Best Budget Desktop Speakers: Complete Edifier M60 Guide [2025]

Introduction: Why Your Monitor Speakers Are Ruining Your Audio Experience

You're probably reading this while sitting in front of a computer monitor that sounds like a tin can filled with angry bees. Don't feel bad about it—you're not alone. The vast majority of desktop monitors ship with speakers that seem designed specifically to make audio sound worse, not better.

Here's the thing: monitor manufacturers cram speakers into impossibly small spaces, cut corners on materials, and prioritize thinness over sound quality. The result is what audiophiles call "tinny" audio—high-frequency content that dominates while everything else gets muddied. It doesn't matter if you're watching a movie trailer, playing the latest game, or taking video calls for work. Those built-in speakers are dragging the whole experience down.

But upgrading doesn't have to mean dropping $500 on premium equipment or dealing with massive subwoofers that eat your desk space. That's where budget desktop speakers come in. And if you're looking for the sweet spot between price, performance, and practicality, the Edifier M60 has become the go-to choice for thousands of people working from home, gaming casually, and streaming content.

The M60 sits at that magical price point where you stop making excuses about your audio setup and actually start enjoying what you're listening to. For around

But before you click "buy now," let's dive deep into what makes these speakers special, how they compare to other options in this price range, and whether they're actually the right choice for your specific setup. Because the truth is, "best" is subjective. What works perfectly for a gamer might feel lacking for a music producer. What sounds great in a small apartment might feel tinny in a large room.

This guide covers everything: the technical specs that actually matter, real-world sound quality, setup complexity, connectivity options, and honest tradeoffs. By the end, you'll know exactly whether the Edifier M60 belongs on your desk or if something else makes more sense for your situation.

TL; DR

• Best overall value: The Edifier M60 delivers clear, vibrant sound at
  $170** (often discounted from **$
  200), making it the best speakers for most people upgrading from monitor audio
• Sound profile: Neutral-to-bright tuning with solid midrange and treble, but limited bass (no dedicated subwoofer), which is the main compromise at this price
• Connectivity: USB-C (easiest option), 3.5mm aux, and Bluetooth 5.3 give you flexibility to connect whatever device you want
• Size and desk real estate: Compact form factor with included angled stands means they fit on crowded desks without dominating the space
• The catch: Mobile app could be better, bass-heavy content won't blow you away, and they're not ideal for critical music production

The Edifier M60 offers superior audio quality, comfort, and stereo imaging compared to budget speakers and headphones, making it a practical choice for desktop use.

Understanding Desktop Speaker Basics Before You Buy

Before we get into the specifics of the Edifier M60, you need to understand what actually makes speakers sound good. It's not magic, and it's not as complicated as audio companies want you to believe. A few fundamental principles determine whether speakers enhance your audio or destroy it.

What Makes Speakers Actually Sound Good

Speakers work by converting electrical signals into physical vibrations that produce sound waves you can hear. That's it. But the "how" of that conversion is where quality differences show up.

First, there's frequency response. Human ears can hear frequencies roughly between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Bass lives down in the low end (20 Hz to about 250 Hz). Midrange—where most human voices and instruments live—occupies the middle ground (250 Hz to about 4,000 Hz). Treble climbs higher (above 4,000 Hz). A "balanced" speaker reproduces all these frequencies at similar volumes. A bass-heavy speaker overemphasizes the low end. A bright speaker pushes treble.

Then there's distortion. This is where audio quality really matters. Cheap speakers distort because the drivers (the parts that physically move) can't handle certain volumes cleanly. They produce weird harmonic artifacts that make audio sound harsh, compressed, or just wrong. Good speakers keep distortion below audible thresholds across their volume range.

Driver quality and cabinet design directly affect both frequency response and distortion. Better materials in the drivers (silk tweeters instead of plastic, heavier magnets, better voice coils) cost more to manufacture but produce superior sound. The cabinet—the wooden or plastic box holding the drivers—affects how bass frequencies develop. Poor cabinet design causes reflections and resonances that muddy the sound.

Why Monitor Speakers Fail

Monitor speakers are engineered to be invisible, literally. Manufacturers install tiny speakers inside a thin aluminum or plastic bezel because the priority is thinness and cost, not sound quality. These speakers have to fit in spaces maybe one-inch deep. That's physically impossible to engineer well.

The result? No bass development, no midrange body, and treble that dominates everything. It's why watching Netflix on your monitor feels like you're listening to dialogue through a telephone. It's why game sound effects feel artificial and separated from what's happening on screen.

