Short answer: the Cambridge Audio L/R X if sound quality matters most, the Edifier R2850DB if price matters most. The Cambridge Audio L/R X ranks #47 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers at $2399. The Edifier R2850DB ranks #60 at $499.99, $1899.01 cheaper.
What the Edifier R2850DB offers: A large self-powered three-way pair with digital and analog source switching and proper left/right separation. Consumer Reports found accurate, detailed sound with strong, deep bass, a broad enough soundfield and enough clean output for a large room. It is a compelling simple system for TV, desktop or living-room music without buying a separate amplifier. Watch for: The big cabinets need real stand or furniture space, and their bass is slightly boomy. Consumer Reports also hears mildly grainy/hazy mids, subdued treble and a two-dimensional image despite the two cabinets. As an integrated system it is less upgradeable than separate passive speakers and an amplifier.
What the Cambridge Audio L/R X offers: A 2.5-way active design with a 28mm aluminum tweeter, a front-facing 5-inch mid-woofer, a second 5-inch woofer at the base whose passband overlaps the first (the source of the “.5”), and dual 6-inch side-firing passive radiators per speaker. Erin’s Audio Corner measured wide, even horizontal dispersion (a broad flare out to about the -6dB point around 1.5 to 3kHz) and deeper extension than the smaller L/R S, with an F3 of about 43Hz and F10 of about 37Hz. In-app DSP for room size, speaker distance from the front wall, and reflective surface type gave an audible change in bass tightness in testing. Connectivity covers HDMI eARC, RCA aux, a moving-magnet phono input, optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Wi-Fi streaming, and a subwoofer output, making it a full living-room hub rather than just a stereo pair. Watch for: On-axis response is less linear than the L/R S, with dips in the bass, a peak around 1-2kHz, and a dip spanning the upper mid-range into the lower treble; Cambridge confirmed the dip is a deliberate DSP notch for a tweeter breakup resonance rather than a driver flaw, but it was audible as a mild suck-out in an AB pink-noise comparison. Vertical dispersion is narrower and asymmetric than the L/R S, at about plus 20 to minus 10 degrees, because the greater distance between the tweeter and mid-woofer creates more lobing, so listening height and stand placement matter more. Multitone distortion rides close to the 3% threshold at 96dB measured at 1 meter in the far field, limiting headroom for loud, wide-band material. Output falls off quickly below about 50Hz, so home-theater use with deep bass content benefits from an added subwoofer.
Buy the Edifier R2850DB if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the Cambridge Audio L/R X if sound quality is the priority over the price.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Edifier R2850DB. It ranks near the bottom of the 67 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier R2850DB | Cambridge Audio L/R X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 per pair | $2,399.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #60 of 67 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #47 of 67 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 18.1"H x 10.1"W x 12.4"D (459.7 x 256.5 x 315 mm) | 7.9" (200 mm) W x 330mm H x 260mm D (each) |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz-20KHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 35Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax | HDMI eARC, RCA aux, RCA phono (MM), optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23 kg) | 22.9 lbs (10.4kg) each |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer | 28mm aluminum tweeter, 2x 5" mid-woofers, 2x 6" side-firing passive radiators |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.1 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC, AAC |
| EQ | No | - |
| DSP | No | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction |
| Amplifier Power | 75w RMS Per Speaker | 800W total (400W per speaker) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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 R2850DB: $499.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: A large self-powered three-way pair with digital and analog source switching and proper left/right separation. Consumer Reports found accurate, detailed sound with strong, deep bass, a broad enough soundfield and enough clean output for a large room. It is a compelling simple system for TV, desktop or living-room music without buying a separate amplifier.
Cons: The big cabinets need real stand or furniture space, and their bass is slightly boomy. Consumer Reports also hears mildly grainy/hazy mids, subdued treble and a two-dimensional image despite the two cabinets. As an integrated system it is less upgradeable than separate passive speakers and an amplifier.
Full Edifier R2850DB review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 75w RMS Per Speaker |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 18.1"H x 10.1"W x 12.4"D (459.7 x 256.5 x 315 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz-20KHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23 kg) |
- Links
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Cambridge Audio L/R X: $2,399.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: A 2.5-way active design with a 28mm aluminum tweeter, a front-facing 5-inch mid-woofer, a second 5-inch woofer at the base whose passband overlaps the first (the source of the “.5”), and dual 6-inch side-firing passive radiators per speaker. Erin’s Audio Corner measured wide, even horizontal dispersion (a broad flare out to about the -6dB point around 1.5 to 3kHz) and deeper extension than the smaller L/R S, with an F3 of about 43Hz and F10 of about 37Hz. In-app DSP for room size, speaker distance from the front wall, and reflective surface type gave an audible change in bass tightness in testing. Connectivity covers HDMI eARC, RCA aux, a moving-magnet phono input, optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Wi-Fi streaming, and a subwoofer output, making it a full living-room hub rather than just a stereo pair. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-3dB).
Cons: On-axis response is less linear than the L/R S, with dips in the bass, a peak around 1-2kHz, and a dip spanning the upper mid-range into the lower treble; Cambridge confirmed the dip is a deliberate DSP notch for a tweeter breakup resonance rather than a driver flaw, but it was audible as a mild suck-out in an AB pink-noise comparison. Vertical dispersion is narrower and asymmetric than the L/R S, at about plus 20 to minus 10 degrees, because the greater distance between the tweeter and mid-woofer creates more lobing, so listening height and stand placement matter more. Multitone distortion rides close to the 3% threshold at 96dB measured at 1 meter in the far field, limiting headroom for loud, wide-band material. Output falls off quickly below about 50Hz, so home-theater use with deep bass content benefits from an added subwoofer.
Full Cambridge Audio L/R X review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 800W total (400W per speaker) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| DSP | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction |
| Dimensions | 7.9" (200 mm) W x 330mm H x 260mm D (each) |
| Drivers | 28mm aluminum tweeter, 2x 5" mid-woofers, 2x 6" side-firing passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, RCA aux, RCA phono (MM), optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
| Outputs | Subwoofer |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs (10.4kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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