Edifier’s QR65 is a unique two-in-one speaker.
Over the past three years, I have used various Edifier products, and they have consistently provided excellent sound quality along with solid value. This was evident with the R1280DB bookshelf speakers and the RGB-enabled transparent QD35 that included a built-in GaN charger. Edifier clearly embraces the concept of incorporating GaN charging into its offerings, as the QR65 features this as well.
The QR65 is an active desktop monitor; simply connect it to power and attach a source device to begin enjoying music — no amplifier needed. I selected the white finish, and it offers an elegant appearance due to its faux leather build. Priced at $499 on Amazon, the QR65 isn’t cheap, but it comes with some significant advantages.
The design is striking; the QR65 stands out with its white chassis and a baffle featuring LED lighting. This alone makes the QR65 a standout in my opinion, and Edifier has excelled with the lighting; it utilizes custom TempoAbyss technology that replicates the lighting effects, creating a visually impressive appearance. There are 11 presets available, and you can further customize the lighting using Edifier’s ConneX mobile app.
The LED lighting appears anything but gaudy, actually giving the QR65 a modern design that looks fantastic on a desk. Its design is streamlined, and apart from the Edifier branding, there are no logos on the front panel. The package includes stands that allow you to angle the QR65, which is a nice touch.
The metallic stands enhance the look of the QR65, although a minor drawback is the tagline etched on the front that reads “A Passion for Sound.” My only other complaint about the QR65 is the absence of a remote. I found the remote quite useful for the R1280DBs, and I would have appreciated having one in this case as well.
The QR65 doesn’t occupy much desk space, and like other powered monitors, it consists of an active speaker (the right one) and a passive unit (the left one). The right unit features physical controls, including a multifunction button for cycling through connection modes. It also has a volume knob and an LED brightness control allowing you to adjust the lighting intensity or turn it off entirely if preferred.
Connectivity options at the back are commendable; there’s standard RCA in addition to a USB-A port, which I utilized when connecting the QR65 to my Windows gaming setup. A feature I particularly appreciate is its subwoofer output; I connected the QR65 to an Edifier T5 subwoofer, significantly enhancing the sound quality.
Another key feature is the ability to link to your phone via Bluetooth; the QR65 includes a Bluetooth 5.3 modem, allowing me to pair it with my Vivo X200 Pro, X100 Ultra, X200 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Find X8 Ultra, and numerous other devices over the past year. It also supports LDAC integration, enabling music streaming at up to 96kHz/24-bit via Bluetooth.
The standout feature of the QR65 is its integrated GaN charger. The back of the right satellite is equipped with two USB-C ports along with a USB-A port, providing up to 65W of charging capacity through the USB PD standard. This feature is why the QR65 has been my go-to desktop speaker for nearly a year — charging devices this way is incredibly convenient.
The USB-A port delivers up to 60W by itself, while the USB-C1 and C2 ports provide 65W each. They support standard PD power profiles: 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), and 20V/3.25A (65W). The total 65W power budget is available when both USB-C ports are utilized, splitting the power into 20W and 45W. I encountered no issues charging devices with the QR65, and Edifier deserves recognition for including this feature in its active monitors.
Regarding audio performance, each QR65 unit has a 1.25-inch tweeter rated at 15W and a 20W 2.75-inch woofer, totaling an RMS power of 70W. While there isn’t a lot of sub-bass with these monitors, that’s expected given the size of the drivers. Beyond that, the sound is well-balanced.
