Powerful, versatile, and affordable this superb set of desktop PC speakers is easy to recommend, obliterating the sound quality of other designs at this price. The Edifier R1280DB units are large, though, so make sure you have space for them on your desk.
Pros
Smart design
Smooth, full sound
Packed with features
Great value
Cons
Quite large units
Lacks a little top-end detail
Tethered power cable
The Edifier R1280DB is a set of computer speakers that's been around for a while, but they continue to be a mainstay of the company's PC speaker range. With a price of just $130, they offer loads of features, including Bluetooth , and a remote control, plus come with a powerful 42W sound output rating.
All of which stands the best computer speakers we've ever reviewed. The experience is much more like hooking up your PC to a set of proper hi-fi separates than usual computer speakers.
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1 x 100mm woofer, 1 x 25mm tweeter, rear bass port
Nominal power output
42W (2 x 21W)
Frequency range
55Hz-20kHz
Connections
3.5mm jack stereo input, digital optical input, Bluetooth 5
Controls
Volume/source/power button/dial on the right speaker, plus treble and bass dials
Extras
Remote control
Design
The design of these speakers is exceptional, given their price. Available with either wood texture sides (all black or a gray-and-wood-colored finish) or in plain gloss white, we've used the black and wood finish versions and they both look great. There's a typical hi-fi speaker aesthetic to them, but the rounded corners and generally clean lines have a distinct charm that remains if you choose to remove the front cloth grilles.
Where the R1280DB can't compete with the likes of the Audioengine A1 and Ruark Audio MR1 MkII is the size of the speakers. The Edifiers are much larger units, more akin to full-size hi-fi speakers, though they are at least a good bit (5cm) shorter in height than the Klipsch R-41PM. Nonetheless, you'll need a reasonable amount of desk space to accommodate these units.
Features
In of features, the R1280DBs offer Bluetooth for convenient connection to a phone or other mobile device, and include both analog and digital inputs. In fact, you get two anaputs in the form of two pairs of RCA inputs (RCA-to-RCA and RCA-to-3.5mm jack socket cables are included in the box).
Round the back of the right speaker are all the connections, with an optical and coaxial digital input ing the anaputs, plus you get a chunky mains power switch, the spring clips for connecting up the left speaker, and the tethered power cable. That's one notable shortfall – it would have been useful to have a removable cable here.
The one obvious missing feature here is a USB audio input – these speakers will require a sound card with analog or digital outputs to connect to any PC that doesn't have Bluetooth.
Round the side of the right speaker, you'll find the controls, consisting of three dials for treble, bass, and a combined volume/input/power control. The latter controls volume when turned, and switches the speakers on or changes inputs when tapped. Hold it down and the units will go into standby.
Alternatively, you can use the little button cell remote control. It uses cheap popper-style buttons that are a little unsatisfying to press, but it's simple to use with buttons for power, volume, Bluetooth playback, and individual buttons for each input. This means you don't have to cycle through inputs like you do with the dial on the side.
Inside each speaker, you'll find a 4-inch bass driver, which puts these speakers in the same league as the Klipsch R-41PM for driver size, along with a 13mm tweeter and front-facing bass port. The latter means you don't have to worry about leaving a gap behind the speakers for sound ventilation.
Sound quality
This combination of a relatively large speaker housing and a large main driver makes for a very smooth, unforced, and full sound. Sub bass isn't as cranked up and booming as it can be for systems with a separate subwoofer, but there's none of the tailed-off bottom end that you get with the Audioengine A1 and Creative T100.
Top-end detail isn't the most sparkling, with more expensive speakers delivering more crispness and definition, but again it's the smoothness of the presentation that makes the R1280DB so likable. They'll play anything perfectly well and at very decent volumes too – these speakers could easily step up from late-night kitchen party duties to full-on house party levels of noise.
Price
The Edifier R1280DB price is $130, which is great value for money for this superb-sounding set of stereo speakers.
Verdict
The Edifier R1280DB (and their Bluetooth-less cousins, the R1280T) is a fantastic low-end to mid-range PC speaker set. These speakers perfectly balance features, design, ease of use, and audio performance, and they're a steal for their current price of $130.
Amazingly, you can often even find them cheaper than this price, with some deals bringing the price to under $100. Spending more on your speakers certainly gets you more top-end detail, but these are still great for most uses, so long as you're happy with their large size.
If you're looking to complete your PC audio setup, you can also find the best gaming headset for your needs in our full guide, where we run you through all the best options at a range of prices.
