Redragon GS818 Review: $80 Desktop Gaming Speakers Worth Buying?

Introduction

At first glance, the Redragon IMPACTSPHERE GS818 looks like another compact desktop speaker in the crowded sub‑$100 market. However, its feature set makes it stand out. Priced at around $80, it offers Bluetooth 3, USB‑C audio, a built‑in USB sound card, subwoofer output, remote control, independent bass and treble adjustment, and multiple DSP modes.

During testing, the GS818 delivered performance that felt closer to a more expensive speaker system. I evaluated its frequency response, DSP performance, stereo imaging, bass extension, and overall sound quality using a range of reference tracks.

The GS818 is not intended to be a studio monitor or high‑end audiophile speaker. Instead, it is a versatile desktop audio system designed for music, gaming, movies, podcasts, YouTube, streaming, and everyday listening. For these use cases, it delivers a strong combination of sound quality, connectivity, and functionality.

Price: Around $80 at the time of review.

Best for: PC users, gamers, music listeners, movie fans, students, home offices, and anyone looking for a compact secondary speaker system.

Key strengths: Sound quality, stereo imaging, bass extension, versatile connectivity, practical DSP modes, and overall value.

Main weaknesses: USB‑C volume cannot be controlled through the speaker or remote, AUX mode does not support track navigation, and there is no display for tone or DSP settings.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• ✅ Excellent value
• ✅ Bluetooth 3 connectivity
• ✅ USB‑C audio and built‑in sound card functionality
• ✅ Dedicated RCA subwoofer output
• ✅ Attractive bamboo and cloth exterior
• ✅ Gold‑colored woofer cone and matching tweeter grill
• ✅ Thoughtful, protective packaging
• ✅ Includes all required cables
• ✅ Full‑function remote control
• ✅ 10 levels of bass adjustment
• ✅ 10 levels of treble adjustment
• ✅ Useful Music, Movie, and Dialogue DSP modes
• ✅ Impressive desktop imaging
• ✅ Surprisingly strong bass extension
• ✅ DSP protects the woofer from abuse
• ✅ Room‑filling sound despite compact size
• ✅ Enjoyable, non‑fatiguing listening
• ✅ Excellent speech intelligibility in Dialogue mode

Cons

• ❌ Volume control unavailable from speaker or remote in USB‑C mode
• ❌ AUX input does not support track navigation
• ❌ No display indicating bass, treble, or DSP settings
• ❌ Not intended for studio‑monitor neutrality

Technical Specifications

At around $80, the Redragon IMPACTSPHERE GS818 powered 0 desktop speaker system features two mid‑woofers and two tweeters, 60W total output, a 45Hz–20kHz frequency response, and up to 85 dB SPL. Each speaker measures 94″ W × 85″ H × 17″ D.

Connectivity includes Bluetooth 3, USB‑C audio with a built‑in sound card, and AUX, plus an RCA output for adding an external subwoofer. A remote control, separate 10‑step bass and treble adjustments, and Music, Movie, and Dialogue DSP modes make it easy to customise the sound.

With capable audio performance, an attractive industrial design, and excellent packaging, the GS818 offers strong value as an affordable desktop speaker system.

Packaging and First Impressions

One of the first things I noticed was the amount of care taken in packaging.

Each speaker is protected by dedicated polyethylene (PE/EPE) foam inserts at both the top and bottom of the box. The molded pockets securely hold the speakers in place during shipping and provide better protection than the generic cardboard inserts commonly found with budget electronics.

Each speaker is also protected by an individual non‑woven polypropylene bag to prevent scratches and scuffs during transport.

The packaging immediately made a positive impression and suggested Redragon put genuine thought into the ownership experience.

Build Quality

The GS818 looks considerably better than most speakers in its price range.

The front baffle uses a bamboo finish that gives the speakers a warmer, more upscale appearance than the black plastic commonly found on inexpensive multimedia speakers.

The sides are wrapped in an attractive gray fabric that helps the speakers blend naturally into a desktop or living‑room environment.

The woofer features a 3” gold‑colored aluminum cone that immediately catches the eye, while the 1” silk dome tweeter is protected by a matching gold‑colored metal grill.

