Edifier 980T 2.0 speakers review

1. Introduction2. Unboxing3. Edifier 980T 2.0 speakers4. Testing5. Final Thoughts6. View All Pages

Not everyone has the budget for huge 7.1 surround sound kits. So what can you get towards the lower end of the spectrum? How about a pair of Edifier 980T speakers with full MDF frames and a specially formulated bass reflex port on each? At £50, they might be just what you are looking for – so let us see if they stand up to our battery of tests.

Features

• Dual RCA inputs for connectivity to multiple audio sources.
• Calibrated flared bass reflex port, in front of the speaker cabinet.
• 100% MDF wooden enclosure.
• Universal switching power supply.
• Active bookshelf speaker system with 24W total power output.

Specifications

• Total power output: RMS 12W × 2 (THD+N=10%).
• Signal to noise ratio: =85dBA.
  
• Input Type: PC / AUX.
• Audio input: Dual RCA input (RCA – RCA and RCA to AUX).
• Adjustment: Master volume control, bass adjustment control.
• Frequency response: 70 HZ-20 KHZ +/-9db.
• Input sensitivity: PC:700±50mV AUX:550±50mV (THD+N=1%).
• Subwoofer / bass unit: 4 inch (106mm), 6O.
  
• Tweeter unit: 13mm silk domed tweeter, 4O.
• Dimension: 140(W) × 226(H)× 197(D)mm.

The packaging for the Edifier 980T speakers is hardly going to blow your mind, but it is a sizable box, giving you your first hint that while small form factor, these are not your old Packard Bell's, beige stock speakers.

There is some basic information about the monitors on the back, letting you know about the features listed on the previous page.

Along with the speakers themselves, you get several cables, including standard red/black speaker connectors – as well as a couple of phono cables. One of them has phono outputs and inputs, while the other has a 3.5mm input for connecting to a PC sound card, or a portable music player.

Since there are a pair of ports for these cables on the rear of the main speaker, this means you can have a PC and auxiliary input in them at the same time.

The Edifier 980T speakers themselves are regular looking speakers. They are entirely black, apart from some red highlighted connection points on the rear. The front is dominated by a foam cover that can be removed, though there is a minor style point with the Edifier logo at the base of each speaker.

The main body of the speakers is made of MDF, but has a black, wood grain effect along all the main panels, giving it a slightly classier feel.

Popping off the foam covering on the front, you can see the bass reflex port and the speaker itself. Taking the screen off and replacing it is nice and easy so cleaning should never become an issue.

Around the back of the speakers, you have all your connectors, controls and power connectors. There is a standard UK plug for powering up the internal amplifier, and the four phono connectors for the audio inputs. Right alongside those are a pair of dials to adjust bass and master volume, as well as a power switch.

At the base of each speaker box are the red and black connector points for the speaker cable.

Testing speakers uses much the same methodology as testing headsets: we listen to a lot of music over a couple of weeks, as well as using them to play games and watch movies. This gives us a good idea of the sound quality of the speakers in different scenarios, as well as plenty of time to test out any settings that can be tweaked to provide improved results.

So once put through their paces, how did the Edifier 980T's stack up? For a £50 pair of speakers without a sub I was pleasantly surprised. When it comes to gaming they have plenty of volume and provide enough bass and clarity to give explosions and gunfire plenty of impact. Similarly though they perform well with more atmospheric titles that are not all about killing one another. They are able to convey the creepy atmosphere of Alien Isolation well enough, with its dripping pipes and creaking vent systems.

The Xenomorph sounds as terrifying as ever too which is good. I suppose.

There is plenty of volume on hand which is good and they can easily fill a small room, potentially causing ear drum damage! As good as the stereo field is with speakers, unless you are building a surround sound set up, headphones just tend to have better sound placement to this reviewer's ears.

Of course speakers are not solely designed with gaming in mind, they are also music listening devices and despite the relatively low price tag this pair of monitors does exceedingly well. They do struggle to reproduce lower bass frequencies, but for £50 the sound quality is really commendable.

Bass-heads will probably want something with a bit more kick in the lower end, as trying some ultra low-frequency bass tests did not produce much more than a dull rumble, but there is a good kick at the mid-low frequencies that will satisfy most non-audiophiles.

To me, these speakers seem well placed to be a replacement for any stock speakers you received with a prebuilt PC, or to offer you a cheap way to improve  sound quality. While it might be a strange combination to have a sound card that is more expensive than the speakers, if you happen to have an after market one it can also help improve dynamics and tighten up the bass.

The included bass-boost knob on the rear of the main speaker needs careful adjustment. Turning it up too high will have a negative impact on the overall sound quality as bass will become less focused and flabby.

Are the Edifier 980T speakers worth buying? I would recommend them if you are working with a tight budget and want an upgrade for a basic pair of speakers you received with a prebuilt PC.

At only £50 the Edifier 980T are capable of filling a small room with ease, and they produce a surprising amount of bass for a pair of speakers which lack a dedicated subwoofer. It is not all volume though – there is decent clarity too, with some solid mid-range frequency representation. Music, games and movies are dealt with in equal measure. During testing we listened to all music genre's from swing, to metal, to RnB, rap and classical. It is true that more complex music will struggle to be represented well but we can't be too critical considering the very modest asking price.

If you are an audiophile – no shock, but these will not tick the right boxes for you … although the asking price should be a dead giveaway. If instead you want to improve the audio quality of your laptop, or mid-range gaming rig and would rather go down the speaker route than headphones, this little kit from Edifier will serve you quite nicely.

The build quality is pretty solid and although the frame is just MDF, there is at least a wood grain look to them which means they will not be an eye sore among your other components and peripherals.

All in all, the Edifier 980Ts are a great way to begin your journey on the road to audio excellence. They are just the first step, but it is a surprisingly big one for the price.

Edifier's 980T 2.0 speakers can be found on Overclockers for £50.

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Pros

• Plenty of volume
• Reasonable bass despite lack of subwoofer
• Economical
• Good build quality
• Extra cables for multiple inputs

Cons

• Lacks the power and low-end bass of 2.1 kits
• Can leave you wishing for something a bit crisper at times
• Rear facing controls are a bit of a pain

Kitguru Says: While the audiophiles may turn their noses up, the Edifier 980Ts are great little speakers that are perfect for those on a budget. 

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