Edifier M90 review: Desktop speakers with HDMI eARC
Desktop speakers and TV speakers rarely overlap. The Edifier M90 aims to bridge that gap. Packing 100W of power and HDMI eARC into a compact 2.0 system, it’s designed to work just as well under a TV as it does beside a monitor. But can one speaker system really handle both roles? Let’s find out in this Edifier M90 review.
Editor’s note: This is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
Who is the Edifier M90 for?
If you want one speaker system to handle your laptop, console, and TV, the Edifier M90 makes a lot of sense. It’s aimed at people who use the same space for work, gaming, and streaming, and don’t want separate audio setups for each.
Instead of building a full home theater or juggling multiple speaker systems, the M90 focuses on versatility and clean cable management. In short, it’s for buyers who want a simple, flexible setup that can move easily between desk duty and TV audio.
What’s it like to use the Edifier M90?
The Edifier M90 offers up to 100W RMS of output.
The Edifier M90 feels right at home on a desk. At 133 x 212 x 225mm per speaker, they’re big enough to look serious without overwhelming your workspace. You still get real cabinet volume and a proper two-way design, but they fit comfortably beside a monitor without crowding the rest of your desk.
Under the hood, the M90 packs a total of 100W RMS of power with a bi-amped setup. Each speaker gets 35W for the mid-low driver and 15W for the tweeter, which gives the system a surprising amount of headroom for its size. In practice, that means they work well for everyday music listening, gaming, and even light mixing work in a near-field setup. They don’t feel like typical computer speakers. They feel closer to a compact pair of home audio speakers that just happen to live on your desk.
The addition of HDMI eARC allows the M90 speakers to operate with your TV.
What surprised me is how easily they transition to TV duty. Place them next to a screen and connect them over HDMI eARC, and the whole system starts to make sense in a living room setup, too. They’re compact enough that they don’t look out of place around a TV, but they still have enough output on paper to comfortably fill a decent-sized living room. I ended up cranking Top Gun: Maverick through them at one point just to see how far I could push them. If a speaker system can survive a full round of jet flyovers and missile launches, it’s probably doing something right.
That overall flexibility is really the point of the M90. It’s one speaker system that works comfortably at a desk and still feels perfectly usable under a TV.
Day-to-day use is refreshingly simple. There’s a volume knob on the back of the main speaker if you’re sitting at your desk, and Edifier includes a 2.4GHz omnidirectional remote for couch control. The remote turns out to be extremely handy. I didn’t think I needed a remote for desktop speakers until I had one, and now I’m not sure I want to go back. Being able to adjust volume or switch inputs from across the room is one of those conveniences you start to appreciate immediately. If you want a little more control, the companion app also gives you access to EQ adjustments and preset listening modes.
How do you control the Edifier M90?
Controlling the Edifier M90 is straightforward. There’s a physical volume knob on the back of the primary speaker for quick adjustments when you’re at your desk, and Edifier includes a 2.4GHz omnidirectional remote for couch-friendly control. You can also manage volume, inputs, and sound settings through the Edifier ConneX app if you prefer controlling things from your phone.
If you’re connected via HDMI eARC, you can also use your TV remote for volume control, which makes the M90 behave much more like a traditional home audio setup. Between the rear knob, included remote, the ConneX app, and TV integration, you’ve got multiple ways to manage volume depending on where you’re sitting.
What are the key features of the Edifier M90?
A lot of the M90’s flexibility comes from the Edifier ConneX companion app, which adds several useful controls that you wouldn’t normally get from a basic pair of powered speakers. Once connected, the app gives you a central place to manage inputs, sound modes, and system settings. It’s not overloaded with features, but it covers the things you’ll actually want to adjust day to day.
One of the most useful tools is the 9-band EQ, which lets you fine-tune the sound if the default tuning doesn’t quite match your room or listening preferences. You can adjust frequencies from 62Hz to 16kHz and save a customized profile directly in the app.
Switching between Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, optical, and AUX is quick through the ConneX app or the included remote.
Another handy option is Bluetooth multipoint control, which allows the M90 to stay connected to two devices at once. For example, you can keep a laptop and phone paired simultaneously and switch between them without going through the pairing process again. Just keep in mind that enabling multipoint disables LDAC due to Bluetooth bandwidth limitations.
Beyond audio adjustments, the app also provides a few system controls like prompt tone settings, power saving options, and firmware updates. None of these are flashy features, but together they make the M90 feel more like a modern connected speaker system rather than a simple powered speaker pair.
How does the Edifier M90 connect?
With eARC, USB-C, AUX, optical, and Bluetooth, the M90 covers most everyday connection options.