Powered vs. Passive Speakers

Here's a distinction that matters: powered speakers have built-in amplifiers. Passive speakers need an external amplifier to work. For desktop use, you almost always want powered speakers. They're simpler (plug them in, they work), more compact, and better for desk setups.

The Edifier M60 is powered. That means integrated amplifiers handle the heavy lifting. You don't need a separate amplifier unit. Plug them in, connect your source device, adjust the volume, and you're done.

The Edifier M60 offers a balanced performance with excellent connectivity and value for money, making it a strong contender against the more expensive Kanto YU4 and the studio-focused Presonus Eris 3.5. (Estimated data)

The Edifier M60: Complete Specifications and What They Actually Mean

Let's break down what Edifier built here and what the specifications actually tell us about performance.

Core Specifications Explained

Edifier publishes these specs for the M60: 40W peak power, frequency response of 50 Hz to 20k Hz, impedance of 4 ohms, and Signal to Noise Ratio better than 95d B. But what do these numbers mean for actual listening?

The 40W peak power figure refers to maximum output before the amplifier clips (distorts). In real-world use, you're probably running these speakers at 15-25W of actual continuous power. That's plenty for a desk setup. You won't feel like you're missing headroom unless you're intentionally trying to fill a large living room.

Frequency response of 50 Hz to 20k Hz looks impressive until you understand that it doesn't specify how flat that response actually is. Most speakers have peaks and dips throughout the frequency range. The M60's response is relatively flat in the midrange and treble, which is why it sounds so clear. The 50 Hz lower limit is respectable for a speaker this size—it means you're getting some bass, even if it's not as powerful as a dedicated subwoofer.

Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of 95d B is excellent. That means the volume of noise the speaker produces is 95d B quieter than its maximum volume. In practical terms, you won't hear hiss or electrical noise when the speakers are on but nothing is playing through them.

Driver Configuration and Quality

The M60 uses a 2-way design: one tweeter (handles high frequencies above roughly 2k Hz) and one woofer (handles lows and mids). This is the standard for compact desktop speakers and actually works well for this form factor.

Edifier uses silk dome tweeters. This matters more than it sounds. Silk is softer and more compliant than plastic or metal tweeters. It produces less harsh treble, which is why the M60 sounds pleasant at high volumes where cheaper speakers would sound shrill. The woofer appears to be a polypropylene cone design, which is durable and reasonably efficient.

The crossover (the electronic circuit that splits frequencies between the tweeter and woofer) is a passive design. That means it uses simple electronic components rather than active digital processing. This is standard in powered speakers and generally fine. Active crossovers can be slightly more precise but add cost and complexity.

Amplifier and Power Electronics

Inside the M60, there's a Class D amplifier. You might be wondering if Class D is "worse" than Class AB or Class A. The answer is no, not anymore. Class D amplifiers are more efficient (which matters for thermal management and battery life) and modern designs sound indistinguishable from Class AB. Edifier clearly implemented theirs well because the M60 doesn't exhibit the digital noise artifacts that plagued cheap Class D designs from years ago.

The power supply is conservative but sufficient. It's a conventional transformer-based design rather than a switchmode power supply, which generally means slightly warmer characteristics (some people prefer this) and less high-frequency noise from the power circuit.

Sound Quality Deep Dive: What the M60 Actually Sounds Like

Specifications and engineering details are interesting, but what actually matters is how the M60 sounds when you're using it. Let's get specific.

Treble and Midrange: Where the M60 Shines

The M60's biggest strength is its clear, articulate midrange and treble. This is why dialogue in movies is easy to understand. Instruments sound distinct from each other in music mixes. Voices on video calls come through crisp without sounding harsh or fatiguing.

The tweeter provides excellent detail retrieval without excessive brightness. This is harder to achieve than it sounds. Many budget speakers push treble too hard, which sounds "excited" at first but causes listening fatigue after 30 minutes. The M60 avoids this trap. Extended listening sessions don't leave your ears ringing.

In practice, this means gaming audio feels immersive without overemphasizing gunshots and explosions to the point of discomfort. Music streaming sounds balanced across the frequency spectrum. Video conference calls let you pick out individual voices even in group settings.

Midrange Body and Presence

The woofer in the M60 is tuned to provide solid midrange body. That's audio speak for "instruments and voices have weight and presence." This is where the M60 differs most from those tinny monitor speakers you've been suffering with.

When you listen to a vocal performance, the singer's voice doesn't sound like it's coming from a tiny hole somewhere far away. Instead, it feels present in the space. When you hear an acoustic guitar, the body of the instrument comes through. This presence is addictive once you experience it.

