Short answer: the Edifier R1280DB. It ranks #35 of 64 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $159.98; the Neumi BS5P-ARC ranks #61 and costs $219.99, 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 Neumi BS5P-ARC offers: Adds an HDMI ARC input over Neumi’s standard BS5P, plus USB-C, optical and coaxial digital inputs, useful as a simple TV soundbar alternative. Watch for: Erin’s Audio Corner measured a rough response: on-axis deviation of 0.617dB, on-axis smoothness of just 0.167, and a mild +0.08dB per octave upward tilt, with predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.26. A -3dB point of 112.8Hz and a Harman in-room extension estimate of just 79Hz mean very little real bass extension without a subwoofer.
Buy the Edifier R1280DB. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Neumi BS5P-ARC and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Neumi BS5P-ARC. It ranks near the bottom of the 64 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier R1280DB | Neumi BS5P-ARC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.98 | $219.99 |
| Ranked | #35 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #61 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) | 10.6H x 7.2W x 8.5D in each |
| Frequency Response | 55 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax | HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, USB-C, optical, coaxial, RCA analog |
| Outputs | None | - |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg | - |
| Drivers | 4" (102mm) woofer | 1" silk dome tweeter with integrated waveguide, 5" poly-cone woofer |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Output Power | 42w RMS Total | - |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way active |
| Power Output | - | 75W total (37.5W per channel) |
| Country | - | China |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Edifier R1280T vs Dayton Audio M4
- JBL One Series 104 vs Dayton Audio M4
- Adam Audio T5V vs Neumi BS5P
- Adam Audio T5V vs Edifier R1280DB
- Edifier R1280DB vs Dayton Audio M4
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
Neumi BS5P-ARC: $219.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Adds an HDMI ARC input over Neumi’s standard BS5P, plus USB-C, optical and coaxial digital inputs, useful as a simple TV soundbar alternative.
Cons: Erin’s Audio Corner measured a rough response: on-axis deviation of 0.617dB, on-axis smoothness of just 0.167, and a mild +0.08dB per octave upward tilt, with predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.26. A -3dB point of 112.8Hz and a Harman in-room extension estimate of just 79Hz mean very little real bass extension without a subwoofer.
Full Neumi BS5P-ARC review and specifications →
| Country | China |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.6H x 7.2W x 8.5D in each |
| Drivers | 1" silk dome tweeter with integrated waveguide, 5" poly-cone woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way active |
| Inputs | HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, USB-C, optical, coaxial, RCA analog |
| Power Output | 75W total (37.5W per channel) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons