Edifier - MP300 Plus review
2.1 portable audio system with aluminium sub-woofer (22/01/2009)
If you've ever cursed the sound quality of your laptop speakers, or wished you could listen to your MP3 player without your headphones and get a decent, punchy noise, then read on.
At just under £50 this small but stylish audio system comes complete with a portable tube sub-woofer to give you a detailed bass sound, specifically designed to handle output from notebooks, PCs, MP3 players and other digital hardware.
Made up of three different elements, the Edifier MP300 Plus couldn't be easier to set up. First, there's the subwoofer (powered up through the mains adapter) that measures 28cm in length and wouldn't look out of place on a desk.
On the back of this device there's an adapter to plug in the speakers (referred to by Edifier as satellites) and the all important ‘Line In' feeding sound from your laptop or MP3 player. The two spherical speakers themselves are no bigger than the palm of your hand and can be positioned 14 inches either side of the sub-woofer.
The gadget is packed with thoughtful attention, as not only does it come bundled with two ‘Line In' audio cables (one longer than the other) but it's also beautifully presented in its own, classy, hardback case. Each element of the audio system fits snugly in its own section, meaning that you can carry it around with the confidence that it's not going to get accidentally knocked or scratched.
Unfortunately it's not possible to tilt the satellite speakers upwards, meaning that you only have the flexibility to move them from left to right, but nevertheless, even with the speakers pointed forwards it's possible to get a full-range, well-rounded sound out of them.
Edifier has been promoting the MP300 Plus as being a perfect portable audio system for business users who need good quality sound for their notebook presentations. But with such a crisp, clear sound and a pretty powerful bass for such a small subwoofer, this would also be ideal for watching movies on your laptop, or you could even plug in a portable DVD player.
Simplicity being the main attraction, you won't find any controls to adjust the sound dynamic, so don't expect to be able to tweak the level of bass or the balance. However, two small buttons on top of one of the satellite speakers can be used to raise or lower the volume.
Sound quality is impressive for such a portable device. The bass is punchy without being overbearing and there's no evidence of any distortion when listening at full volume. Midtones are also pleasingly clear, with good, even tonal balance.
Interestingly, Edifier makes a note that the loudspeaker driver used in the subwoofer changes characteristics over the first two weeks. This is because the cone inside loosens a little with regular use, so there's a fair chance that the sound quality will get even better over time.
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