Bass Response: The Deliberate Compromise

Here's where the M60 makes its biggest compromise. These speakers don't have a dedicated subwoofer. They rely entirely on the woofer in each speaker cabinet to produce bass. That means bass response is limited compared to speaker systems with separate subs.

The M60's bass response extends down to about 50 Hz, which covers a lot of bass content. Most music is mixed with bass energy down to about 40-60 Hz. But there's content lower than that—particularly in electronic music, hip-hop, and action movie soundtracks. The M60 can't reproduce this subbass deeply. You won't feel explosions in your chest. You won't experience that physical rumble from a bass-heavy song.

For some use cases, this is a deal-breaker. If you're a bass-music producer or a hardcore gamer who lives for explosive sound design, you need a subwoofer. For most people upgrading from monitor speakers, the M60's bass is actually plenty. It's a massive improvement over what you're used to. It's just not the jaw-dropping bass experience that dedicated subwoofer systems provide.

Loudness and Headroom

At moderate volumes (what you'd use during an 8-hour work day), the M60 sounds clean and distortion-free. The 40W capability means you can push these speakers reasonably loud without the sound degrading. At maximum volume, they get quite loud—probably louder than you'd want in an office setting without headphones.

Where you might run into issues is pushing them extremely hard with complex material. Orchestral passages with dozens of instruments playing simultaneously might show slight compression at max volume. In normal listening scenarios, you'll never encounter this.

The Edifier M60 offers a cost-effective solution at $170, significantly lower than premium brands which can cost 3-4 times more. Estimated data based on typical market prices.

Connectivity: Wired, Wireless, and Everything Between

One of the M60's biggest selling points is its flexibility with connectivity. These speakers aren't locked into one way of receiving audio.

USB-C Connection: The Modern Standard

The primary input is USB-C. This is genuinely convenient. Plug the USB-C cable from the M60's left speaker into your computer, and you're done. No separate audio cables to manage. The speakers power on automatically when you plug them in.

Windows and mac OS both recognize the M60 as an audio output device immediately. It becomes your default output, or you can manually select it in system preferences. This is the smoothest connection experience for desktop use.

One advantage of USB connectivity: the audio signal is digital all the way from your computer to the amplifier. There's no analog cable to pick up electromagnetic interference from all the other electronics on your desk. In theory, this produces slightly cleaner audio. In practice, you probably won't notice, but it's a nice engineering choice.

Bluetooth 5.3: Wireless Freedom

The M60 includes Bluetooth 5.3, which means you can connect your phone, tablet, or laptop wirelessly. Pairing is standard Bluetooth: put the speakers in pairing mode, select them from your device, and you're connected.

Bluetooth 5.3 has better range and stability than older Bluetooth versions. You can walk around your apartment or office without losing connection. You can even keep your phone in another room and stream audio wirelessly.

The tradeoff is latency. Bluetooth introduces a slight delay between when audio is sent and when you hear it. For music and video playback, this is imperceptible. For gaming, it might be slightly noticeable if you're sensitive to audio timing. If you need zero latency for competitive gaming, stick with the wired USB-C connection.

3.5mm Analog Input: Classic Reliability

For situations where you need to connect older devices, the M60 includes a standard 3.5mm audio jack. This works with any device that has a headphone output. Older tablets, some laptops, mixing boards, and even some vinyl turntables use 3.5mm connectors.

The analog input means you can hook up devices that don't have USB or Bluetooth. It's a nice touch that shows Edifier didn't create an overly modern design that abandoned backward compatibility.

The Mobile App and Equalization Options

Edifier includes a mobile app (i OS and Android) for controlling the M60. This is where the speaker experience gets more interesting and, admittedly, slightly frustrating.

What the App Can Do

The app provides wireless volume control, which is genuinely convenient. Instead of reaching for the physical volume knob on the speaker, you can adjust volume from your phone or tablet. This works even when the speakers are connected via USB to your computer, as long as you've paired your phone via Bluetooth for control.

The app includes a six-band equalizer. This gives you real control over the M60's sound signature. The frequency bands are 100 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1k Hz, 4k Hz, and 10k Hz. You can boost or cut each band by several d B.

This is where you can compensate for the limited bass. If bass-heavy content feels underwhelming, bump up the 100 Hz and 250 Hz bands. If treble feels too bright, dial back the 4k Hz and 10k Hz bands. If you want the M60 to sound more like a consumer-focused speaker (boosted bass, boosted treble), the app makes this adjustment easy.

Why the App Feels Half-Baked

The app itself is functional but not particularly polished. The interface works, but it's clearly not been updated in a while. There's no dark mode (which matters if you're using it at night). Navigation feels slightly clunky. It gets the job done, but it doesn't feel like a premium experience.

