B7
for audio heaven.
Sound
bars are a great way of adding extra audio oomph to your TV setup
without adding too much bulk. However, what they make up in volume
and clarity, they tend to lack in steer unadulterated bass. Edifier
have solved that issue by combining a soundbar with an
unapologetically powerful subwoofer. We test the Edifier CineSound
B7.
Contained inside the Edifier CineSound B7 packaging (which is L-shaped! Well, it excited us) you'll find a one-metre long slim soundbar and a chunky cube of a subwoofer. The soundbar is very similar in shape and appearance to the B3 Soundbar that we reviewed earlier in the year, but the subwoofer is a new one on us. Combined, Edifier tells us that the audio setup has 75W of power. Nice.
First
up, connections. The whole system is Bluetooth-ready, meaning that
not only can it be used to bolster your home theatre, but it is also
very capable at having your phone or tablet stream music to it
wirelessly. If you have a smart TV with Bluetooth built-in, this is
probably your best bet for a connection, but the Edifier CineSound B7
also has optical, coaxial, and AUX inputs too for older tellies, or
for those wanting to run wires between the two.
The
B7 Soundbar (like the B3) is a thing of beauty, and probably one of
the better looking Edifier products. We love the brushed metal ends,
the concealed stand on the back/base, and the 'chubby-triangle' cross
section. The subwoofer section isn't as aesthetically pleasing
however, essentially being a wooden box covered in soft grill fabric.
It clearly has been designed to be a tucked-away speaker, and putting
it under an entertainment cabinet or desk is very easy due to its
relatively compact dimensions.
Controlling
the system is done via the included remote control; a pretty standard
affair with bubble buttons. Actually getting the system going and
fine-tuned is the sort of thing you'll only ever do when you want to
set it up or make a drastic change, as general volume controls can be
tweaked via your TV remote or phone.
So,
in use... wow! We've always loved soundbars here at The Test Pit, but
we've never noticed all that much about the lack of booming bass. The
Edifier CineSound B7 has mastered that and then some, with both units
working together seamlessly to create an audio wallop. We tried it
out both wired up through our TV while watching a few 'loud' things
on Netflix, and also via Bluetooth with some tunes from a tablet.
From
the TV everything was crisp and clear, with an incredible level of
depth and texture. Setting up a system like this will certainly give
you a higher appreciation for sound editors, as even a simple scene
from a sitcom sounded richer and more complicated. Over Bluetooth
(standard ten metre range, simple pairing, and a strong connection
throughout) all genres of music sounded great, and we could detect no
difference in the quality of sound from the wired connection, nor was
there any amount of lip-sync lag when watching a You Tube video.
This
is a great sound system, and the perfect solution to the lack of bass
associated with soundbars. Check it out.
Around
£250
Visit
www.edifier.com