Edifier B700 Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer Set Review

A classic problem for home movie enthusiasts: wanting impressive sound but not having the space or means to set up a full system of five or more speakers. As always, soundbars come to the rescue — compact and requiring minimal effort to connect and place. For decades, developers of such devices have promised us “immersive, voluminous sound,” but so far, none of the soundbars have been able to fully replace a real home theater.

The gap in price and sound effectiveness between soundbars is simply immense. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar offers an incredible quality and volume of sound for its size, which is truly impressive. However, it comes at an extremely high cost — almost more expensive than a full multi-channel system. On the other hand, something like the Sven SB-2200D is comparatively inexpensive and undoubtedly reproduces movie soundtracks better than a typical television. But it merely attempts to create a 3D sound illusion, and it does so not very successfully, and overall it is characterized by compromise sound quality, which is not surprising for its price.

Fortunately, there are soundbars from the mid-range segment of the market that are significantly cheaper than the most advanced ones, but more expensive than the very budget ones — let’s talk about one of such today. In theory, the Edifier B700 has everything you need: 7 speakers for surround sound, a subwoofer included, various connectivity options, support for various audio formats, including Dolby Atmos. Let’s see how well it will cope with the task of providing pleasant and impressive sound when watching video content, and also when listening to music.

Table of Contents

1. Technical specifications
2. Packing and completion
3. Design
4. Control
5. Sound
6. Conclusions

Technical specifications

• Frequency range 45 Hz – 20 kHz
• Speaker size Midrange: 3.5 inches
• HF: 1 inch
• Bass (subwoofer): 8 inches
• Power 175 watts (L/R/C – 3×15; Ls/Rs – 2×15; Ltm/Rtm – 2×15; Subwoofer – 70)
• Control panel on the unit, remote control
• Interfaces HDMI 2.1 (eARC), 2×HDMI 2.1, S/PDIF (optical and coaxial), Bluetooth 5.0, analog Aux
• SBC, aptX, aptX HD codecs
• Supported formats PCM, Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos
• Surround sound is available
• Subwoofer connection wireless
• Dimensions soundbar: 850×70×120 mm
• subwoofer: 250×372×300 mm
• Weight 11.7 kg

Packing and completion

Edifier traditionally takes a responsible approach to packaging its products: it’s not the first device from the company that we’ve received in two cardboard boxes. The outer box bears the brunt of transportation and contains only the device name and the most basic information about it. The inner box is more attractively designed, with illustrations and specifications printed on it. It’s worth noting that very often soundbar and subwoofer sets are supplied in G-shaped packaging due to the significant difference in the dimensions of the devices. Edifier chose not to skimp on cardboard and to fill the inevitable free space with special inserts. Everything is packed as securely as possible, so there’s no need to worry about the safety of the devices during transportation.

The package is extremely comprehensive – it includes everything you need to get started:

• Soundbar and wireless subwoofer
• Remote control
• Power cables (2 pcs.)
• Power adapter for the soundbar
• HDMI cable
• 3.5mm mini-jack to RCA cable
• Wall mount
• “Hooks for placing the soundbar on the wall mount
• Screws (5 pcs.)
• Dowels (5 pcs.)
• Instruction manual

The wall mount is convenient and contains everything necessary for installation. It is designed to allow the soundbar to extend beyond the edges of the TV, which is necessary for the functioning of the upward-facing speakers for surround sound.

Design

The set is only available in one color, which the manufacturer calls “metallic gray.” It looks very strict and inconspicuous, and the Edifier B700 will blend well with the interior and will not attract unnecessary attention. A large part of the body is covered with a metal grille that is resistant to dirt and fingerprints.

Behind the grille, there are a total of 7 speakers, potentially capable of providing 5.1.2 sound with the subwoofer. Two of them are directed upwards, three are directed forwards, and two more are placed on the sides. The manufacturer is particularly proud of the design of the Racetrack surround speakers with enlarged diaphragms, mentioning them separately in marketing materials.

Also behind the metal grille is a small screen of five 16-segment indicators, which is perfectly visible through it. The brightness of the display is adjustable, and three levels of illumination are supported.

The screen is capable of displaying all the necessary information, from the active type of connection to the volume level. The format of the audio being played is shown only for a few seconds after it changes, which is not very convenient. Additionally, there is no option to forcibly display it on the screen. A small dot is used as the power indicator, which is constantly lit and cannot be turned off. At first, it is slightly distracting, but you quickly stop paying attention to it.

The subwoofer is relatively compact — 250×372×300 mm. Its simple and strict design will help it easily fit into the interior, and thanks to the wireless connection, it is much easier to find a place for it in the room.

Control

It is more convenient to control the soundbar through the TV remote via HDMI CEC, but it also has its own remote. Some settings will only be available through it — for example, adjusting the brightness of the display or selecting a preset.

The buttons on the top panel allow you to launch Bluetooth, change the volume, select the active input, and turn the power on/off. The last two actions are performed using the far right button with short and long presses, respectively. The required force to press the keys is a bit high, and the click is not the clearest… But the panel is well protected from accidental clicks, and you are unlikely to use it often.

Sound

As has been said many times, soundbars are always a compromise. For the sake of compactness and ease of use, we sacrifice sound quality, which will almost always be higher for systems of similar cost, not to mention stereo pairs. And the smaller this sacrifice is, the better the soundbar. In this case, we have a sound quality that is significantly higher than that of very budget devices, and it is quite enough for watching movies. As for music, let’s say that soundbars are not really for this, no matter what their manufacturers say. Although running some “cleaning playlist” as background music with today’s test hero is definitely possible.

As for the sound in general, it can be seen that the subwoofer produces a serious volume of bass, on which a significant emphasis is made by default. The lower midrange is unexpectedly strongly emphasized, while the midrange is more or less evenly distributed and even not devoid of detail — there is enough detail for vocals in music and dialogues in movies. The high frequencies are well perceived and devoid of typical defects for them, which is the most important thing in this case.

Conclusions

In terms of ease of use and versatility, the Edifier B700 performed excellently: the most necessary formats are supported, the control is conveniently organized, there is sufficient indication, and everything you need is included in the kit… Take it, connect it, and enjoy. As for the sound, there are no direct issues with the soundbar, but the subwoofer works quite uniquely and is more aimed at those who love loud and strongly pronounced bass in movies. At the same time, there is hardly any reason for criticism here – such sound has its fans. Anyway, with the task of “pumping up” the sound of the TV, spending a minimum of effort on it, the Edifier B700 definitely helps to cope. Which is exactly what was originally required of it.