It's worth noting that you don't need the app to use the speakers. All of the app's functions except the wireless volume control are optional. You can use the physical controls on the speaker itself (volume knob, input selector switch, power button) without ever installing the app.

Some people actually prefer this. Physical controls don't require battery power, they're more reliable than wireless connections, and they're faster than navigating through an app. The M60 accommodates both preferences, which is smart design.

The total cost of owning M60 speakers over five years is approximately $425, which includes purchase, electricity, and potential repair costs. Estimated data for repairs.

Build Quality and Physical Design

First impressions matter. When the Edifier M60 speakers arrive, you'll notice they feel solid. This isn't cheap plastic. The cabinets are MDF wood, which provides rigidity and dampens internal resonances. The finish is available in white, black, or oak wood veneer.

Cabinet Design and Aesthetics

The M60 has a modern aesthetic without trying too hard. The front baffle (the panel facing toward you) is gently curved, which is more visually interesting than a flat design. The overall proportions are compact—these aren't massive speakers dominating your desk.

The wood veneer on the oak version looks genuinely nice. It's a real improvement aesthetically over the stark white or black options. If you care about how your desk looks, the oak finish is worth considering. It actually makes these functional tools feel like intentional design objects.

The Included Stands

Each speaker includes an angled stand. These aren't afterthought accessories—they're thoughtfully designed. The angle helps point the speakers toward ear level, which is acoustically optimal. They're adjustable, so you can customize the angle if your desk height is unusual.

The stands include rubberized feet that grip your desk surface. They won't slide around from speaker vibration or when you adjust volume. This stability prevents mechanical noise that could otherwise degrade the listening experience.

Durability and Construction Quality

Edifier has been making speakers for decades. They understand how to build equipment that lasts. The components inside appear to be selected for longevity rather than just cost optimization. This doesn't mean the M60 will work forever—nothing does—but it means it's more likely to keep working for five years than competing models at this price.

The connector cables inside the speaker cabinet are soldered rather than using cheaply-made connectors prone to failure. The power supply components are rated for appropriate temperatures. These details don't excite most people, but they're the difference between a speaker that sounds great for two years and one that sounds great for five or six.

Setting Up Your Edifier M60: What to Expect

Getting the M60 working is straightforward, but there are a few decisions and settings to consider.

Initial Unboxing and Placement

Out of the box, you'll get two speakers, the USB-C cable, a 3.5mm audio cable, a power cable, and the included stands. Assembly is minimal—you basically place the speakers on your desk (with or without the included stands) and plug them in.

Placement matters more than most people realize. Ideally, position the speakers at ear level when you're sitting at your desk. If they're pointing down at your chest or up at your head, the tonal balance shifts. The included stands help with this.

Space them about 2-3 feet apart. This creates a stereo soundstage. If they're right next to each other, you lose the separation and imaging benefits of stereo. If they're too far apart, the sound becomes disjointed. You can adjust based on your specific desk layout.

Avoid placing them directly against walls if possible. Walls reflect bass frequencies and can create resonance peaks that mudd the low end. If wall placement is unavoidable, there are bass traps and acoustic treatment options, but they're beyond the scope of this setup guide.

Connection Options Walkthrough

Via USB-C: Plug the included USB-C cable into your computer's USB port. The speakers should appear in your operating system's audio settings within seconds. Select them as your default playback device, adjust volume, and you're done.

Via 3.5mm: Connect the 3.5mm cable to your computer's headphone output or audio interface output. This works identically to how headphones would connect. The speakers recognize the audio signal automatically.

Via Bluetooth: Hold down the Bluetooth button on the speaker until the LED flashes (indicating pairing mode). Open your device's Bluetooth settings and select "Edifier M60" from the available devices. They'll pair and remember each other for future connections.

Volume Levels and Initial Listening

Start with the volume knob on the speaker at about 25%. Adjust from your computer or app from there. This approach prevents accidentally blowing out your eardrums on the first day.

Listen to music or content you know well. Your brain has acoustic memories of how familiar songs should sound. If something feels off, you can adjust. The first 24 hours of listening to new speakers is subjective—your ears are adapting to a new acoustic environment.

After a few days, you'll calibrate mentally to how the M60 sounds. What seemed too bright might start to feel natural. What seemed lacking in bass might start to feel appropriate.

Estimated data suggests that USB-C is slightly preferred for connecting the Edifier M60, with Bluetooth and 3.5mm being equally popular among users.

