Short answer: the Edifier MR4.5. It ranks #69 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $199.99. The Edifier R1280DB ranks #94, rated 3.1/5, at $189.99, $10 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Edifier MR4.5 is the better-sounding pick. A desktop monitor pair with deep bass for its size, LDAC Bluetooth, balanced inputs, a headphone jack and app tuning. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Edifier R1280DB lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Edifier R1280DB lacks. The tradeoff: The response is uneven, with a broad upper-bass bump around 120 to 150Hz, a presence dip of roughly 3dB around 2 to 3kHz and brighter treble above it (listening-window tilt +0.22dB per octave), which holds its preference score to about 3.9 on its own and 6.1 with an ideal subwoofer.
The case for the Edifier R1280DB: An inexpensive powered bookshelf pair with Bluetooth, optical and coaxial inputs, a remote and tone controls. The tradeoff: The compact format is better suited to nearfield listening than high-volume playback across a large room.
Buy the Edifier MR4.5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $10 you would save on the Edifier R1280DB does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR4.5 | Edifier R1280DB | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 per pair | $189.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #69 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #94 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 5.5”W x 9.6”H x 9”D (140 x 244 x 229 mm) (active); 140W x 244H x 208D mm (passive) | 9.2”H x 5.7”W x 7.7”D (233.7 x 144.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 55 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, balanced 6.35mm TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux, Bluetooth | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone | None |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.63 kg) | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Drivers | 4.5-inch mid-bass driver + 1-inch silk-dome tweeter (each) | 4” (102mm) woofer |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| EQ | Yes (app EQ, room compensation settings and rear high/low controls) | No |
| Amplifier Power | 80W RMS total (Manufacturer specified) | 42w RMS Total |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (Manufacturer specified, 1m) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - shares the R1280T driver and cabinet; read from that measurement |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53.2Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.86 (calculated from Erin’s Audio Corner CEA2034 data) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 (calculated from Erin’s Audio Corner CEA2034 data) | - |
| Measurement Source | Erin’s Audio Corner | - |
| Headphone Output | Yes | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | Yes |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
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