Envy News: Quality Gadgets for Hardware Zealots

Edifier S2.1D Super Multimedia Speaker System

Company:	Edifier
MSRP:	$105 USD/$140 CAD
Requirements:	Audio Device with Analogue or Digital Output

Provided by:

Ashley Glenn

Monday, June 07, 2004

For a large majority of life on this planet, the sensation of sound is one of the most important parts of daily life. It guides the hunter and warns the hunted, it conveys information and emotion, and it distracts and entertains. Unlike our eyes, our ears cannot simply shut when there is something we want to block out. It is the inherent nature of human beings to seek sounds which are either helpful to survival or that create a comfortable or pleasing environment.

The words “comfortable” and “pleasing” above are sticky words to use, as there is a wide variety of sound environments that we as humans consider pleasing. To some, pleasure and comfort come from soft, meditative sounds within a limited range. Others may prefer more strident, punctual sounds that vary in loudness and range. As humanity has progressed we’ve found ways to record and share more and more sounds and recreate more accurately the sound creator’s intended environment.

Getting down to the basis of the above musicology mumbo jumbo, those of us who spend time around our computers appreciate speakers that give us what we want. Some people prefer to enjoy the tiny nuances of easy listening or soft jazz, while others demand to hear the pick hit every string in the middle of a rock-ballad power chord. And we can’t forget the gamer that revels in massive explosions but needs to be able to hear his opponents’ footsteps to get out of the situation alive when the explosion is over.

As an avid gamer with a music degree, I tend to be very picky about what I put up with for sound. My speakers have to output sound that is crystal clear across the high, mid, and low ranges, be able to deliver both edgy, cutting sounds and rounded, gentle inflections. If there’s a subwoofer involved, it has to have a clean sound with no hint of muddiness. When Edifier contacted Envy News and told us they had a set of speakers that could handle these expectations, I jumped at the chance to try out a new set of speakers.

Edifier is a relatively young company (founded in 1996), yet has already established a rich product line that ranges from high-end to budget friendly. Edifier has also recently begun extending their product line into the digital audio sector, and Envy News has a set of their high-end digital 2.1 speakers for this review. Over the next few pages, we’ll be looking and the Super Theatre/Music Speaker System S2.1D speakers.