Short answer: the Edifier R1280T. It ranks #61 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $149.99; the Midiplus MI5 II ranks #62, rated 3.0/5, and costs $169, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Midiplus MI5 II: Balanced inputs, Bluetooth and a powered-pair format offer useful connectivity. Watch for: The 2.24 standalone and 4.53 ideal-subwoofer scores show significant problems above the bass region.
What the Edifier R1280T does well: ASR’s review found useful moderate-level bass output from an inexpensive powered pair. The catch: Preference scores of 2.41 standalone and 5.02 with an ideal subwoofer reflect substantial tonal limitations, not just missing bass.
Buy the Edifier R1280T. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Midiplus MI5 II and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Midiplus MI5 II | Edifier R1280T | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169 per pair | $149.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #62 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #61 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch fiberglass woofer | 4" (102mm) woofer |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-25kHz | 52Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS per pair | 42w RMS Total |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB | - |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth | 2x RCA Input |
| Dimensions | 10.1H x 6.7W x 9.4D in | 9.2"H x 7.7"W x 5.7"D (234 x 196 x 146 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.24 | 2.41 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.53 | 5.02 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Outputs | - | None |
| Weight | - | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM 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
Midiplus MI5 II: $169 per pair eBay
Pros: Balanced inputs, Bluetooth and a powered-pair format offer useful connectivity. The measured -3dB point is around 54Hz, so it reaches lower in the bass than some compact monitors.
Cons: The 2.24 standalone and 4.53 ideal-subwoofer scores show significant problems above the bass region. A large 9.4dB midrange response span and listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.644 indicate substantial coloration even though the overall response slope is fairly mild. A subwoofer cannot fix those irregularities. Amplifier-power specifications do not establish clean output.
Full Midiplus MI5 II review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS per pair |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1H x 6.7W x 9.4D in |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch fiberglass woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-25kHz |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.24 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.53 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Edifier R1280T: $149.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: ASR’s review found useful moderate-level bass output from an inexpensive powered pair. Remote volume and bass/treble controls make it easy to use without separate amplification. Measured bass reaches -3dB around 63Hz. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Preference scores of 2.41 standalone and 5.02 with an ideal subwoofer reflect substantial tonal limitations, not just missing bass. The response spans 5.5dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.650. Resonances and treble unevenness affect reflected sound too. Listening height is important, and high-level compression changes the balance.
Full Edifier R1280T review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 42w RMS Total |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.2"H x 7.7"W x 5.7"D (234 x 196 x 146 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" (102mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | 2x RCA Input |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | None |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.41 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.02 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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