The New Edifier M230 II Is Small, Retro, and More Capable Than Expected

Edifier has unveiled the M230 II, a compact Bluetooth speaker that combines a retro-inspired design with a surprisingly long list of modern features. The new model adds Bluetooth 6.0, up to 52W of maximum power, a USB sound card, and a battery rated for up to 27 hours of playback.

At first glance, the M230 II looks like a small retro desktop speaker, but Edifier has made significant changes from the original M230.

The Edifier M230 II Looks Retro, But the Hardware Is Modern

The M230 II uses an MDF enclosure designed to help reduce unwanted acoustic resonance. A fabric grille covers the front, while mechanical controls give the speaker a more traditional look and feel.

It measures just 170 x 86 x 106 mm and weighs 0.82 kg, making it compact enough for a desk, bedroom, kitchen, or smaller living space.

Edifier will offer the M230 II in three finishes: brown, peach pink, and bamboo green.

Edifier Has Made a Big Jump in Power and Frequency Response

The M230 II uses a 22mm tweeter, a 45 x 80mm midrange driver, and a 113 x 49mm passive radiator.

Maximum power output reaches 52W, while average power is rated at 26W. That is a substantial increase over the original M230, which offered 20W.

The frequency response has also been expanded to 58Hz–20kHz, compared with 70Hz–13kHz on the previous model.

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On paper, that gives the M230 II considerably more room to reproduce both lower frequencies and higher-frequency detail than its predecessor.

It Can Work as More Than Just a Bluetooth Speaker

Bluetooth 6.0 is one of the headline features, and the M230 II can maintain connections with two devices simultaneously.

Two M230 II speakers can also be paired using TWS to create a stereo setup, potentially making the compact speaker more useful as part of a larger desktop or room audio system.

Edifier has also included a USB connection for computers, allowing the M230 II to function as a USB sound card. There is also a TF card slot for local music playback.

The Battery Can Last Up to 27 Hours

Battery life is another area where the M230 II is designed to stand out.

Edifier rates the speaker for up to 27 hours of playback at 50% volume, while playback time drops to around 14 hours at 80% volume.

With LoongSound mode enabled, those figures increase to as much as 30 hours at 50% volume and 20 hours at 80% volume.

That should make the M230 II suitable for longer listening sessions without needing to remain connected to a charger.

The Sound Can Be Customized From the Edifier App

The M230 II also works with the Edifier Connect app, which allows users to customize the sound and control playback sources.

That combination of physical controls, Bluetooth connectivity, USB audio, TF card playback, and app-based controls makes the M230 II considerably more versatile than its retro appearance might suggest.

Compared with the original M230, Edifier has increased the power output, expanded the frequency response, added newer Bluetooth connectivity, and extended battery life while keeping the compact retro design.

For anyone looking for a small speaker that doesn’t look like another generic Bluetooth box, the M230 II could be one of the more interesting new Edifier releases to watch.