Short answer: it depends on how low you need to go, with the Kali Audio LP-UNF crossing over unusually low at 1.9kHz. Its 1-inch dome tweeter sits on a waveguide above a 4.5-inch ported midwoofer, but F3 of 54Hz and F10 of 39Hz mean bass rolls off quickly below about 40Hz. The Edifier R1280DB handles power well for the price and does not bottom out or distort when played loud.
What the Edifier R1280DB gets right: Excellent bass output and power handling for the price, not bottoming out or distorting even played loud. The tradeoff: Not quite as neutral sounding as the Edifier MR4.
Buy the Kali Audio LP-UNF. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $159.01 saving on the Edifier R1280DB is not enough to make up the difference.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier R1280DB | Kali Audio LP-UNF | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $189.99 per pair | $349.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #94 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - shares the R1280T driver and cabinet; read from that measurement | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 9.2”H x 5.7”W x 7.7”D (233.7 x 144.8 x 195.6 mm) | 10”H x 6.5”W x 7.4”D (254 x 165 x 188 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 55 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 39Hz - 25kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax | Bluetooth, USB-C (digital), RCA, TRS |
| Outputs | None | - |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) |
| Drivers | 4” (102mm) woofer | 4.5” woofer, 1” Textile Dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | - |
| EQ | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 42w RMS Total | 160W total (Class D, 2-channel bi-amped) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | Yes | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 88.1dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.60 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.67 |
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