Edifier specializes in manufacturing music systems, including speakers and headphones. Its products are widely used for home entertainment. Among its numerous products, the Edifier R1280T and Edifier R1280DB bookshelf speakers are most popular among audiophiles who love home entertainment. Although these two bookshelf speakers look almost identical, they have several differences in terms of specifications and performance. Let’s compare these two speakers in detail.
Edifier R1280T
[amazon box=”B016P9HJIA”]
The Edifier R1280T set of bookshelf speakers feature a conventional design. This set of speakers features tons of capabilities built into two wooden satellites. The speakers are a great upgrade for desktops at an affordable price without too much complexity. The pair is designed to work with personal computers and home stereos. They feature two dual inputs for adding multiple audio sources simultaneously, but lack support for wireless connectivity.
Design
Measuring 5.7 x 9.5 x 7 inches (WHD) each, these Edifier R1280T speakers feature wood veneer panels on both sides. Each speaker features a matter metallic top panel. Their grilles are made of a gray cloth material. The bottom of each grille has an Edifier logo. The grilles are removable.
Each speaker is packed with a single 4-inch woofer driver and a single 13 mm silk dome tweeter. The enclosures are ported to allow for louder audio and more efficient speaker performance. The right bookshelf speaker is an active speaker whereas the left speaker is a passive speaker. The right speaker powers the left speaker through a detachable power cable.
You can control some functions remotely via remote control. The remote control features three functions including volume down, volume up, and mute. The IR sensor for the remote control is integrated in the right speaker.
The back panel of the right speaker includes dual RCA inputs, a power switch, and a power cable. One of the RCA inputs is labeled PC whereas the other RCA input is labeled AUX. The RCA PC input is ideal for 3.5mm connections whereas the RCA AUX input is ideal for RCA to RCA connections.
The right side panel of the right speaker has three control knobs. The topmost knob is labeled treble, the middle knob is labeled bass, and the bottom knob is labeled volume. The treble and bass knobs have level markings but the volume knob only has a – and + sign. Also, there’s an LED indicator below the volume knob.
Specifications
Cabinet material: Wooden
Color options: Grey, white, wood
Speaker placement: Tabletop, bookshelf
RMS power rating: 21 watts each
Dimensions: 5.7 x 9.5 x 7 inches (WHD)
Weight: 4.9Kg Net, 5.65Kg Gross
Impedance: 6 ohms woofer driver, 4 ohms tweeter driver
Signal to noise ratio: 85dBA
Frequency response: 75 Hz to 18 kHz
Bluetooth enabled: No
Woofer: 4 inches
Tweeter: 13mm silk dome
Sound Quality
Each speaker in the pair has a power rating of 21 watts RMS. Overall, Edifier R1280T excels in high frequencies. The 13mm silk dome tweeters deliver detailed highs. Although upper-end highs are relatively thin, they’re well-balanced.
These speakers also produce well-balanced and smooth midrange. Vocals are very clear. Midrange is also perfect for acoustic music. As a result, these speakers perform superbly for music genres such as indie and jazz.
The clear highs and excellent midrange are failed by slight distortion when bass is turned all the way up. However, at average bass level, they deliver balanced bass. Although the bass is not punchy enough to fill a large room, it’s sufficient for smaller rooms such as dormitories, bedrooms, and offices.
Included Accessories
- RCA to RCA cable
- RCA to AUX cable
- Remote control
- Speaker interconnect cable
- User manual
Pros
- Inbuilt amplifiers
- Clear and balanced highs and midrange
- Controls for bass, volume, and treble
- Remote control
Cons
- Bass distorts when turned to the maximum
- Lacks Bluetooth connectivity
Edifier R1280DB
[amazon box=”B0719C132V”]
The Edifier R1280DB comes as a pair of bookshelf speakers. Although they look similar to Edifier R1280T in terms of outward appearance, the R1280DB is designed as an upgrade of R1280T. The R1280DB comes with greater functionality but at about the same price and same sound performance. Thus, the R1280DB is also a budget bookshelf speaker, just like its predecessor.
Design
Just like its predecessor, the Edifier R1280DB also measures 5.7 x 9.5 x 7 inches (WHD). It has a classic design that looks aesthetically pleasing. It’s solidly constructed and features wooden side panels. The side panels are also available in a black finish.
The pair comes with removable cloth grilles. The grilles are gray in color and have an Edifier label at the bottom center. Removing the grilles reveals two speaker drivers and a ported enclosure. The speaker drivers include a 4-inch woofer and a 13mm silk dome tweeter.
The right speaker is active whereas the left speaker is passive. All the electronics and controls are built into the right speaker. It powers the left speaker via an included speaker interconnect cable. The right-hand side panel on the right speaker features three control buttons. The top button controls treble, the center button controls bass, and the bottom button controls volume.
Inputs are located on the back panel of the right speaker. Among these inputs are two audio outputs that feed the left speaker with power. The inputs also include two RCA inputs, an optical input, and a digital coaxial input. The rear panel also features a power switch and a non-removable power cable. It also features inbuilt Bluetooth connectivity.
Specifications
Cabinet material: Wooden
Color options: Wood, brown
Speaker placement: Tabletop, bookshelf
RMS power rating: 21 watts each
Dimensions: 5.75 x 9.5 x 7 inches (WHD)
Weight: 4.9Kg Net, 5.65Kg Gross
Impedance: 6 ohms woofer driver, 4 ohms tweeter driver
Signal to noise ratio: 85dBA
Frequency response: 55 Hz to 20 kHz
Bluetooth enabled: Yes
Woofer: 4 inch
Tweeter: 13 mm silk dome
Sound Quality
The Edifier R1280DB speakers deliver clear and crisp highs. The highs are non-fatiguing even at high volume. Thus, these speakers are great for prolonged listening for both movies and passive listening.
Mid-bass is extremely warm and punchy, but they don’t hit sub-bass. However, the overall tone is warm and all notes are audible. They achieve deeper bass when placed in a corner or the front of a wall. Midrange is quite clear with audible vocals and instruments.
Included Accessories
- RCA to AUX cable
- RCA to RCA cable
- Optical cable
- Speaker interconnect cable
- Remote control
- User manual
Pros
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Several inputs
- Full and rich sound
- Loud
- Remote control
Cons
- Not the best bass
Conclusion
Both Edifier R1280T and R1280T are great budget speakers for a desktop setup. They’re most suitable for small rooms such as bedrooms, offices, and dorms. Edifier R1280DB beats Edifier R1280T in terms of wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, something that Edifier R1280T lacks. Edifier R1280DB also comes with optical and coaxial inputs while R1280T only features dual RCA inputs. Overall, both speakers have about the same sound quality, but Edifier R1280DB is more superior in terms of more audio sources.
Also Read: Yamaha HS5 vs. JBL LSR305
Michael Evanchuk is a San Francisco-based sound engineer with 20 years’ experience installing, troubleshooting, and repairing commercial, automotive, and household sound equipment. Evanchuk owns an auto stereo center, where he offers highly competitive car audio installation and repair services. He has written dozens of articles on different sound engineering topics, all of which have been published in leading journals, blogs, and websites.