Edifier M60 vs. Other Budget Desktop Speakers: The Real Comparison

The M60 isn't the only option in the

How it Compares to Presonus Eris 3.5

The Presonus Eris 3.5 is positioned as a "studio monitor"—speakers designed for music production rather than casual listening. They're optimized for accuracy, not consumer-pleasing sound.

The Eris 3.5 costs roughly

For music production or critical listening, the Eris 3.5's accuracy is superior. For gaming and entertainment, the M60's more consumer-friendly balance is more enjoyable. The M60 also includes wireless connectivity that the Eris lacks. If your primary use is desk work, entertainment, and gaming, the M60 makes more sense. If you're producing music or recording content, the Eris 3.5 is the better choice.

How it Compares to Kanto YU4

The Kanto YU4 is $399 per pair, which puts it squarely in the premium desktop speaker category. They're significantly better speakers in almost every objective measure: flatter frequency response, lower distortion, better connectivity, wireless capability with apt X codec for higher-quality Bluetooth.

But here's the reality: you're paying nearly 2.4x the price for incremental improvements that most people won't hear. The M60 sounds genuinely good. The YU4 sounds better, but not better enough to justify the price difference unless you're a serious audiophile or music professional.

Think of it this way: the M60 represents 85% of the performance at 40% of the price. The YU4 represents 95% of the performance at 100% of the price. Most people are better off with the M60 and spending the savings on something else.

How it Compares to Entry-Level Gaming Headsets

Some people consider gaming headsets as an alternative to speakers. They're not comparable for most use cases. Headsets are better if you're in audio calls where microphone pickup is a concern, or if you need isolation from external noise. Headsets are worse for long-term comfort, desk aesthetics, and casual entertainment.

The M60 and a quality headset serve different purposes. If you're working from home, the M60 is better for 8-hour days at your desk. Headsets are better for gaming sessions where you're communicating with teammates.

Real-World Testing: How the M60 Performs Across Different Use Cases

Let's move beyond specifications and talk about what actually happens when you use the M60 for different activities.

Gaming Audio Experience

Gaming is where decent speakers really shine compared to monitor audio. With the M60, game sound design that felt flat and artificial suddenly becomes three-dimensional. Directional audio cues (footsteps, gunfire, voice communication) position themselves properly in the stereo field.

The M60 handles fast-paced action games well. Rapid percussion sounds crisp. Explosions feel impactful without being fatiguing. In stealth games, subtle environmental sounds (wind, distant footsteps, creaking floorboards) become audible in ways that monitor speakers make impossible.

The main limitation for gamers is the reduced bass. A headshot sound isn't as visceral as it would be through a subwoofer system. This matters if you're extremely bass-sensitive, but most gamers find the M60's bass adequate for genuine enjoyment.

Latency-sensitive competitive games (first-person shooters where audio cues matter for reaction time) should use the USB-C connection rather than Bluetooth. The wired connection eliminates Bluetooth latency.

Music Streaming and Audio Quality

For everyday music consumption through Spotify, Apple Music, or similar services, the M60 is excellent. The clarity of midrange means vocals sound natural. Instruments separate well in the stereo field. The balance doesn't favor bass or treble excessively, so you're getting a reasonably neutral representation of the mix.

Where limitations show up is with bass-heavy music. Hip-hop, electronic music, and modern pop productions often have heavy subbass that the M60 can't fully represent. The impression is that the bass is there but lacking weight. This is a limitation of the form factor, not a shortcoming of Edifier's engineering.

For instrumental music, podcasts, and acoustic performances, the M60 excels. The clarity and detail retrieval mean you're not missing subtle elements of the performance.

Video Conferencing and Communication

This is where the M60 really shines in office setups. Human speech occupies primarily the 200 Hz to 4k Hz range. The M60's tuning emphasizes exactly this range. Colleagues' voices come through clear and intelligible even in group calls.

The volume capability also matters. You can position the speakers at a natural listening level without filling your entire office with noise. In a shared apartment or office, this is crucial.

Watching Movies and Streaming Content

Movies mixed for surround systems don't translate perfectly to stereo speakers, but the M60 handles the core dialogue and music better than you'd expect. Dialogue is the biggest part of the audio mix, and this is the M60's strength.

Action sequences and sound effects feel less dramatic than they would through a surround system or subwoofer setup, but they're still engaging. You'll notice improvement over monitor speakers immediately.

For long movie-watching sessions, the M60's non-fatiguing sound signature is a huge advantage. After two hours of listening, your ears won't be tired.

The M60 offers a balanced option, but adding a subwoofer enhances bass significantly. Studio monitors are ideal for production accuracy, while the iLoud MTM is a budget-friendly choice. Estimated data for comparison.

Acoustic Treatment and Optimization Tips

You can optimize the M60 beyond its out-of-the-box performance with some simple adjustments.

Positioning and Placement Strategy

Your desk environment significantly affects how the M60 sounds. Hard surfaces (wood desks, glass desks) reflect sound. This creates early reflections that can color the tonal balance.

Experiment with placement. Move the speakers forward and back slightly. Move them left and right. Listen for the position where the soundstage sounds most balanced. In most desks, this is slightly forward of center, angled inward toward your listening position.

If you have the space, placing speakers a few inches away from walls (rather than flush against them) reduces bass boom from boundary reinforcement.

DIY Acoustic Treatment

If your desk space is extremely reflective, you can add simple acoustic treatment. Soft materials absorb sound: cork, foam, fabric, heavy curtains. You don't need expensive acoustic panels.

Place a cork mousepad or piece of acoustic foam under each speaker to absorb vibrations. This slightly reduces the acoustic coupling between the speaker and your desk surface, which can reduce boom and improve clarity.

If you have reflective walls close to your desk, hanging fabric panels (or even a heavy blanket) behind the speakers can reduce reflections. This is more noticeable for bass frequencies, which are affected more by reflections than midrange or treble.

Equalization Tuning with the Mobile App

If certain content sounds off to your ears, you can fine-tune using the app's six-band equalizer. But here's the key: make small adjustments (0.5 to 1d B at a time) and listen for several minutes. Big EQ moves often sound impressive initially but become fatiguing.

For bass-light content, try a gentle boost at 100 Hz or 250 Hz. For harsh-sounding content, try a slight cut at 4k Hz or 10k Hz. The goal is compensation for specific content weaknesses, not permanent reshaping of the M60's sound.

Many users find that leaving EQ flat is actually best. The M60's neutral-ish tuning works well for the broadest range of content without adjustment.

Price, Value, and When to Buy

The M60 usually lists for

Is the Discount Really a Discount?

It's worth asking whether the "regular"

For value assessment, consider

Comparing Total Cost of Ownership

Speakers aren't just the initial purchase. Consider power consumption (the M60 draws about 25W in normal use, so roughly $2-3 per month if you run them 8 hours daily). Consider potential repair costs if something fails (though Edifier's warranty covers defects).

Over a five-year ownership period, the total cost including electricity is roughly

This makes the M60 exceptional value compared to any alternative that would deliver the same audio quality.

Why Edifier: Brand History and Reliability

You might not know the Edifier name, but the company has been manufacturing audio equipment for longer than most modern tech companies have existed.

Edifier's History and Reputation

Founded in 1996, Edifier started in Beijing, China, and has since become one of the world's largest manufacturers of powered speakers and audio accessories. They're not a trendy startup. They're an established manufacturer with decades of experience in speaker design and production.

This matters for several reasons. First, they understand the acoustic engineering required to make speakers sound good at various price points. Second, they have established supply chains and quality control processes. Third, their products have years of real-world reliability data.

Edifier speakers show up in offices, studios, and home theater setups worldwide. They're not sexy or aspirational brands, but they're dependable. This is reflected in user reviews, warranty claims, and long-term reliability data.

Support and Warranty

Edifier typically offers a one-year warranty on the M60 covering manufacturing defects. If something is broken or defective, they'll repair or replace it. The warranty doesn't cover accidental damage, water damage, or modification, but it covers what matters: component failures.

Support is available through their website. Response times are reasonable for a budget brand. They're not going to have 24/7 phone support, but you can get answers to technical questions through email.

For speakers that cost $170, this level of support is appropriate and adequate.

Potential Alternatives if the M60 Isn't Right for You

The M60 is great for most people, but it's not universal. Depending on your specific needs, something else might make more sense.

If You Need Deep Bass: Consider Adding a Subwoofer

The most common complaint about the M60 is limited bass. If that's a dealbreaker for you, the solution is simple: add a dedicated subwoofer. Edifier makes budget subs like the T5 that work well with the M60. The combination gives you the M60's excellent midrange clarity plus actual bass impact.

A good compact subwoofer runs

If You're a Music Producer: Consider Powered Studio Monitors

If you're recording or producing music, you need speakers that prioritize accuracy over musicality. The M60 is tuned to sound good. Studio monitors are tuned to sound true. This is a different engineering goal.

The Presonus Eris series or Yamaha HS series speakers are designed for this purpose. They cost more per pair but provide the flat frequency response and low distortion that production requires.

