Edifier S880DB MKII Hi-Fi Bookshelf Speakers (88W) with LDAC BT5.3, Studio Monitor 2.0
Product description
The essentials (and what you’re actually buying)
The Edifier S880DB MKII are active bookshelf speakers built around a straightforward idea: you shouldn’t need a separate amp and a complicated setup just to get hi-res, low-latency sound for music, TV, and desk listening. They sit in the “serious for the money” bracket rather than the pure audiophile end of the market, but on paper they’re trying to cover a lot of bases—wired hi-res inputs, lossless-feeling Bluetooth via LDAC, and even an expandable subwoofer output if you want more weight.
If you care about detail (vocals staying clean at volume, instruments separating nicely) and you also want something that behaves well for mixing or critical listening, the MKII makes sense. It also looks targeted at creators who need a reliable monitoring style rather than a purely party-speaker sound.
Where they stand out for real-world use
These speakers combine dual amplification with a tweeter/woofer layout that’s tuned for clarity across the full range. The spec list is specific: dual Class-D amplification with 12W per tweeter and 32W per woofer, for a total of 88W. In everyday terms, that points to decent headroom—enough to fill a typical room or a work-from-home space without the sound collapsing into muddiness.
The driver pairing is also fairly classic-but-credible for studio-minded listening: a 1.25-inch titanium-dome tweeter and a 3.75-inch aluminium mid-woofer. Combined with MDF cabinets and internal damping aimed at reducing resonance, it’s the kind of build that tends to keep transients and midrange steadier than the more “toy-like” cabinet designs you sometimes see at this price.
There’s also a practical “desk and living room” control ecosystem: rear knobs for volume, source, bass and treble, plus a rechargeable touch remote and a 128x32 OLED display. You may not use every feature daily, but it’s the sort of completeness that saves time when switching between a PC, TV, and a turntable.
Key specifications that matter when choosing
On the connectivity side, the S880DB MKII offers several wired inputs: USB-C, coaxial, optical, and RCA analogue. For hi-res playback, the figures given are up to 24-bit/192kHz over the digital USB-C/Optical/Coaxial inputs, plus 24-bit/96kHz via the analogue RCA input.
Wireless is handled with Bluetooth 5.3 and LDAC. The headline here is that LDAC is described as capable of up to 990kbps for CD-quality streaming, and it’s positioned as higher resolution than aptX. In practice, this matters if you want a “put them in the room and stream” setup without feeling like you’re accepting a major quality drop.
The unit also uses an XMOS 16-core processor and a DSP approach. The manufacturer claims 2,000 MIPS of processing to manage crossover behaviour, speaker compensation, and dynamic range control. That’s the sort of internal workload you’d want if you’re sensitive to how speakers perform when volume or content changes (think quiet vocals one minute, then a film scene the next).
Finally, there’s a subwoofer output so you can build a 2.1 system later, which is useful if you find 2.0 bass suits your tastes but still want extra impact for movies or gaming.
What to know about setup, controls and day-to-day handling
This isn’t a “set and forget with a phone app only” type of speaker, which is refreshing. You can control most basics directly via the rear knobs and use the OLED display to confirm source and level changes.
Where the app comes in is the tuning side: the EDIFIER ConneX app is mentioned for custom EQ profiles, firmware updates, and device management. That’s a meaningful capability if you’re willing to spend a little time calibrating—especially if your listening space is on the smaller side or your speakers aren’t perfectly placed.
A quick micro-scenario: imagine a typical evening routine—PC through USB-C for listening in the daytime, TV on optical later, and then a turntable via RCA when you want a more relaxed session. With this speaker’s input options and on-device control, you don’t have to keep swapping cables or constantly reaching for a different audio box.
Note worth making: with features like hi-res processing and app EQ, results can depend quite a lot on placement and your source settings. If you’re expecting it to magically fix poor positioning, it may leave you a bit underwhelmed.
Is it a good fit for you? (and who should skip it)
It’s a good fit if you want one compact active speaker system that can handle multiple sources (PC, TV, turntable) and also offers hi-res wired playback plus LDAC Bluetooth. It also makes sense if you like the idea of studio-monitor styling—cleaner detail and consistent tuning—rather than a purely bass-forward sound.
You may want to skip it if you only ever stream via basic Bluetooth and never touch wired hi-res, because then you might be paying for parts of the spec you won’t use. It might not suit you either if you’re looking for a truly “budget entry” purchase, since its feature set is clearly built for more demanding listening.
Also bear in mind: while it has a subwoofer output for expansion, the provided bass performance will still ultimately depend on room size and where you place them. If you want thunderous low-end without adding a subwoofer, this could feel like it’s staying more in the accurate mid/bass territory.
Pros
What stands out about the MKII
- Wired hi-res support across USB-C, optical and coaxial, plus analogue RCA with defined hi-res figures
- LDAC over Bluetooth 5.3 for high-quality wireless streaming, not just basic SBC-style expectations
- Dual amplification (12W + 32W per driver section) aimed at strong dynamics across volume levels
- Studio-monitor driver choices (titanium-dome tweeter and aluminium mid-woofer) with internal cabinet damping
- Subwoofer output available if you want to move from 2.0 to 2.1 later
- Practical controls with OLED display, rechargeable touch remote, and an app for EQ and updates
What to double-check before you buy
Before committing, it’s worth checking how you plan to connect everything. The speaker supports USB-C, coaxial, optical and RCA, but you’ll want to match your sources to the right input type. It’s also sensible to think about how much you’ll rely on Bluetooth versus wired, because that choice affects whether the LDAC and hi-res inputs are truly part of your daily routine.
If you’re using it for mixing or critical listening, placement and reference levels matter—so plan a spot where the speakers can breathe rather than being crammed into a tight shelf.
Final verdict
Should you buy it?
Buy the Edifier S880DB MKII if you want a well-connected active bookshelf system that covers hi-res wired audio, offers LDAC Bluetooth 5.3, and still leaves room to grow with a subwoofer later. It suits people who care about detail and want a monitoring-style sound for music, TV and desk work.
Avoid it if your use is mostly basic Bluetooth streaming and you don’t need the wider input choice, because the feature set may be more than you’ll benefit from. It may also not be the best match if you’re expecting effortless, room-filling sub-bass impact without adding a sub, as you’ll likely need to manage placement and consider the 2.1 expansion.
Mini FAQ
What inputs does it support?
The MKII is listed with USB-C, coaxial and optical inputs, plus analogue RCA input for hi-res playback.
Does it support hi-res over wireless?
Wireless hi-res is handled via Bluetooth with LDAC and Bluetooth 5.3, with the spec describing CD-quality streaming capability up to 990kbps.
Can you add a subwoofer?
Yes, there’s a subwoofer output so you can expand to a 2.1 setup.
Is it better for music or TV?
It’s designed to cover both—there are multiple digital inputs for TV/PC-style setups and RCA for sources like a turntable.
Will the app actually matter?
If you’re the sort of listener who tweaks EQ or wants updates and device management in one place, the EDIFIER ConneX app is likely useful. If you prefer no tweaking at all, you may rely more on the on-speaker controls than the app.