Edifier R1280DB Bookshelf Loud Speaker: A Review

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Almost everyone desires to have a great entertainment showcase inside the house. Some people usually save up to invest in huge flat or curved LED screens but forget that the audio factor is just as crucial for a total immersive entertainment experience.

In this regard, we aim to help you in deciding what sound system is right for you. This article will focus on the Edifier R1280DB Bookshelf Loudspeaker and whether it is an excellent addition to your home.

The R1280DB Bookshelf Loudspeaker is a compact speaker produced by Edifier, a company founded in 1996 in Beijing, China. Over the years, Edifier has gained respect in the consumer electronics industry and audiophile community by creating award-winning sound systems that are enjoyed in over 70 countries of the world.

Features

Size and Dimension                : 5.7 in x 9.5 in x 7 in

Total Power Output                 : Left and Right Speaker, 21 Watts + 21 Watts RMS

Input Sensitivity                       : Line in 1: Right and Left: 450±50mV

Noise Level                             : ≤25dB (A)

Speaker (Bass Unit)               : 4 inch

Speaker (Tweeter Unit)          : 13mm Silk-Dome

The Pros

  • Easy Set Up

The speaker is very easy to assemble and can be used straight out of the box by simply positioning it on any flat surface. You just connect the RCA 3.5mm Audio cable or Toslink/Optical Cable included in the package and switch the power on. The user can quickly switch to Bluetooth with the use of the wireless remote and sync with any Bluetooth enabled audio source.

  • Multiple Connectivity Options

The Edifier R1280DB Bookshelf Speakers offers plenty of connectivity options. This allows versatility and provides several options to the unit owner to suit their connection preferences and their available cable and audio sources. The Edifier R1280DB allows Bluetooth, RCA Connection, Optical, and Coaxial Cable connections.

RCA Cable has always been the standard connection for almost all entertainment devices, primarily between TV and Speakers. The Edifier R1280DB has the RCA connector and Coaxial input capability.

Bluetooth connection, since its invention in the early 1990s, has been one of the leading input connectivity options for many electronic devices. The Edifier R1280DB can be used by connecting via Bluetooth V4 and paired with any smart mobile device.

Optical Cable or Optical Audio Cable is another input option for The Edifier R1280DB Bookend speaker. The Optical Cable delivers digital and high-quality sound as another alternative to HDMI. With the use of Optical cable, the audio listening experience will be fully experienced using this great connectivity option.

  • Wireless Remote Control

The Edifier R1280DB is bundled with a remote control. This device adds more value to the listening pleasure as the need to adjust volume or skip to the next song comes with just a push of a button. The remote control can be used to switch to another input, i.e., Bluetooth to listen via smartphones or other devices. The wireless remote is designed to look modern with its sleek and easy to understand icons.

  • Quality Sound

The Edifier R1280 DB might be small in size, but it packs a substantial high-quality sound. The bass delivers good deep audio and still sounds full and rich even at different bass settings, from mid to high volume range. The Edifier R1280 DB incorporates a four-inch bass speaker unit and a 13mm tweeter silk-dome speaker.

  • Size/Dimension and Portability

One of the best advantages of the Edifier R1280 DB is its size—small, compact, and very portable. This might be a bookshelf type speaker, but because of its size, it can easily be brought to any small party or even used in a small conference room for audio or video presentations.

The Cons

  • Wood Panel Design

The Edifier R1280 DB is wrapped in either black or brown wood paneling on each side. However, it might look better if the whole panel was built using only one color palette such as found in the black version. The brown version of the speaker contrasts glaringly with the main body’s black color and has a more old-school look, which might work for some other designs but is not the case with this version.

  • Bluetooth Connectivity Issues

If the file played is a stored file, the audio is in sync. However, the audio suffers some delay and may lag behind when streaming online. This might be an isolated issue, and for many of the users of Bluetooth technology, it is known that issues like delay or loss of connection pop up now and then. The Edifier R1280DB does not have an aptX Support that can provide a lossless playback.

Summary

The Edifier R1280DB is great bookshelf speaker for its price and the features it comes with. It packs a great audio experience and delivers very satisfactory deep and high notes. The wide variance of connectivity allows for more devices to be connected to this speaker. The Edifier R1280DB is an excellent speaker with a contemporary look and modern technology that can even support older generation RCA cabling.

Comparison

The JBL Loft 30 bookshelf speaker comes close to the Edifier R1280DB regarding size, weight, performance, and price. The JBL Loft 30 packs superb sound quality that the company is known for. The compact size and performance of the JBL Loft 30 can go head to head with the Edifier R1280DB and might win if only those were the basis of comparison.

However, we must also look at the connectivity and input options of each, and the Edifier simply wins in that area hands down. The JBL only offers a binding post connection while the Edifier offers multiple ones. The Edifier R1280DB is also priced cheaper than the JBL speaker.

Our Verdict

The Edifier R1280DB bookshelf speaker is a good item to have as part of your entertainment showcase. The price point and features are perfectly balanced with the audio experience and performance it delivers. This is a reasonable purchase for anyone who wants to invest in a great quality bookshelf speaker.

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