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Edifier R1280T
If you’re looking for relatively small computer or bookshelf speakers, one of the most popular options on the market for the last few years has been the Edifier R1280T. But are they any good? We were able to test drive these for a few days, and interview a couple people who bought and used them in the past, to see what we could find out.
Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What I like about the Edifier R1280T
For those looking for a set of computer or bookshelf speakers, the Edifier R1280T is a pretty known quantity. Though it’s not something I would recommend for power users or someone who wants to replace an entertainment center’s drivers with, these speakers do perform their function as well as can be hoped for an entry-level product. They get loud enough for most applications, they sound decent, and they’re relatively easy to drive. The best use case for these is for a student or minimalist looking to listen to music or computer audio at a reasonable level — not to throw a party with. When used with this in mind, your list of gripes should be very short. These are an excellent fit for a shelf, desk, or other small area. The Edifier R1280T are excellent computer speakers, as a number of my colleagues over at Android Authority have attested. Keeping these speakers close to you at reasonable levels is where this pair shines, but more on why later.
As the Edifier R1280T is a pair of powered speakers, you do not need an amp or any extra equipment to drive them. You can connect your source over RCA, but there are no other connection options — wired or wireless — to speak of. If you’d like to connect your computer, the usual cable to do so would be a 3.5mm to RCA cable of appropriate length. The included RCA cables would need an adapter to use your computer’s TRS jack, so a new cable with the appropriate terminations will save you some headaches.
To fit the sound to your tastes, there’s a set of knobs on the main channel that allow you to adjust levels of bass and treble to your liking. The default sound is a little bass and treble-heavy, but with very little fiddling with the adjustment knobs on the right channel, you can get a completely reasonable tuning for most music. I turned down the treble two notches and the bass one notch, and that seemed to net decent results. For example, when listening to The Airborne Toxic Event’s “Changing,” the room effects and percussive effects were improved in my office with this tuning —just remember that each space is different and may pose different challenges. Most people are going to like the sound right out of the box or with minor adjustments. For an improvement, you’d either need to get used to a more advanced equalization program like Roon — or you could opt for other speakers.
What I don’t like about the Edifier R1280T
It’s tough to bring gripes against the Edifier R1280T that don’t sound a bit catty because they’re generally either minor, or they’re unfair for a set of speakers that routinely retails for less than $100. Powered speakers generally will set you back quite a bit, and the Edifier R1280T is as inexpensive as they come. It’s gravy that they work well at all, to be frank.
If you’re going to listen at high levels, these are not the speakers for you. Similarly, if you’re hoping that you can buy these speakers and have them play for a party or a loud gathering: the distortion is going to be annoying. Pushing the volume too high results in some odd tweeter behavior, but it’s not something that you’ll notice otherwise. Partiers and those looking for a whole-room sound system will want something else.
You should also be aware that you can’t change which channel is left or right via a switch or toggle — the right channel is always the one that draws power from the mains. It’s a minor inconvenience to be sure, but some people — like me — have a desk configuration that makes the left channel much easier to plug into power. In my experience, you can just flip the RCA cables on the speaker’s input (red into white, white into red), and that ought to do the trick.
Also, you will lose the remote, but as it doesn’t really do a whole lot with three buttons to control volume and muting: it’s not a concern. You won’t miss it if it disappears into a drawer.
Should you buy the Edifier R1280T?
If you’re a student looking to upgrade from crappy laptop speakers for your dorm, or simply someone who wants a small office or bookshelf setup, the Edifier R1280T is a solid buy for under $100. It’s not going to offer some of the more modern creature comforts like Bluetooth or multiple connections, but for a set of speakers dedicated to personal use, these are an excellent buy. There are far too few “dumb” products that just work out there nowadays, and I always cheer for more when they hit the market because it removes layers of nonsense to wade through.
In terms of value, it’s hard to beat a set of powered speakers for under $100, so alternatives are going to be very scant and fraught with tradeoffs. The Mackie CR3-X ($85.99 at Amazon) is a little more temperamental but offers better bass response and is slightly smaller. A more traditionally popular alternative, the PreSonus Eris 3.5 ($89.99 at Amazon) offers a comparably-priced option, but a wonkier bass response means that many would probably not prefer it to the Edifier R1280T.
Edifier R1280T review: Frequently Asked Questions
No. You would need to purchase a dongle for that kind of connectivity.
Powered speakers provide their own power, so an amplifier is not necessary.
Yes. Use the RCA cables included in the box to hook directly into the TV.
Yes. Use the headphone out port with an appropriate cable.