If Budget Is Extremely Limited: Consider IK Multimedia i Loud MTM

If you absolutely must spend less, the i Loud MTM at roughly

Common Questions and Concerns About the Edifier M60

People considering the M60 often have similar questions. Let's address them directly.

Will These Work With My Laptop/Desktop?

Yes. The M60 connects via USB-C, 3.5mm, or Bluetooth. Unless you're using a computer older than 15 years, the M60 will work. If your computer doesn't have a USB-C port, you can use the 3.5mm input. If you have no audio ports, that would be extremely unusual for any computing device made in the last decade.

Do I Need Special Drivers or Software?

No special drivers are required. Windows and mac OS recognize the M60 as an audio output device automatically. Install the mobile app if you want wireless volume control and equalization, but it's optional.

Can I Use These for Music Production?

You can, but they're not ideal. The M60 is tuned to sound pleasing rather than accurate. For casual music production or podcasting, they're sufficient. For critical production work where you need to hear exact frequency balance, studio monitors are more appropriate.

What's the Warranty?

Typically one year from purchase, covering manufacturing defects. Check with your retailer for specific terms.

Are There Driver Replacements if Something Fails?

Yes. Edifier offers replacement drivers and various internal components. If a tweeter or woofer fails after warranty, you can purchase replacements for $30-50 and replace them yourself (requires basic soldering skills) or have Edifier do it for a service fee.

The Verdict: Is the Edifier M60 Right for Your Setup?

After all this analysis, the answer for most people is simple: yes. The M60 delivers significantly better audio than monitor speakers or budget alternatives. It's reliable, versatile with connectivity options, and priced accessibly.

The M60 is right for you if you:

• Work at a computer for hours daily and want better audio
• Game casually and want immersive sound
• Watch streaming content and care about audio quality
• Don't need shaking bass for bass-heavy music
• Want wireless flexibility alongside wired connectivity
• Value reliability and established brand history
• Have a compact desk space that needs to accommodate speakers

The M60 might not be ideal if you:

• Produce music professionally (need studio monitors)
• Want chest-rumbling bass (need a subwoofer)
• Have unlimited budget and want premium equipment
• Only use headphones and don't care about speaker audio

For everyone else, the Edifier M60 at $170 represents the best speakers you can get without spending significantly more. They'll transform your desk audio experience. They'll make gaming more immersive, movies more engaging, and work-from-home video calls more comfortable.

The M60 represents what good design at reasonable price points looks like: clear compromises that make sense, engineering that prioritizes the most important aspects of sound quality, and thoughtful connectivity that serves modern usage patterns.

If you've been tolerating tinny monitor speakers, upgrade. Your ears will thank you.

FAQ

What is the Edifier M60 and why would I need desktop speakers?

The Edifier M60 is a pair of powered desktop speakers that upgrade the audio quality from your monitor or computer. Desktop speakers replace the tinny, weak audio from built-in monitor speakers with clear, vibrant sound. Most people who switch to dedicated speakers immediately notice improvements in dialogue clarity for video calls, immersion in gaming, and overall audio quality for streaming content and music. Monitor speakers are engineered for thinness and cost rather than audio quality, which is why external speakers make such a dramatic difference in the listening experience.

How do I connect the Edifier M60 to my computer?

The M60 offers three connection methods for maximum flexibility. USB-C is the primary connection: simply plug the included cable into your computer's USB port and select the M60 as your audio output device in system preferences. For Bluetooth connectivity, put the speakers in pairing mode by holding the Bluetooth button, then select them from your device's Bluetooth settings. For older devices or situations requiring a wired analog connection, use the 3.5mm audio jack input. All three methods work seamlessly with Windows, mac OS, i OS, and Android devices.

What are the main advantages of the Edifier M60 over cheaper speakers or headphones?

The M60 provides superior audio quality to budget speakers because of better driver design, improved frequency response, and lower distortion. They offer advantages over headphones for desk use because you don't have the physical pressure on your ears after 8-hour workdays, they provide stereo imaging that headphones can't match, and they're more practical for shared spaces where you don't need isolation. The M60 strikes the ideal balance between cost and performance, delivering 85% of premium speaker performance at 40% of the price.

Why does the Edifier M60 have limited bass compared to larger speaker systems?

The M60 uses compact speaker cabinets to fit on crowded desks. Larger speaker enclosures have more internal volume to develop bass frequencies. The M60's design prioritizes clarity in the midrange and treble (where most important audio content lives) over extreme bass impact. This is a deliberate engineering compromise that works well for most uses. If you need powerful bass, adding a dedicated subwoofer is the solution.

Can I adjust the sound of the Edifier M60 to match my preferences?

