Short answer: the Edifier R1280DB. It ranks #35 of 64 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $159.98; the Kanto YU6 ranks #53 and costs $380, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Edifier R1280DB offers: Same drivers and cabinet as the ASR-measured Edifier R1280T (identical 4” woofer, same 4.9kg enclosure) plus Bluetooth and digital optical/coax inputs the R1280T doesn’t have. ASR’s measurements of that shared platform found the woofer handled a demanding bass-heavy track without bottoming out or audible distortion, and distortion stayed low and inaudible at a normal 86dB SPL listening level. Built-in remote and bass/treble tone controls, no separate preamp needed. Watch for: Shares the R1280T’s jagged on-axis response rather than a neutral one, with a woofer resonance around 5kHz and a tweeter peak near 10kHz that also show up in the directivity data. The reviewer’s raw impression of that platform was “a bit bass heavy and after a track or two, somewhat bright,” and recommends EQ correction; vertical listening window is narrow, so the tweeter needs to be angled toward the ears. Not quite as neutral sounding as the Edifier MR4.
What the Kanto YU6 offers: A popular active desktop pair with a built-in phono preamp, aptX Bluetooth, and dual optical inputs, positioning it as an easy all-in-one desktop or small-room setup. Watch for: ASR’s independent measurement found a very rough on-axis response: an average deviation of 1.007dB and on-axis smoothness of just 0.204, despite the speaker’s popularity, with a moderate -0.09dB per octave downward tilt and predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.28. Bass rolls off early too, with a Harman in-room extension estimate of only 58Hz.
Buy the Edifier R1280DB. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Kanto YU6 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Kanto YU6. It ranks near the bottom of the 64 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier R1280DB | Kanto YU6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.98 | $380.00 |
| Ranked | #35 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #53 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - shares the same driver/cabinet platform as the R1280T; read from that thread’s chart | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - shares the same driver/cabinet platform as the R1280T; read from that thread’s chart | - |
| Dimensions | 9.2"H x 5.7"W x 7.7"D (233.7 x 144.8 x 195.6 mm) | 6.9W x 8.1D x 10.7H in each |
| Frequency Response | 55 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax | Bluetooth aptX, RCA phono preamp, 2x optical |
| Outputs | None | - |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg | 11.4 lbs (active), 8.7 lbs (passive) |
| Drivers | 4" (102mm) woofer | 1" silk dome tweeter, 5.25" Kevlar woofer |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Output Power | 42w RMS Total | - |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way active, MDF cabinet |
| Power Output | - | 200W peak Class D (100W RMS total) |
| Country | - | Canada (design) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Audioengine HD4
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Audioengine HD4
- Edifier R1280T vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
- Edifier R1280DB vs Mackie MR524
- Edifier R1280DB vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
Prices on this page were last checked August 25, 2026 at 6:19 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Edifier R1280DB: $159.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Same drivers and cabinet as the ASR-measured Edifier R1280T (identical 4” woofer, same 4.9kg enclosure) plus Bluetooth and digital optical/coax inputs the R1280T doesn’t have. ASR’s measurements of that shared platform found the woofer handled a demanding bass-heavy track without bottoming out or audible distortion, and distortion stayed low and inaudible at a normal 86dB SPL listening level. Built-in remote and bass/treble tone controls, no separate preamp needed.
Cons: Shares the R1280T’s jagged on-axis response rather than a neutral one, with a woofer resonance around 5kHz and a tweeter peak near 10kHz that also show up in the directivity data. The reviewer’s raw impression of that platform was “a bit bass heavy and after a track or two, somewhat bright,” and recommends EQ correction; vertical listening window is narrow, so the tweeter needs to be angled toward the ears. Not quite as neutral sounding as the Edifier MR4.
Full Edifier R1280DB review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - shares the same driver/cabinet platform as the R1280T; read from that thread's chart |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - shares the same driver/cabinet platform as the R1280T; read from that thread's chart |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 9.2"H x 5.7"W x 7.7"D (233.7 x 144.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" (102mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 55 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax |
| Output Power | 42w RMS Total |
| Outputs | None |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: Edifier R1280DB vs Edifier R1700BT Sound Demo w/ Bass Test More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Edifier R1280DBs vs Edifier R1700BTs Sound Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Edifier R1280DBs sound.DEMO
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Edifier R1280DB Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Edifier R1280DB vs Focal Alpha 50 EVO
- Edifier R1280DB vs Edifier R1280T
- Edifier R1280DB vs Topping MA4
- Edifier R1280DB vs Sigberg Audio SBS.1
- Edifier R1280DB vs Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus
- Edifier R1280DB vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
- Edifier R1280DB vs Presonus Eris E5
- Edifier R1280DB vs Edifier MR4
- See all 63 comparisons
Kanto YU6: $380.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A popular active desktop pair with a built-in phono preamp, aptX Bluetooth, and dual optical inputs, positioning it as an easy all-in-one desktop or small-room setup.
Cons: ASR’s independent measurement found a very rough on-axis response: an average deviation of 1.007dB and on-axis smoothness of just 0.204, despite the speaker’s popularity, with a moderate -0.09dB per octave downward tilt and predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.28. Bass rolls off early too, with a Harman in-room extension estimate of only 58Hz.
Full Kanto YU6 review and specifications →
| Country | Canada (design) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6.9W x 8.1D x 10.7H in each |
| Drivers | 1" silk dome tweeter, 5.25" Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, MDF cabinet |
| Inputs | Bluetooth aptX, RCA phono preamp, 2x optical |
| Power Output | 200W peak Class D (100W RMS total) |
| Weight | 11.4 lbs (active), 8.7 lbs (passive) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons