Edifier S300 Review: Is It Worth $399?
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I have been reviewing Edifier speakers for the past two and a half years, and one thing has become very clear: whenever the brand launches a new tabletop speaker, I pay attention. Edifier has a habit of creating products that do not just sound good, but also look like someone actually cared about the design.
The Edifier D32 was the first tabletop speaker I reviewed, and it left a strong impression on me. I loved the retro-inspired look, the rich sound, and the fact that it offered Hi-Res audio in such a stylish package. Then came the ES300, which felt more modern and more contemporary in its design, but still delivered the same two qualities I have come to expect from Edifier: strong audio performance and real visual character.
So when the S300 arrived for review, I was genuinely excited. This feels like Edifier going all in: a premium tabletop speaker with a striking design and the kind of presence that immediately makes you think this is meant to be something special.
In this review, I want to take a closer look at what the Edifier S300 is really like to live with, how I have been using it, how it sounds, and whether it justifies that $399 price tag.
Quick Verdict
The Edifier S300 is a beautiful piece of audio kit. With its handcrafted wooden cabinet, braided grille, and elegant metal controls, it looks every bit like a premium tabletop speaker, and thankfully it sounds like one too. Whether I was listening over Hi-Res Bluetooth or connecting it to my Audio Technica turntable through an analogue input, the S300 delivered a rich, powerful, and genuinely enjoyable sound.
There is a lot to like here. The remote control is excellent, AirPlay 2 adds useful flexibility, and the whole product feels thoughtfully designed. But the S300 is not without compromise. It is noticeably bigger and heavier than the D32 and ES300, which means it is far less portable, and at $399 it sits firmly in premium territory. On top of that, Edifier’s app still feels more confusing than it should.
Overall, this is a seriously impressive speaker, but it makes most sense for someone who wants a stylish home speaker and is willing to pay for both design and performance.
How I Tested It
I tested the Edifier S300 across the setups I would genuinely use at home. That meant connecting it to my Audio Technica turntable via analogue input, plugging it into my MacBook through USB-C, and streaming music over Bluetooth from my iPhone.
I also used it with my Pixel 9a to make the most of LDAC and Hi-Res Audio wireless playback. Together, these tests gave me a clear picture of how the S300 performs across both wired and wireless listening.
The Review:
Design
With the S300, you can clearly see how far Edifier’s design language has come. In my opinion, this is easily one of the most beautiful and polished speakers the brand has produced so far. It feels like the natural evolution of what Edifier has been doing with its tabletop range, only here everything looks sharper, more refined, and more premium.
This is not a small speaker. At 13.82" × 8.03" × 9.09" and 13.7 lb, the S300 has real presence, but that size works in its favour. It gives the speaker a sense of substance and quality that you notice straight away.
The braided speaker grille looks fantastic, and the small metal details make a big difference. I particularly love the Edifier logo engraved on the metal piece at the top, as well as the logo placed at the bottom left of the grille. Little touches like that make the S300 feel thoughtfully designed rather than mass-produced. Even the “A Passion for Sound” line written on the bottom metal section adds character.
The controls are another highlight. They look stylish, feel premium, and are genuinely satisfying to use. Nothing about this speaker feels cheap or rushed. Quite the opposite, really. If design matters to you, the Edifier S300 is on another level. Most Sonos and Sony speakers look clean, but also a bit safe and forgettable. The S300 has proper character, and next to my Audio Technica turntable, it looks exactly where it belongs.
Specs
As I have come to expect from Edifier, the S300 is very well equipped on paper. It supports Hi-Res Wireless Audio with LDAC, comes with AirPlay 2 compatibility, and delivers 80W of total output power. Inside, you get 1.25-inch titanium dome tweeters with neodymium magnets, along with a 5.5-inch long-throw aluminium diaphragm mid-bass driver.
In real life, that translates into a speaker that feels more than capable for a medium-sized living room or a similar space. There is plenty of power here, and the bass has real presence without the whole thing sounding messy or overblown.
If you use an Android phone, the S300 becomes even more interesting because you can take advantage of LDAC and stream Hi-Res Audio from your favourite compatible music service. And yes, it does make a difference. The sound is rich, detailed, and properly enjoyable when you feed this speaker a good source.
AirPlay 2 is another welcome addition, especially if you already use Apple devices or want to build a more connected listening setup with other compatible speakers around the home.
Edifier has packed some seriously impressive hardware into the S300, and thankfully this is one of those speakers where the performance actually lives up to the spec sheet.
Easy to Use
Setting up the Edifier S300 is, thankfully, very straightforward. Pairing it with my iPhone 15 Plus and Pixel 9a over Bluetooth was quick and painless, and I had no issues getting started.
To unlock the full experience, you also need to connect the speaker to the Edifier Home app. The setup itself is easy enough, but this is where I still think Edifier makes things more confusing than they need to be. There is Edifier Connect, Edifier ConneX, and now Edifier Home, and if you own several Edifier products, the whole app ecosystem can feel like a bit of a mess. It is genuinely annoying that some speakers, earbuds, and headphones still do not live under the same app.
That said, once everything is set up, the S300 is a very easy speaker to live with. Day to day, it is simple to use, responsive, and the addition of a remote control is a genuinely welcome touch. It makes the whole experience feel a little more premium and a lot more convenient.
Overall, the S300 is easy to connect, easy to use, and easy to enjoy. I just wish Edifier would bring a bit more clarity and consistency to its apps.
Sound Quality
At this price, sound quality really matters, and thankfully the Edifier S300 delivers. Put simply, I think it sounds phenomenal.
With 80W of output power, this is a seriously powerful speaker, but what impressed me most is that it stays controlled even when you push the volume up. It can go very loud without sounding harsh or distorted. That said, I personally enjoy it most at around 40 to 50 percent volume, which is already more than loud enough for everyday listening at home.
What I really like about the S300 is its sound signature. It has a warm, rich character that reminds me of a really good analogue speaker from the 1980s or 1990s. There is something full-bodied and musical about the way it presents sound, which makes it especially enjoyable for longer listening sessions.
It also pairs beautifully with vinyl. I recently played Moby’s 18 through it, and it sounded fantastic. The S300 gives music a nice sense of depth and weight, with plenty of bass and an overall presentation that feels immersive without becoming muddy.
I also tried linking the S300 with the ES300 through Apple AirPlay 2 and used both speakers while watching a film on my Apple TV 4K. Honestly, the result was surprisingly impressive. If you have the budget for two compatible Edifier speakers and want to build a more immersive setup through AirPlay 2, you are in for a real treat. This is the kind of speaker that makes you want to keep listening for just one more song, and then another.
Is It Worth It?
At $399, the Edifier S300 sits firmly in premium territory, even if it is often available for less during promotions. That is not a small amount of money for a speaker, and anyone considering it has every right to expect something special.
The good news is that the S300 really does feel special. Edifier has clearly pushed things further here, both in terms of design and sound quality. This is not just a speaker that looks beautiful in the home, it is also one that delivers a rich, powerful and genuinely enjoyable listening experience.
In my opinion, the S300 is worth every penny. If you want to invest in a speaker that feels premium, sounds fantastic, and brings real character to a room, this is an easy one to recommend. The value for money is actually very strong when you look at the level of design, features and performance on offer.
If $399 feels a bit too steep, I would also suggest looking at the Edifier ES300. It is smaller, more affordable, and still offers the kind of sound quality and design that makes Edifier tabletop speakers so appealing.
Put simply, if you can afford it, buy it. The Edifier S300 is one of those products that justifies its price because it gets the important things right: design, sound, and everyday enjoyment.
Final Thoughts
The Edifier S300 is, quite simply, one of the best tabletop speakers I have tested from the brand so far. It looks stunning, sounds superb, and feels like a properly premium product from the moment you start using it.
Yes, it is expensive, and yes, I still think Edifier needs to sort out its app ecosystem. But when it comes to design, sound quality, and overall enjoyment, the S300 gets so much right.
If you want a beautiful speaker that can sit proudly in your home and deliver a rich, powerful sound every day, the Edifier S300 is easy to recommend. The Edifier S300 is available on Amazon (Check price here)
FAQs
Does the Edifier S300 support AirPlay 2?
Yes. The S300 supports Apple AirPlay 2, which is great if you use Apple devices or want to create a multi-room setup with other compatible speakers.
Can you connect a turntable to the Edifier S300?
Yes. I connected mine through the analogue input, and it worked very well for vinyl listening.
Is the Edifier S300 portable?
Not really. It is much bigger and heavier than the Edifier D32 or ES300, so it makes more sense as a speaker you keep at home.
Is the Edifier S300 easy to use?
Yes. Bluetooth pairing is quick and straightforward, and once everything is set up, it is a very easy speaker to live with. The only downside is that Edifier’s app ecosystem still feels more confusing than it should.
Can you enjoy LDAC and Hi-Res Bluetooth audio with an iPhone?
No. LDAC support on the S300 is for compatible Android devices, not iPhone. If you want to enjoy LDAC and high-resolution Bluetooth streaming properly, you will need an Android phone and a compatible lossless or Hi-Res streaming service. iPhone users can still use AirPlay 2, though that is a different wireless path from LDAC Bluetooth.
Jerome
My honest Edifier S300 review after testing it with vinyl, USB-C and Hi-Res Bluetooth. A premium tabletop speaker with stunning design and superb sound.