The Edifier M90 connects to just about everything you’d realistically use in a mixed desktop and living room setup. Edifier clearly designed this system to act as a central audio hub rather than just a basic pair of powered speakers.
Here are the available connection options.
HDMI eARC
This is the headline feature. A single HDMI cable connects the M90 directly to your TV, which allows:
- TV remote volume control
- Uncompressed audio passthrough
- Clean integration with consoles and streaming devices
In practice, this lets the M90 function much like a stereo soundbar replacement while still maintaining proper left-right channel separation.
Optical (TOSLINK)
If your TV doesn’t support HDMI eARC, the optical input provides a straightforward digital connection for TV audio.
USB-C
USB-C makes the M90 especially convenient for desktops and laptops. Plug it in, and the speakers act as a digital USB audio device, so there’s no need for an external DAC or audio interface.
AUX (3.5mm analog line-in)
The 3.5mm input supports legacy devices such as older computers, portable music players, or anything with a standard headphone output.
Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC
For wireless listening, the M90 supports Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC. When paired with compatible devices, LDAC can deliver higher bitrate audio than standard Bluetooth codecs like SBC and AAC.
Bluetooth multipoint
The M90 can stay connected to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. For example, you can keep both your phone and laptop paired and switch between them without reconnecting.
Just note that enabling multipoint disables LDAC due to Bluetooth bandwidth limitations.
Subwoofer output
A dedicated subwoofer output lets you expand the system into a 2.1 setup if you want deeper bass performance later on.
Altogether, the M90 offers an unusually wide range of inputs for a compact powered speaker system, which is exactly what allows it to work both on a desk and under a TV.
How do you pair the Edifier M90?
Pairing the Edifier M90 over Bluetooth only takes a moment. Put the speakers into Bluetooth mode and select them from your device’s Bluetooth menu.
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Turn on the Edifier M90 speakers.
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Press the Bluetooth button on the provided remote.
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Open the Bluetooth settings on your phone, tablet, or computer and select Edifier M90 from the device list.
How does the Edifier M90 sound?
The included remote lets you control volume, playback, and inputs from across the room.
In my testing, the Edifier M90 offers plenty of headroom. You can turn them up for movies or games without the sound feeling compressed, which matters for a system that might live under a TV. I ended up pushing them pretty hard with Top Gun: Maverick, and the speakers handled the sudden jumps in loudness well. Jet flyovers sweep cleanly from left to right, engines roar with convincing weight, and missile launches hit with enough punch to feel impactful without drowning out dialogue.
For music, I spent some time with AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” which is a great track for judging punch and balance. The kick drum lands with solid punch, while the midrange strength lets the snare and distorted guitars cut through the mix without overpowering the treble. That balance keeps the vocals clear and still leaves room for smaller details like the shimmer of the drummer’s cymbals.
The M90 keeps its treble strength and clarity intact even slightly off-axis, creating a much larger listening sweet spot than you might expect from a compact stereo pair.
Gaming on the M90 was just as enjoyable. While playing Red Dead Redemption 2, I could clearly pick out details in the open-world environment, from subtle background ambience like wind to the distant sounds of wildlife across the landscape. At the same time, the speakers still gave impacts and explosions enough weight to feel convincing.
Stereo separation is also excellent, creating strong left-to-right width so instruments and effects feel properly spaced instead of collapsing toward the center. Even when sitting slightly off-axis, the M90 keeps its treble strength and clarity intact, which makes the listening sweet spot much larger than you might expect from a compact stereo pair.
Should you buy the Edifier M90?
The Edifier M90 offers plenty of value with its variety of connection options and customizable sound.
Yes, you should buy the Edifier M90 if you want a speaker system that can comfortably handle a variety of listening situations. The biggest strength here is versatility. The M90 works just as well on a desk as it does under a TV, which makes it a practical choice for people who use the same space for work, gaming, and entertainment.
Connectivity is a big part of that appeal. With HDMI eARC, USB-C, optical, AUX, and Bluetooth with LDAC and multipoint, the M90 can connect to just about anything you’re likely to use day to day. Instead of juggling multiple speaker systems, you can run your laptop, console, phone, and TV through the same pair of speakers without much hassle.
The speakers are also easy to tailor to your preferences. The Edifier ConneX app’s 9-band EQ gives you enough control to adjust the sound to match your room or listening style, and the subwoofer output leaves room to expand the system later if you want more bass strength.
Overall, the M90 proves to be a very useful pair of speakers for modern setups. They offer strong connectivity, customizable sound, and the flexibility to move between music, movies, and games without needing a complicated audio system.
Edifier M90 FAQ:
