Edifier R1280DBs Active Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers – Optical Input – 2.0 Wireless Studio Monitor Speaker – 42W RMS with Subwoofer Line Out – Wood Grain

Astonishingly good sounding for the price
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.

These Speakers are INCREDIBLE
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!

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.

Very nice product! Amazing sound quality and functionality. Nice design and style, the speakers even have a remote control. Very good value for the aggressive sales price. You will not regret!