I’ve said before that, when reviewing home audio equipment, the exterior design of any given product is not terribly important to me as long as they device in question sounds great. Friends, the Edifier Luna HD e25HD TV speakers have really put that personal philosophy to the test. As great as they sound, and they do sound great, I absolutely cannot stand the way they look.
The e25HD Luna HD’s are a pair of TV speakers, packed to the rafters with modern features. They sport Bluetooth 4.0 functionality, they have wireless support, they have optical audio compatibility, they can be run on a pair of auxiliary cables and they are mountable on either an entertainment unit or on free-standing pillars. Don’t let that descriptor make you think these are especially small speakers because they aren’t. They’re actually quite large for a pair of TV speakers. They’re a bit of a statement piece, in case the header image above didn’t give that away.
The sound they produce is excellent for a pair of 2.0 stereo speakers, with resonant bass and hard-working tweeters ably handling the high-end sound. Movies came alive, music sounded wonderful. There’s none of that irritating volume differential between dialogue and action, everything is crisp and well-leveled. Everything I threw at them was aurally improved just by being played through these speakers.
Even moving them around, they seemed to adapt well to whatever space I put them in — tight corners, open rooms, there wasn’t any space it couldn’t comfortably fill with sound. I attached them to my work computer for music, to my TV in the media room during movies and games. They stood up every time, though in games you’re really only getting the standard stereo sound stage as there’s no simulated surround to speak of. They come with a small remote to help you flip between channels and everything you need to get your cabling set up is included in the box.
I actually can’t say enough nice things about the sound. They represent remarkable value for money in their class and price range, and I think most audiophiles would agree with me there.
This is as objective as I can possibly be about these speakers. Now, if you’ll indulge me, a bit of opinion.
Boy, I wish they didn’t look they way they do. I become cranky every time I see these speakers. I am not a fan of kitschy home decor, I prefer to decorate in a way that’s a little more understated. Bright red, rounded and obnoxiously large against my all-black entertainment unit, the e25HD’s are my visual mortal enemies and its clear that they were not designed to appeal to someone like me.
Your view on this may be different. Taste is entirely subjective. I have a friend. Her name is Sally, and she is a primary school teacher. Sally would embrace these speakers like her own children because they would be a natural fit for her kitschy, late-60’s retro wine mum sensibilities. She would rave, she would tell all her friends about these retro-looking speakers she’d found. I find them waiting for me when I stumble into the media room in the morning and I want to banish them from the house.
It’s worth noting that these speakers do also come in black and white colour schemes in addition to the red and that, on the page at least, they look far less offensive to me than the red. I’m still not a big fan of the rounded look but that is, as I’ve said, entirely subjective.
In the event that you can look upon these speakers and not be offended to your core, then I would strongly recommend them. For those who prefer a more sedate aesthetic in the home, you may be similarly turned off. I thought that external design didn’t count for much where home audio was concerned. I’m willing to concede I may have been wrong about that.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Highlights: Great sound; Great kit; Easy setup
Lowlights: Hideous if you don’t like kitsch
Manufacturer: Edifier
Price: $249
Available: Now
Review conducted using a loaned retail kit provided by the manufacturer.
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