Edifier R1280DBS Active Bluetooth Bookshelf Computer Speakers

This review is for the Edifier R1280DBs Active Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers (ASIN: B08865JM4N). Before I jump into my review, let me offer this bit of information that I didn't know and isn't obvious. There are two versions of this speaker, both have the exact same model number, the Edifier R1280DB. One is a newer generation and you can tell by looking for "2.0" in the description or you can search on the ASIN above. The ASIN for the older model is B0719C132V and this model is typically a bit cheaper. The differences that I noticed (and not necessarily a complete list) is upgraded Bluetooth for the newer one, a subwoofer output and a different remote control. I took the time to read many of the reviews and a couple of things show up fairly often. One is Bluetooth connectivity being touch and go for some reviewers. It is possible this is related to the older version of Bluetooth in the older model. So far, I have not had any issues. I paired and connected a tablet to the speakers and the connection has been nailed up for about a week with no disconnects. Another thing I saw in reviews were comments about the overall loudness or volume of this speaker. You can expect this speaker to provide an adequate but not overwhelming amount of sound for a modest sized room. Think in terms of a bedroom, kitchen or modest sized living room. This is NOT a party speaker that will rock out a couple of dozen people at a big party. Not that loud. Furthermore, the amount of sound is also related to how you get the signal to the speakers. For example, I have a couple different mini-MP3 players and all of them use Bluetooth to connect. Even with the volume turned all the way up on each device and the speakers, the variation in volume from the speakers is considerable. If you find the volume too low, you might try a different device, particularly with Bluetooth. Finally, there have been some reviews that comment on the lack of bass or low end. I thought I had the same issue but in my case, it turned out to be the source material, not the speakers. With proper source material the low end is really quite impressive and if it isn't there may be something wrong with the speakers and you should consider returning them. Keep in mind these speakers claim a two year warranty (very nice in this world of 30 DAY warranties!!!). I've owned and operated a recording studio for over 40 years. Had the good fortune to work with a number of top of the line studio monitors in that time, some that were ridiculously expensive (like $40,000 for a pair!!! And no, I didn't buy them, someone else did!). Now don't get too excited...while these are fantastic sounding speakers, they are NOT studio monitors. That's actually a good thing, though. Contrary to popular belief, studio monitors are not great home speakers even though one might initially think that. A studio monitor is designed to be as flat as possible in frequency response. However, most of us don't think that sounds that great and usually want to crank up the low end and sometimes the high end as well. These are NOT flat and they DO have a nice bump in the low end and a nice and easy to listen to high end that's not harsh. They are some excellent sounding speakers for home, office or even the home theater. They look really sexy, too. Nice wood veneer on the sides and if you choose to pull the grills off, they still look nice. Be sure to check the dimensions, too. I was a bit surprised at the diminutive size, especially given the quality of sound from them. I was astonished at just how tight and present the low end is with these little jewels. To make low end, you must move air. A 4" driver that produces that kind of low end is unusual, even among drivers with long excursions. The high end is crisp and clear with quite good imaging. The R1280DB has a pair of RCA inputs you can switch between using either the remote that comes with the speakers or by using the volume control knob. They also sport an optical AND coaxial cable connection as well as Bluetooth connectivity. All of them can be accessed via remote or volume knob which is really nice. These were purchased to replace a pair of antique JBL passive speakers in the master bedroom. Before I installed the new ones, I did a quick comparison of them using the exact same music and with the new ones sitting right on top of the old ones and there was simply NO comparison. These Edifiers put the smack down on those old old JBL speakers. It pains me to say that because I am quite the JBL fanboy, but there it is. I am so satisfied with these I may just get a second pair even though I don't have an immediate need for them. Sadly, it seems any time I find something I really like "they" pull it off the market. It's gotten to where I feel like I must purchase a lifetime supply of things I like!!!! 12/30/24 Update: Somehow, the lack of sound in the kitchen suddenly became an issue (after some 20+ years without!) so I DID score a second set of these speakers. They are on top of the cabinets only a foot or so from the ceiling and about as far apart as the piece of speaker wire included with the speakers will allow. Our kitchen is such a happy place now!! There are several people here who love to cook and the kitchen is a popular place. I can't fathom how it took this long to get some music in there.