Together, the bamboo front, gray cloth sides, and gold accents create a speaker that looks significantly more expensive than its roughly $80 asking price.

The cabinets feel solid and well assembled, with no rattles, loose sections, or fit‑and‑finish concerns discovered during testing.

In fact, part of the reason my wife ultimately decided these speakers belonged in the living room rather than my office was because they simply looked good enough to live there.

What's in the Box

Included in the package:

• Right speaker (active)
• Left speaker (passive)
• Remote control
• Power cable
• Speaker interconnect cable
• 5 mm AUX cable
• User manual
• Redragon stickers

Everything required to begin using the system is included.

Features and Connectivity

The GS818 functions as a complete desktop audio solution.

Available connections include:

• Bluetooth 3
• USB‑C audio
• 5mm AUX input
• RCA subwoofer output

The USB‑C connection allows the GS818 to function as an external sound card without requiring additional hardware.

Bluetooth pairing was quick and reliable throughout testing, with my phone, laptop, and Alexa.

The subwoofer output is especially welcome at this price point, providing a simple upgrade path should additional bass ever be desired.

Remote Control and DSP Features

The remote control is one of the GS818’s most useful features, providing convenient access to the system’s main functions:

• Power and mute
• Volume control
• Play/Pause
• Previous/Next Track
• Input selection
• Music, Movie, and Dialogue modes
• 10‑step bass adjustment
• 10‑step treble adjustment

The 10‑level bass and treble controls deserve particular attention. While many budget desktop speakers offer little or no sound customization, the GS818 gives users meaningful control over the overall sound signature.

The DSP presets also appear to start around the middle of the adjustment range, leaving room for further bass and treble tuning after selecting a listening mode.

Music Mode

Music Mode delivers the most balanced presentation and was my preferred setting for music listening. It provides a natural overall sound without emphasizing any particular part of the frequency range too heavily.

Movie Mode

Movie Mode adds more bass than Music Mode while also improving vocal intelligibility.

Dialogue can easily become buried under soundtracks and effects, but this mode helps keep speech clear without sacrificing the system’s sense of impact. It quickly became my preferred setting for movies.

Dialogue Mode

Dialogue Mode is particularly useful for speech‑focused content. Rather than simply increasing volume, it reduces some of the bass and musical content that can mask vocals.

The result is improved speech clarity across podcasts, conference calls, movies, and even music. Song lyrics are easier to follow, making this mode especially useful when vocals and spoken content are the priority.

Measurement Methodology

Measurements were performed using:

• Room EQ Wizard (REW)
• Calibrated Dayton Audio iMM‑6C measurement microphone. 18 Hz to 20,000 Hz (±0.5 dB calibrated)

The iMM‑6C includes an individual calibration file designed to improve measurement accuracy.

Attempts to measure from approximately three feet away proved heavily influenced by room reflections, even in a large room. Meaningful evaluation therefore relied primarily upon nearfield measurements performed approximately 0.5 inches from the woofer.

The measurements suggested:

• Usable response extending to approximately 48 Hz
• DSP protection beginning around 42 Hz
• Controlled upper‑bass emphasis
• Slightly relaxed lower midrange
• Smooth overall response

Listening to stereo test tones reinforced those findings.

One of the most interesting observations involved the DSP.

Rather than attempting to reproduce frequencies the woofer cannot realistically support, the system aggressively reduces output below approximately 42 Hz.

Likewise, volume limiting appears to engage before excessive woofer excursion can occur.

This is exactly the kind of intelligent speaker protection I'd like to see.

Included are two frequency response graphs taken during testing in a roughly 30 x30 living room/open kitchen floor plan.

First Listening Impressions

My first listening session with the GS818 was entirely casual.

After unboxing the speakers, I plugged them into an outlet near the kitchen island, placed them about four feet apart, connected my phone via Bluetooth, and simply started listening.

No measurements. No adjustments. No analysis.

When I powered on the system, Boston’s More Than a Feeling happened to be playing at around 50% volume. It wasn’t selected as a test track—it was simply the song that came on.

