Short answer: the Mackie MR524 for better sound quality, the Edifier R1280DB for the lower price. The Mackie MR524 ranks #25 of 64 powered bookshelf speakers at $380. The Edifier R1280DB ranks #35 at $159.98, $220.02 cheaper.
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 Mackie MR524 offers: The available measurement stays within a 2.0dB reference band and reaches 46.2Hz at -3dB, 41.8Hz at -6dB, and 36.7Hz at -12dB. Its preference score is 4.30 without a subwoofer and 6.25 with one. It includes balanced XLR and TRS inputs, RCA, boundary compensation, high-frequency trim, and 50W of bi-amplification per speaker. Watch for: The low-quality Spinorama measurement shows a +0.47dB-per-octave on-axis rise, 1.158dB on-axis average absolute deviation, low 0.170 predicted-in-room smoothness, and a 3.61 sound-power directivity-index standard deviation. Output is also limited by the 5-inch woofer and 50W amplifier.
Buy the Edifier R1280DB if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Mackie MR524 if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier R1280DB | Mackie MR524 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.98 | $380/pair |
| Ranked | #35 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #25 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 | 46.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - shares the same driver/cabinet platform as the R1280T; read from that thread’s chart | approximately 38Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 9.2"H x 5.7"W x 7.7"D (233.7 x 144.8 x 195.6 mm) | - |
| Frequency Response | 55 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz-20kHz |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax | Balanced XLR, balanced TRS, RCA |
| Outputs | None | - |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg | - |
| Drivers | 4" (102mm) woofer | 5-inch polypropylene woofer; 1-inch silk-dome tweeter |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Output Power | 42w RMS Total | 50W bi-amplified per speaker |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Edifier R1280T vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
- Edifier R1280T vs Audioengine HD4
- Adam Audio T5V vs Focal Alpha 50 EVO
- Edifier R1280DB vs Kanto YU6
- 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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
Mackie MR524: $380/pair Bhphotovideo eBay
Pros: The available measurement stays within a 2.0dB reference band and reaches 46.2Hz at -3dB, 41.8Hz at -6dB, and 36.7Hz at -12dB. Its preference score is 4.30 without a subwoofer and 6.25 with one. It includes balanced XLR and TRS inputs, RCA, boundary compensation, high-frequency trim, and 50W of bi-amplification per speaker.
Cons: The low-quality Spinorama measurement shows a +0.47dB-per-octave on-axis rise, 1.158dB on-axis average absolute deviation, low 0.170 predicted-in-room smoothness, and a 3.61 sound-power directivity-index standard deviation. Output is also limited by the 5-inch woofer and 50W amplifier.
Full Mackie MR524 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 38Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Drivers | 5-inch polypropylene woofer; 1-inch silk-dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz-20kHz |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, balanced TRS, RCA |
| Output Power | 50W bi-amplified per speaker |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons