Edifier R1280T

amazon Edifier R1280T reviews

Nowadays, we are seeing fewer and fewer speakers like the Edifier R1280T. Designed to work with home stereos and PCs, they have dual inputs so multiple audio sources can be connected simultaneously. Unlike most we’ve tested in this price range, there are no wireless capabilities. This nice stereo pair with a wood veneer backplate looks like it will cost more than the modest $99.99 price tag. They also pleasantly surprise in the audio department, with a rich, bright, balanced sound and adjustable EQ.

Design

Measuring 9.2 x 5.7 x 7.7 inches (HWD) each, the R1280T speakers feature wood veneer panels on the sides and a matte metal finish on top. The mesh panels are in gray fabric with the Edifier logo on the bottom, and they are removable. Below the grille, each speaker has a 4-inch woofer, a 13mm silk dome tweeter, and a port to move air and allow the drivers to operate more efficiently. The right speaker is the only powered speaker in the duo — its power supply powers the left unit via a detachable cable (supplied). The right speaker also has an IR sensor for a simple remote with three buttons — Mute, Volume Up, and Volume Down.

Connections on the back of the right speaker include dual RCA inputs. One is labeled PC, and an included 3.5mm-to-RCA cable works with PCs and mobile devices. The other is labeled AUX, and a second RCA-to-RCA cable is included that can be used with standard stereo equipment or with TVs with RCA output. The back is also where the power switch and hard power cable are located. No wireless connection of any kind, so you can play music via Bluetooth.

Also located on the right panel of the right speaker is a recessed area containing three knobs. The lowest knob is for volume, middle for bass, and top for treble. The bass and treble controls have a fulcrum for the midpoint of the dial, which is a neutral setting. Frustratingly, the volume control has no visual markers other than plus and minus, so you can’t look at it and know what level your system. There’s also no stop on the dial — it spins full revolutions, so you can’t just pan to the left and know that the volume is on the lowest setting. (You could, of course, rotate it a few times in this direction and know it would go low, but any kind of visual indicator here would be helpful.) A power LED is located below the sides.

Performance

The bass and treble controls are more subtle than many EQ controls, which is a good thing. The drivers also offer a fairly flat response in the neutral default setting, so adding some bass will likely be a move many listeners will make. Even with the bass knob turned down, the boost didn’t throw off the balance of most of the mixes we tested too abruptly. You can easily increase the bass significantly and the treble only slightly while still maintaining a sense of balance between the two tones.

On tracks with intense bass content, such as The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” with the setting at neutral, the speaker delivers a powerful deep bass response at high volumes. Depending on how loud your sound source is, it’s possible to push them to the brink of distortion, but they can get louder before they even sound — speakers can certainly get some volume out big and booming. Obviously, with the bass boost, the rumble gets stronger, and at the same time, potentially distorted. At moderate volumes at neutral settings, the bass response is still quite strong, and the balance with the highs is ideal.

Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with less deep bass in the mix, gives a better sense of the overall sound. The drums on this track can sound too thunderous on bass-boosting systems too much. Through the R1280T, the drums sound pretty natural — the bass boost doesn’t take them into seriously thunderous territory either. Callahan’s rich baritone vocals enjoy a pleasant presence in the mid-bass complemented by clear mids and highs. Guitar bars also benefit from well-defined brightness.

In Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop is rendered with a solid mid-height, allowing its attack to stay sharp and cut through layers of the drum mixture. Sub-bass synths that cut out the beat are less powerful through the R1280T than systems with a subwoofer or more direct bass response.

Like the opening scene in John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, orchestra tracks are delivered with a slightly enhanced low-frequency presence, but nothing in the upper part – the registered device. The lower end ends up with it a bit more, but the higher registers, strings, and vocals are quite bright and never run the risk of being overshadowed, even with the bass boosted.

Conclude

For $100, the Edifier R1280T’s sound quality is impressive. Pocket-friendly PC speakers rarely sound as good and deliver as much power. If you have a little more money to spend, your options only get better — we’re fans of the (old but good) Harman Kardon SoundSticks III, the Logitech Z537, and the Audioengine 2+. If you want wireless connectivity, Audioengine’s HD3 speakers are reliable, albeit considerably more expensive.

where can you get a Edifier R1280T online

Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers – 2.0 Stereo Active Near Field Monitors – Studio Monitor Speaker – Wooden Enclosure – 42 Watts RMS: Buy it now

Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers, 2.0 Active Monitor System (Renewed): Buy it now

Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers – 2.0 Stereo Active Near Field Monitors – Studio Monitor Speaker – Wooden Enclosure – 42 Watts RMS (Renewed): Buy it now