Before the song finished, I turned to my wife and said, “I’m impressed.”

That reaction came before I had taken any measurements or started evaluating the system technically.

Right away, the GS818 sounded larger, fuller, and more refined than I expected from an $80 desktop speaker system.

Music Evaluation

For critical listening, I used several familiar recordings:

• Pink Floyd – Money
• Dire Straits – Money for Nothing
• The Fendertones – Sloop John B

The Fendertones’ rendition of Sloop John B was particularly revealing. Its layered vocals, harmonies, and dense instrumentation can easily sound congested on lesser speakers.

Through the GS818, however, the presentation remained crisp and well organized. Vocals were clear, harmonies were easy to follow, and individual instruments retained good separation without becoming muddy or collapsing into a wall of sound.

For a compact desktop speaker system in this price range, that level of clarity and separation was genuinely impressive.

Gaming, Movies, and Everyday Use

As much as I enjoyed evaluating the GS818 with music, this is where the system truly shines—as desktop PC speakers.

At typical desktop listening distances, the stereo imaging becomes noticeably more focused. Games feel more immersive, movies become more engaging, and voices are easy to place within the soundstage. Sound effects also occupy distinct positions, adding to the sense of space.

The bass is particularly impressive. It sounds deep and surprisingly tactile, and in many cases, you can feel it almost as much as you hear it.

Interestingly, while the GS818 has no trouble filling a large room, it actually sounds even better at a desk—the environment where most users are likely to use it.

Sound Quality Analysis

The GS818 is clearly tuned for enjoyment rather than strict neutrality.

Its sound signature delivers enough bass for warmth and impact, while the mids remain clean and intelligible. The treble provides good detail without becoming harsh, and the DSP implementation feels carefully tuned rather than overly aggressive.

Most importantly, the GS818 remains enjoyable over extended listening sessions.

Over roughly three days, my wife spent around ten hours listening to the speakers and repeatedly commented on how good they sounded.

For a desktop speaker system, that kind of long‑term listening experience is difficult to ignore.

Who Should Buy the GS818?

The Redragon GS818 is a versatile desktop speaker system for PC users, gamers, movie watchers, music listeners, students, home office users, and apartment dwellers looking to upgrade their everyday audio.

It also works surprisingly well as a secondary Bluetooth speaker system for workshops, garages, craft rooms, studios, secondary offices, or living rooms—anywhere you want convenient wireless music playback without spending a fortune.

One thing became increasingly clear during testing: the GS818 consistently made everyday audio more enjoyable. Music sounded richer, podcasts were easier to enjoy, and even Alexa sounded noticeably better.

That last one was not something I expected to write.

Final Verdict

Somewhere during this review, I forgot what I was reviewing.

I became focused on frequency response, REW measurements, DSP behavior, stereo imaging, bass extension, and critical listening tracks. Eventually, I had to remind myself that the Redragon GS818 isn't a studio monitor or an audiophile bookshelf speaker. It's a compact desktop audio system designed for music, gaming, movies, streaming, YouTube, podcasts, Bluetooth playback, and everyday listening.

Judged by that standard, the GS818 succeeds remarkably well.

When the GS818 first appeared on Redragon's website, it looked like it could be something more than a typical gaming‑branded desktop speaker, where sound quality can sometimes take a back seat to styling and marketing features. After spending time listening to and measuring the speakers, that impression proved largely correct.

The measurements suggest that Redragon put genuine effort into tuning the GS81 Its DSP‑controlled low‑frequency cutoff sits around 42 Hz, with a modest bass boost near 80 Hz and a generally controlled frequency response. Combined with its stereo imaging, bass extension, DSP modes, and versatile connectivity, the GS818 feels less like a desk accessory that happens to produce sound and more like a thoughtfully designed compact speaker system.

But the biggest surprise wasn't the measurements, bass extension, feature set, or even the DSP.

It was what happened after the testing was over.

After roughly ten hours of listening across three days, my wife told me the GS818 was staying in the living room rather than going back to my office setup.

That says a lot.

For an $80 desktop speaker system, it's hard to ask for a better real‑world endorsement.