Listening to music through a small smart speaker or a cell phone just isn’t the same as listening with proper speakers. Bookshelf speakers are a great compromise. They often have much better bass response and sound reproduction than smaller Bluetooth speakers. They also do so without taking up too much space. Today we are looking at the Edifier R1280T active bookshelf speakers to find out whether or not they are worth buying at this price point. We will take a look at the pros and cons, and ultimately help you decide whether they are the perfect speakers for you.
Table of Contents
Edifier R1280T Bookshelf Speakers
Specifications
| Dimensions (Per Speaker) | 6.9” H x 9.5” W x 5.8” D |
| Weight (Per Speaker) | 10.8 pounds – powered left speaker (5.6) and passive right speaker (4.2) |
| Type | Active Bookshelf Speakers |
| Power | 42 Watts Total (Peak) – 21W Per Channel |
| Frequency Response | 75 Hz ~ 18 KHz |
| Drivers (Per Speaker) | 2 – 4″ full-range driver and 13mm Silk Dome Tweeter |
| Connectivity Options | AUX/RCA (2), Dual Output |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
| Other Features | remote control, on-board control knobs (volume, bass, and treble), included cables |
Edifier R1280T Highlights
- Great Sound Quality
- Adjustable Dials
- Elegant Look
- Remote Control
- Easy Connections
Great Sound Quality
The R1280T is a fairly low-priced speaker, but they sound amazing for the money. They actually sound very similar to much more expensive speakers from the likes of Harman and Kardon. The R1280T has accurate and balanced sound reproduction and is perfect for all types of music.
You have the ability to hook these speakers up to a streaming device, CD player, or good old-fashioned turntable. You will get some of the best sound possible in this price range.
Adjustable Dials
The right-hand speaker has built-in dials that offer precise controls over the sound being produced. The volume, bass, and treble dials can all be adjusted individually. You can tweak these to get the best audio for any situation. Sound is very personal. The ability to precisely adjust the bass and treble is very helpful.
Elegant Design
Design is something Edifier really excels at. These are truly an attractive pair of bookshelf speakers that look much pricier than they are. They have very fashionable wooden paneling on the sides and black felt speaker covers. They will blend in inconspicuously in most room settings. If you want a less minimal, the speakers look beautiful with the covers removed.
These powered bookshelf speakers deliver a high-end look without the premium price point. They are much better quality than you might expect at this affordable price.
Remote Control
The onboard dials make it easy to adjust audio on the fly. It does require you to be by the speaker though. For an even easier option, you can use the remote control. The remote control allows you to adjust the volume or completely mute sound.
Easy Connections
The Edifier R1280T powered speakers have dual RCA inputs too. This makes connecting to any type of output device very straightforward. These speakers can be connected to a turntable, computer, laptop, or television. As these are standard types of audio connectors, there are all sorts of different adapters available to convert to a 3.5mm aux jack. Edifier even includes a 3.5mm to RCA cable.
Product Summary
The Edifier R1280T speakers are built to a very high standard. As soon as you receive them you will realize they are built well. The well-constructed wood panel speakers have some heft to them. These are compact bookshelf speakers and have 42 Watts of total power. Don’t expect loud, room-shaking bass or audio. That big bass is something many bookshelf speakers struggle with period. For this reason, many people pair a subwoofer with bookshelf speakers. The R1280Ts do have balanced sound reproduction though. Low frequencies, mids, and highs are all given space to shine. Just don’t purchase these if you are looking to fill a larger room. These are more suitable for smaller rooms, dedicated listening spaces, or a computer desk.
You can expect the Edifier R1280T active bookshelf speakers to produce good sound across multiple genres. Drivers include a 4-inch full-range driver and a 13mm silk dome tweeter. Helpful dials reside on board the speakers for volume, bass, and treble. 2 RCA inputs exist, but you can also connect a 3.5mm cable (AUX).
Pros
- Exceptional build quality – These speakers are made to a very high standard, much better than the price would suggest. If you’re looking for a pair of quality speakers then you can’t go wrong with these.
- Great sound quality – The sound quality is perfect for any type of music.
- RCA inputs – standard input can be connected to virtually any type of sound input.
- Great Value – These are low-priced speakers, but you’re getting exceptional value for money. You won’t be able to get a better speaker without spending a lot of extra money.
- Can be connected to a TV – These speakers are a much better option than using a soundbar. If you have space for bookshelf speakers then these are ideal. Connect to your TV’s sound output using speaker cable and then sit back and enjoy films with much better sound quality.
- Perfect for vinyl turntables and modern equipment – whether you are listening to vinyl records, CDs, MP3’s or streaming music. These speakers will sound great. Any music lover will enjoy listening to music on these speakers.
- Attractive design – Perhaps the very best feature of these speakers is that they look fantastic. They can be placed on top of cabinets, on a shelf, or under a TV. Wherever they are put in your home, they won’t look out of place. The front covers can be removed to expose the beauty of the actual speakers themselves.
- Small Size – If you don’t have space for floor-standing speakers, then these are the next best option. Despite their small size, they sound like much bigger speakers.
Cons
- No Bluetooth – Edifier makes a ton of active bookshelf speakers. Most have Bluetooth capability and some even have aptX low latency. Unfortunately, these dont. There is a actually a Bluetooth version of this exact speaker at a slightly higher price.
- Not very loud – Hard to criticize for this at this size, but it should be stated. Don’t expect these to fill up larger sized rooms. They just are large enough to serve that purpose.
Final Verdict and Alternatives
For the price, they aren’t many active bookshelf speakers better than this. The design, ease of use, and size are all excellent. Music lovers want to be able to enjoy their music in the best quality they can. Listening to a tiny smart speaker might be easy and convenient, but the tiny sound just isn’t always good. The Edifier R1280T provides a perfect solution. They can be easily hooked up to any music source such as a smartphone, CD player, or television.
If you are in the market for a pair of high-quality stereo bookshelf speakers then you can’t go wrong with the R1280T from Edifier. The only minor negative is the lack of Bluetooth. This won’t be a problem for many situations such as playing music from a turntable or television. If it’s really a showstopper, there are many other options to consider. The Edifier R1280DBs is the Bluetooth version typically available for about $50 more. You can check out our guide for the best bookshelf speakers under $100. The Polk Audio T15 speakers are a great option for home theater. They are a passive pair of bookshelf speakers. That means they will require an amplifier or receiver to power them.
Keith Collins has been writing for over 15 years for various publications. He’s a lover of music, home theater, and excellent sound quality. His fondness for technology in addition to his non-stop curiosity fuels his writing ventures.