Yes. The Edifier mobile app (i OS and Android) includes a six-band equalizer that lets you boost or cut specific frequency ranges. The physical volume knob on the speaker provides level control, and the input selector switch lets you choose between USB, Bluetooth, or 3.5mm inputs. If you're satisfied with the default sound profile, you don't need the app at all—the M60 sounds great without any adjustments.

Is the Edifier M60 suitable for music production or audio work?

The M60 works for basic music production and podcasting, but it's not ideal for critical work. These speakers are tuned to sound pleasing for entertainment rather than perfectly accurate for production. If you're recording music, mixing, or doing detailed audio editing, dedicated studio monitors (like Presonus Eris or Yamaha HS series) are more appropriate investments. For casual music production, casual streaming, and general desk audio, the M60 is perfectly adequate.

How long will the Edifier M60 speakers last and what's the warranty?

Edifier has been manufacturing speakers for nearly 30 years, and the M60 uses quality components designed for longevity. Most users report 5-7 years of reliable operation. The standard warranty is one year from purchase, covering manufacturing defects. If components fail after warranty, Edifier offers replacement drivers and internal parts for reasonable prices. The robust construction suggests these speakers will provide good service for years of daily use.

Should I wait for a sale or is the current price fair value?

The M60 regularly sells for around

Conclusion: Transform Your Desk Audio Today

Your desktop audio experience has been held back by tiny monitor speakers that sound terrible. This isn't your fault. Monitor manufacturers optimize for thinness and cost, which directly conflicts with audio quality. The consequence is that millions of people suffer through tinny, flat, lifeless audio while working, gaming, and streaming.

The Edifier M60 changes this with a straightforward value proposition: genuine audio quality at an accessible price. They're not the fanciest speakers. They're not the most expensive. They're not aiming to satisfy serious audiophiles with unlimited budgets. They're engineered specifically for people like you—working at a desk, using a computer, and tired of accepting mediocre audio as inevitable.

What makes the M60 special isn't technical specs or marketing claims. It's the listening experience. When you first turn them on and hear dialogue from a video call or a scene from a movie, your immediate reaction will be: "Oh. This is what it's supposed to sound like." The improvement over monitor speakers is so dramatic that it often changes people's perspective on what's possible at reasonable prices.

The setup is trivial. Unbox them, position them on your desk, plug in the USB-C cable, and you're done. No drivers. No complex configuration. No waiting for specialized software. Within 60 seconds, you're experiencing better audio.

The versatility is genuine. USB for your desktop. Bluetooth for your phone. 3.5mm for older devices. The M60 adapts to whatever audio source you're using, which means these speakers integrate into your current setup without requiring changes.

The value is undeniable. At $170, you're spending less than many wireless headphones and getting a more versatile audio solution. Five years of daily use breaks down to roughly 20 cents per day. The replacement cost for the equivalent quality from premium brands is 3-4x higher.

The only real question isn't whether you should upgrade. It's whether you should upgrade right now or wait for some future sale. Given how often these sell at $170 and how much better they make your daily audio experience, the answer is usually: buy now. Your future self will be grateful when you're enjoying clear audio during your next video call, gaming session, or movie.

If you've been tolerating monitor speakers out of resignation, stop. Better audio is accessible. The Edifier M60 proves that you don't need to spend a fortune to escape the audio mediocrity that desktop computing has imposed on us for decades.

Upgrade your speakers. Enjoy the difference. You'll wonder why you waited so long.

Key Takeaways

• The Edifier M60 delivers genuine audio quality improvement over monitor speakers for roughly $170, representing 85% of premium speaker performance at 40% of the premium price
• Three connectivity options (USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm) provide flexibility to connect virtually any device without specialized drivers or complex configuration
• Clear, articulate midrange and treble are the M60's greatest strengths, making dialogue intelligible and instruments distinct, while limited bass is the deliberate engineering compromise
• Mobile app includes six-band equalizer for customization, though many users prefer the neutral-tuning speakers without adjustment for broadest content compatibility
• The M60 is ideal for desk work, gaming, and streaming but not recommended for professional music production or bass-heavy content without adding a dedicated subwoofer

Related Articles

• JBL Charge 6 vs Marshall Middleton II: Which Bluetooth Speaker Wins [2025]
• Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers [2026]
• Vari Ergo Electric Standing Desk: Complete Review & Setup Guide [2025]
• Black Home Office Setup Guide: Create a Focus-First Workspace [2025]
• Apple Music's Two Game-Changing Features Finally Catch Up to Spotify [2025]
• Best 4K Action Movies for Home Theater [2025]