I recently found myself in the market for a new desktop computer, as I spend 99% of my work time in front of it and mine was reaching the end of it's life. After upgrading to a new Mac Studio and Studio Display, I quickly found myself wanting better speakers than my old Logitech 2.1 sound system that was pushing fifteen years old. I shopped around, did my research, and read reviews high and low. I will admit that at first, I was skeptical about the Edifier RD1280DBs - being that they are not a name brand, I had never heard them in action, and I typically like to spend the extra bucks on something that I know I am going to have for at least a decade and use daily. However, I ultimately decided I would give them a shot given the other customer reviews and ratings. The worst that could happen was that I wouldn't be as happy with them as I thought I would be and that I could box them up and return them to Amazon. Let me tell you, I could not be more satisfied. These speakers are amazing! They have great range, good bass (though I *would* recommend adding a subwoofer to the setup), and, simply put, they are beautiful. They look sharp and modern with the covers on, or, if you're going for a classic look, you can pull the covers off. I held on to the box for a few days as I wanted to really put them to the test and make sure that my investment was one I was happy with, and today I decided it was time to toss the box and make it official. If you are on the fence, just as I was, pull the trigger and buy these things! A few notes worth mentioning that I think others might've experienced as well: • When I first unboxed these things and plugged them in, I connected them to bluetooth. I played around with them for an hour or two and couldn't seem to figure out why they weren't playing music from my computer loud enough. What I ultimately realized was that I had set the volume on my Spotify app lower for my old speakers (oops). I adjusted the volume properly and these things are *plenty* loud. • There are some settings to understand at first with which input makes the most sense. Ultimately, I ended up plugging a 3.5mm to RCA plug into the back of the speakers directly wired to the headphone jack on the back of my Mac Studio. This allows the ability to plug in and have sound running directly to the speakers, while giving me the additional option to plug another device in via Bluetooth if I have friends over that want to play music, need to connect my MacBook Pro, etc. It couldn't be simpler. • I did notice that there is a very faint audio signal noise when nothing is playing and the computer is quiet. Know what takes care of that? Powering them off when you aren't using them. Made simple with the remote that also allows you to pair bluetooth, or, pick one of the other two inputs, along with mute, pause/play, skip, turn volume up or down, or power them on or off. • One side note that I love about these is the lit beacon bulb behind the covers that indicates which input you are on, indicated by a color, or, if they are turned off. • Make note that there are some things you will want to play with to find the right range depending on what you are using them for. There are bass and treble dials on the main speaker and I *highly* recommend playing around with the correct levels for what you are using them for. • As I mentioned, I would highly recommend a subwoofer to go along with the system. In my opinion, it just completes the whole package. This made my entire setup complete, and I could not be happier. The subwoofer I went with is the BESTISAN 6.5" Active Home Audio Subwoofer. Another off brand I wasn't expecting to impress me as much as it did, but I'll write that up in a separate review. I just highly recommend adding it as it really adds the correct amount of bass to the whole setup. • In addition to a subwoofer, I added in a set of speaker stands that are also awesome at hiding all of my wiring and set my speakers at a nice height next to my desk, keeping my desk space clear of unnecessarily used up space. The set I got on those is the Perlegear Universal Speaker Stand (which you can also see in my photos). Another great product, but, one for a separate review as well. The grand total I spent on these incredible speakers, a great subwoofer, and two sleek speaker stands? Just over $300.00. You can't beat it for the quality. As I said previously, if you happen to be on the fence over the Edifier R1280DBs Active Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers, buy them. You will not regret your decision!

So far I am happy with these especially considering I got a sweet discount during Prime Day. The wood finish is very appealing and looks warm. I appreciate the base/treble controls being physical knobs, and not having to depend on an app. There are multiple ways of connecting these, so far I have gone down the path of least resistance and just connected a spare phone via BT. Works just fine. My only slight gripe is the cable connecting the two speakers. Nothing wrong with it but it is rather short. Because of this one of the speakers is not exactly where I wanted. I have had to order speaker wire and a crimping tool to finish the setup. In summary: speakers work as they should and the sound is good unless you are a very critical audiophile. They are loud enough to fill a small living room. Money well spent.

Honestly split. Great product overall. Remote is decent, not ideal for phone bluetooth usage though (do to volume on phone not working). I'm not huge into bass and even I can tell- bass is severely lacking. This is good to hear spoken audio in movies. Bad for "WOW THIS EPIC SCENE" or "WOW EPIC MUSIC". Can't decide whether to keep or return.

Using this in tandem with a Sony PVM with multiple old game consoles. This basic speaker setup works great with multiple inputs. Optical for PS2, analog to RCA for Genesis stereo out, etc. Bass is a bit heavy and limited in its range on the dial but besides that, these things give out great sound for the price. They are a little large for what they do but the sound gets plenty loud with no noise.

I added the Edifier R1280DBs active Bluetooth bookshelf speakers to my setup, and they’ve completely changed my listening experience. From the first time I powered them on, the sound was much richer and more detailed than I expected from speakers this size. The bass is full, the mids are smooth, and the highs are crystal clear. Everything I play sounds great whether it’s music, podcasts, or movies. Setup was incredibly simple. I just paired them with my phone via Bluetooth, and they connected instantly with no fuss. I also love having the optical input for connecting my TV. It makes watching shows feel far more immersive than the TV’s built‑in speakers. Having multiple input options means I can easily switch between devices without unplugging anything. The design is classic yet modern, and they look great on my bookshelf without taking up too much space. The built‑in volume and tone controls give me the flexibility to fine‑tune the sound without needing a receiver, which has been super convenient. Overall, these speakers deliver powerful, clear sound in a compact package, and I’m really impressed with their performance. They’ve made a noticeable upgrade to my audio setup, and I couldn’t be happier with them.

This is the second Edifier setup that I have purchased in the past two months! I have two passive P12’s with the T5s subwoofer connected powered through small car audio amplifier. That setup is in my lure making shop. I liked it so much that I upgraded my surround system for the TV. I have extremely limited space in my shop and I wanted a better than average sound system for when I am working in there. The P12 setup gives me total control capabilities at the amp which is mounted under a shelf. Active speakers would have been functional, but I wanted the ability to adjust the base, treble and sub levels at my fingertips. Love these speakers over that crappy Sony soundbar!! High quality sound in a compact speaker. Plug and play with an optical audio cable between the master speaker and the Sony TV. They are close range speakers and perfect for our family room. I have a T5s subwoofer connected via a 3.5mm headphone Jack (from the master speaker sub out) into twin RCA jacks (back of Sub). Easy peasy. NOTE: If used with a TV, you will have select the proper audio out in your TV’s settings. The speakers come with a small remote which has worked fine so far. They are Bluetooth enabled as well. I prefer the optical cable for less sound loss. I have the wood grain cabinets which look great! They have quite a small footprint, but don’t let the size fool you. They put out some very nice sound. The only cons I might have is the lack of RCA connections between each speaker. The speaker wire that you get with the purchase are pretty cheesy. I upgraded to 14 gauge speaker wire to marry the set. Otherwise, I am very pleased.

Amateur audiophile here, and wow, these speakers are worth every penny. They are not huge, but the sounds is so clear and offer great volume for the money. I bought them for my garage, it is an average 2 car garage and these speakers are more than loud enough. This is my first experience with Edifier and I am 100% sold.

Muy buenas bocinas. Las compré para completar con una barra Bose que tenía conectada con el subwoofer T5 Edifier pero para mi gusto sentía que le faltaban unas laterales para mejorar el sonido envolvente por lo que me decidí en comprar estas bocinas. De inicio me costó un poco integrar todo, incluso pensé en regresarlas, pero las escuché por si solas, me gustaron mucho y lo pensé un poco más, como yo las quería integradas junto con mi barra, insistí en la configuración y una vez hecho, dije: me las quedo!, se escuchan súper bien ya sea junto con la barra o sin ella. En lo personal para música me gustan sin la barra y para películas con la barra, aunque por si solas para muchos no sentirían necesaria la barra, pero eso es cuestión de gustos. Traen todos los cables necesarios, buenos agudos y bajos, con excelentes variantes de conectividad. La mejor relación calidad-precio dentro de su gama. Físicamente son muy estéticas, buen tamaño y la caja acústica se ve fuerte. Las uso en una recámara de 3x3 a medio volumen con los controles de agudos y graves en cero, no necesito mas. Las considero como una muy buena compra. Intenté grabar un audio como prueba de sonido pero sinceramente no tengo un buen micrófono que constate realmente el sonido, la grabadora de mi celular no le hace mella a estas bocinas.

writing this comment while enjoying them

A dos meses de uso de mi set de bocinas Edifier, estoy muy complacido con su fidelidad, con su calidad, la tengo conectadas en mi PC, las uso para juegos, para música, para tocar guitarra a través de mi interface de audio, y en todos los escenarios han funcionado al 100 porciento, además las compré a un excelente precio, ahora veo que están más caras que cuando las compré! Aprovechen, no se arrepentirán!

Initially, I thought the speakers were a bit overpriced, but now I feel they are worth it. The bluetooth connection is seemless, and the sound quality is great. Can easily fill a room of around 150-200 sq feet without maxing out the volume. The finish and weight are also good. The remote control has a good range and can be used for all necessary functions.

What an amazing choice. Patience was the key. I got these for under $150 Canadian, just $10 more than the R1280DB that comes without subwoofer option. For me, it was a no-brainer. The option to get a subwoofer was too good to pass up, especially at that price point. The black version was my choice; modern and sleek, they work well with my home office setup. Regardless, if you can't wait or have a bigger budget, these speakers are great. The sound is warm, rich and clear. In my home office, they are perfect. I am using these as a computer / entertainment speaker for now, but I wanted to 'future proof' these speakers. I hope to get into some video / music editing as a hobby later. For this, it's the perfect choice as I hope it can take on that additional role in the future. I'm just not ready for a studio speaker or anything remotely professional. It would be overkill for me. The build is solid, the set up is clear and the packing box is well constructed. The contents survived a bit of damage on the side, but it was well protected inside. The way a box's contents are packed tells me that the company cares about their products. You get plenty of cables and cords - from optical, coaxial and Dual RCA inputs. Bluetooth is 5.0 and if you want no cords, this is a great feature. The remote is handy as well. Batteries included! So, if you cannot tell, I could not be happier with this purchase. If you choose this Edifier model, I cannot see how you can be disappointed. A true marvel of technology.