One of the most affordable ways to set up a desktop stereo system will be going for a pair of active speakers such as the Edifier R1850DB. These active speakers already have built-in power amplifiers thus helping you to save space and money since you don’t need to invest in separate amps. If you are currently in search of powered bookshelf speakers, the Edifier R1850DB is worthy of your consideration.
Like most bookshelf speakers, their bass performances are usually not impactful and powerful enough. This is why it would be a great idea to connect an active subwoofer to the Edifier R1850DB active speakers. We are planning to learn more about the R1850DB and will be listing out the best matching subwoofers to go for so please continue to read on.
Table of Contents
Sound Characteristics of Edifier R1850DB Active Speakers
The Edifier R1850DB has a total power output of 70 Watts and is sufficient enough to drive a pair of compact-sized active speakers. Unlike most bookshelf speakers, the R1850DB has a 10-degree angle to direct the sound slightly upwards towards your ears. This is an amazing feature for listeners who do not want to use desktop speaker stands. There are other notable features such as Bluetooth connection, Bass and Treble adjustment settings, and others. The most important feature for this topic will be the dedicated subwoofer output of Edifier R1850DB.
More Info at Amazon – Edifier R1850DB – Built-in Amplifier with Subwoofer Line Out
These are very modestly priced active speakers and they don’t sound cheap. There is clarity throughout the frequency range and we are able to hear the music clearly at a nearfield listening distance. Listening to the Edifier R1850DB at a further distance might not be ideal especially if your room is mid or large-sized. The R1850DB midbass punches above its weight but doesn’t overwhelm the mids. When it comes to subsonic bass performance, you can notice the active speakers don’t go as deep which is expected. This is where the powered subwoofer is needed.
Is a pity the Edifier R1850DB doesn’t come with an integrated DAC but for an active speaker at this price range, we shouldn’t nitpick much. They provide good sound quality for the money and their midbass performance may be enough for some listeners. We still need to learn more about your requirements as these will further help you to decide which subwoofer is more suitable for you. Through the consolidating of requirements, you can also take the opportunity to decide whether an active subwoofer is really what you need.
Edifier R1850DB Specifications
- Total RMS Power: 70 Watts
- Drivers: 0.75″ (19mm) Silk Dome Tweeter, 4″ (116mm) Woofer
- Frequency Response: 60Hz-20kHz
- Wireless: Bluetooth 4.1
- THD: 0.5%
- Dimensions: 154mm x 254mm x 224mm | 6.1″ x 10″ x 8.8″
Subwoofer Requirements
Whether to get an active subwoofer to be part of your sound system will depend on the type of music you are listening to. If it is bass-heavy music then you most likely will benefit from the support of a subwoofer. We suggest going with either a sealed or studio-grade subwoofer for music playbacks. Listeners who watch a lot of movies might want to go with consumer-grade ported subwoofers. These subs will have higher low-frequency output and will provide its users with more exhilarating bass performances, ideal for bass fanatics.
For nearfield listening, you usually don’t need a large-sized subwoofer. You will still need to find out how much available space you have and based on that, you can choose a subwoofer with certain dimensions so as to allow it to fit in nicely. How much you are willing to spend on a subwoofer will affect the number of choices you can go for, and we recommend not to splurge too much on a sub since the Edifier R1850DB is more of a budget active speaker. Unless you are planning to get better speakers in the near future, then getting a higher-end subwoofer will be justifiable.
Best Subwoofers to match with Edifier R1850DB
The Edifier T5 would probably be the best choice to go with the Edifier R1850DB as they are made by the same company. T5 has a very modest price point as well and is closely matched with the R1850DB active speakers. It is a compact 8″ subwoofer with up to 70 Watts RMS power and has a frequency response of 38Hz-200Hz. There is a side-firing bass port which you could place nearer to a wall and this will help reinforce the bass. The Edifier T5 does its job well and will work amazingly with the Edifier R1850DB.
More Details at Amazon – Edifier T5 Powered Subwoofer
If you are using the Edifier R1850DB for professional work and audio mixing, you might want to go with a studio subwoofer instead. One of the best studio subwoofers to go for will be the Yamaha HS8S, it is a powerful and compact 8″ subwoofer with up to 150 Watts of amplifier power. It has an impressive frequency response of 22Hz-150Hz and is capable of delivering accurate subsonic bass performances. The precision of the Yamaha HS8S is impeccable and it is sanely priced as well.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha HS8S 8-Inch Studio Subwoofer
The SVS SB-1000 will be one of the top sealed cabinet subwoofers to match with your Edifier R1850DB active speakers and it is quite wallet-friendly as well. It is considered very powerful for an entry-level sealed subwoofer, with up to 720 Watts of Peak power driving its 12″ bass driver. SVS SB-1000 frequency response of 24Hz-260Hz (+/-3dB) will be enough for most bass-heavy soundtracks and movies. The SB-1000 is capable of delivering room-shaking subsonic bass with agility and control.
More Info at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 300 Watt 12″ Sealed Subwoofer (Premium Black Ash)
Listeners who prefer a studio subwoofer but have a tight budget might want to take a look at the PreSonus Eris Sub 8. This is also an ideal subwoofer for listeners who have limited space due to its small footprint. The highly-rated Eris Sub 8 will be a terrific subwoofer partner for your Edifier R1850DB active speakers. The 8″ studio sub is able to deliver an articulate bass performance with accuracy and the low-ends are well-textured too. It uses a Class AB amplifier to drive 50 Watts of RMS power and could go up to 100 Watts (Peak).
More Details at Amazon – PreSonus Eris Sub 8 8-Inch Studio Subwoofer
Polk Audio PSW10 is another excellent budget subwoofer with high ratings and will be a good match with the Edifier R1850DB active speakers. It is a 10″ subwoofer with a front-firing bass port and has an amplifier that provides 50 Watts of RMS power. The Polk Audio PSW10 is very well-regarded by hundreds of satisfied owners and is certainly one of the very best budget ported subwoofers to go for. It has taut and clean bass delivery, not to mention, the PSW10 could also deliver very deep low-ends when it is required to.
More Details at Amazon – Polk Audio PSW10 – Power Port Technology, Black
If you are not really keen on spending much on a subwoofer or simply have a really tight budget, the Monoprice 60 Watt (RMS) powered subwoofer will be an ideal choice in this situation. The 8″ subwoofer has a frequency range of 50Hz-250Hz, it is not as deep as we want it to be but for an active sub that is under $100, we can’t really complain. Surprisingly, the bass performance of the Monoprice powered subwoofer can be quite impactful and doesn’t sound overly exaggerated which makes it a suitable match with the Edifier R1850DB active speakers.
More Details at Amazon – Monoprice 60-Watt 8″ Powered Subwoofer (Black)
To Conclude
We recommend you set your price requirement first and use it to shortlist the subwoofers from this list. You should arrange an audition with the shortlisted subwoofers together with your own Edifier R1850DB active speakers. From there, you can see which subwoofer sounds the best when partnered with the R1850DB. If you are unable to find the right one for the job during your initial subwoofer auditioning, you might want to try a few more rounds or do a side-by-side comparison.
