Edifier MP230 Speaker Review – Overview
Old-school cool never goes out of fashion, Kate Bush is proof of that! –Hey, I’m old enough to remember Running up the Hill when it was on Top of the Pops. I owned an old wooden record player and a cassette deck and have always had a soft spot for the good old days.
Aesthetically, the Edifier MP230 has me smitten. Its curved wood housing, piano-key controls and fabric grille tick all my nostalgic boxes. Now, let’s see what else this portable speaker has to offer beyond its retro looks.
Price and Availability
| Bluetooth Headphone Model |
| Edifier WP230 Portable Bluetooth Speaker |
| Features |
| Retro Wood Finish, Piano Key Controls, Bluetooth 5.0, AUX, Micro SD, USB |
Full Review
The Edifier MP230 Bluetooth speaker comes inside a sturdy and well-presented retail box. Along with the speaker, there’s a user-manual, Type-C USB charging cable and an AUX lead.
Design and Build Quality – 9 out of 10
Measuring 160mm x100mm by 80mm High with a weight of 850g the MP230 is compact enough to be considered portable. That said, there is something about its design that makes me reluctant to take it outdoors. Perhaps the wood finish makes it feel more like a piece of furniture than a portable device.
The housing is MDF, but with a cherry wood-like veneer. The tone of the wood really nails that 60’s and 70’s retro feel. Additionally, the weaved two-tone fabric over the speaker grille really compliments the overall look of the speaker.
Perhaps my favourite feature has to be the old-school cassette deck-style piano-key controls. The buttons have an aged brass-like finish that matches the Edifier logo. The wood wraps around the entire speaker and the woven fabric is also on the rear, so it looks almost as good from behind.
On the rear, you’ll find a Micro SD slot, an AUX input and a type-C USB port. The USB port will charge the speaker and can also be used for USB audio streaming from compatible devices.
Specifications and Features – 8 out of 10
Bluetooth Version: V5.0
Audio inputs: Bluetooth, AUX, micro SD (TF) card, USB audio streaming
Full-range driver: 2 x 48mm dia Drivers
Battery Capacity: Dual 2500mA / 7.2V
Power output: 10W+10W
Frequency Response: 70Hz-13kHz
The Edifier MP230 is extremely simple to use. When you turn it on, it will instantly go into pairing mode by default. Once paired, it will connect and reconnect in under a second thanks to the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology.
Should you wish to use an AUX connection, the blue indicator light on the front will turn green as soon as you connect the lead. Likewise, the light will turn yellow when a micro SD card is inserted, or red when using the USB audio feature.
Battery Life and Bluetooth Range – 8 out of 10
Both the battery life and the Bluetooth range exceeded my expectations. Edifier stated a 10-hour playtime, I think I got closer to 15 hours with a recharge time of 2.5 hours.
The Bluetooth range has been equally as impressive, I usually see drops from most other Bluetooth speakers at around 10m, but the Edifier MP230 remains connected at a distance of 14m. – I can finally stream music to my garden shed.
Sound Quality – 7.5 out of 10
The MP230 has two front-facing 48mm, dia. speaker drivers, with rear-facing passive drivers. Each driver produces 10W of power, so 20W in total – I did the math for you.
For its size, the MP230 produces a considerable volume level. That said, it certainly doesn’t hold together that well when you max it out. Volume levels between 25-75% are definitely the sweet spot for the best audio quality. There is a good weight to the bass and the highs are clean. For the size of the speaker, it performs very well.
Verdict
If you’re looking for a retro-style Bluetooth speaker for around the house, look no further, you’ve found it. The Edifier MP230 looks great, sounds great, and is respectably priced.
Price and Availability
| Bluetooth Headphone Model |
| Edifier WP230 Portable Bluetooth Speaker |
| Features |
| Retro Wood Finish, Piano Key Controls, Bluetooth 5.0, AUX, Micro SD, USB Audio |
