakers are loud—really loud. I dared crank them up full blast at my desk, a reckless move that probably warrants a bottle of wine for my poor neighbor in apology.

At moderate volumes, the sound is impressively consistent through RCA or Bluetooth. They shine in the upper registers, perfectly capturing delicate details. The track "Knik" by Portugal. The Man showcases their ability to handle shimmering cymbals, crisp guitars, and layered vocals vividly. Vocals come through beautifully thanks to narrow mid drivers and titanium tweeters.

The tactile quality and clarity are impressive, but the bass falls short. The explosive guitar and swelled bass in "Knik" lose impact due to the speakers’ limited low-end capabilities. This was my initial impression listening on the default Classic EQ preset.

Switching EQ modes, the sound becomes fuller. The Monitor preset feels most musical, Dynamic boosts highs for crisp transients, and Vocal focuses on upper mids while slightly cutting low mids. Oddly, the Classic preset is the weakest choice for everyday listening.

All profiles reveal the same truth: bass is the MKII’s Achilles heel, a common trait for small speakers. But it’s not a total fail—each EQ setting boosts hi-hats, voices, and bass drum clicks enough to add punch and presence. Crank them up, and a subtle bass rumble seeps from the rear panel.

Edifier clearly knows this limitation and has tried to address it with the second version by expanding the low-frequency range and adding a subwoofer output. I didn’t have a subwoofer to test with, but I bet most buyers won’t either. Still, it's commendable they’re working with the size constraints rather than against them.

It's best not to dwell solely on bass here, as the upper frequencies and midrange sparkle with plenty of character. Queens of the Stone Age's "Everybody Knows That You're Insane" bursts with distorted guitars and singing vocals, perfectly suited to these speakers.

Meanwhile, "Blooze" by Getdown Services sounds rich and three-dimensional on my desktop, showcasing the MKII’s ability to highlight fine audio details where it matters most.

Sound Quality Rating: 3.5/5

Design: Elegant, Practical, But Remote Holds It Back

• Stylish aesthetic details
• Simple setup and use
• Remote control is cool but sluggish

The Edifier S880DB MKII catch your eye immediately with their two-tone, multi-texture layered wood veneer design. Available in black-walnut or white-pine colorways, my test pair featured a Scandinavian vibe with leatherette trim—a perfect fit for a cozy living room, contrasting sharply with many drab anthracite bookshelf speakers that stand out like smudged fingerprints.

The OLED front panel might seem fancy but is cleverly minimal, showing just what you need without distraction.

Setting these speakers up is a breeze. Connect one speaker to the other via included DIN cable, plug in power, and hook up your audio sources. With two RCA inputs, USB-C, and Bluetooth 5.3, setup is streamlined—though some may miss an HDMI ARC for TV setups.

Bluetooth pairing is straightforward: just touch the Bluetooth area on the remote, and the speakers pop up on your device instantly. The ConneX app further simplifies speaker management.

The biggest design gripe? The remote. Despite its innovative gesture control, it takes a frustrating moment to “wake up” each time you use it. What could be a smooth one-touch action often ends with a few irksome button presses before recognition. This lag likely conserves battery life but is still a minor annoyance in an otherwise flawless system.

If only it could connect directly via a powered USB-C port, which would be a serious improvement!

Design Rating: 4.5/5

Pricing and Availability

The Edifier S880DB MKII is available in various global markets through official and partner retailers, complete with warranty and shipping options. Their MSRP sits at about $450, positioning them firmly in the mid-tier Hi-Fi category—a fair price for a powered integrated system.

While that’s a decent value compared to pricier audiophile gear, it’s tough to ignore that other Edifier options like the MR5 monitors offer better performance for less money.

Value Proposition: Feature-Rich Yet Pricey

• Broad feature set is impressive
• Performance lags behind some cheaper Edifier models
• Ideal if convenience and style trump pure audio fidelity

It’s a tricky call on value. As desktop speakers or for smaller rooms, their connectivity, ease of use, and good sound quality add up to a compelling package. But the pricing feels a bit stretched when you consider competition within the same brand.

Buying these means prioritizing convenience, design, and compactness over absolute sound perfection. For those who value these traits, the MKII makes sense. For others, there are probably better bargains.

Value Rating: 3/5

Should You Buy the Edifier S880DB MKII?

How I Tested the Edifier S880DB MKII

• Three weeks of regular use
• Positioned in an attic office as main desktop speakers
• Primarily tested via RCA input through Universal Audio Volt 4 audio interface and Bluetooth from Samsung Galaxy S23 FE phone

The MKII found a permanent spot on my desk, delivering sound from my interface and laptop (via USB-C), plus wireless streaming. Over weeks, I enjoyed a mix of new and familiar tunes on Spotify and personal libraries to understand their performance across genres.

“Edifier S880DB MKII are nearly flawless in everything reasonably expected, yet a few rough edges remind you that audio perfection is always a journey.”
— Anonymous Reviewer

• What inputs do the Edifier S880DB MKII offer?
  They provide dual RCA, USB-C, optical, coaxial inputs, and Bluetooth 5.3 support.
• Can I connect a subwoofer to these speakers?
  Yes, there’s a dedicated 3.5mm TRS subwoofer output for expanding bass performance.
• How good is the Bluetooth connection?
  It supports Bluetooth 5.3 with the high-res LDAC codec for superior wireless audio quality.
• Is the remote control easy to use?
  The gesture-based remote is innovative but sometimes slow to respond, which can be slightly frustrating.
• Are these speakers suitable for a small room or desktop?
  Absolutely, they perform well in compact spaces and offer versatile connectivity for various setups.

For fans wanting to surround themselves with the look and feel of great music gear, consider shopping your favorite album cover poster at our store—a stylish way to complement your Edifier setup or any listening corner.