Having a hard time deciding whether it should be Edifier R1280T or Edifier 980T? The two options might have been designed and manufactured under the same supervision. However, they are still not the same, one of these options would surely have been introduced as a better option.
The speaker’s world is pretty complicated and competitive. Therefore, if you have little or zero knowledge of the industry, there are solid chances you would end up paying for the unsuitable option. The information provided on Amazon is insufficient for you to compare and make a rational decision. However, a thorough comparison of the Edifier R1280T and Edifier R980T would make it easy to decide what suits your requirements more.
Edifier R1280T
The Edifier R1280T is being sold in the market as a two-way active bookshelf speaker. These Bookshelf speakers give us various reasons to bring them home. However, they are most known for their powerful audio performance and the adjustable bass and treble. Like most of the Edifier speakers, these bookshelf speakers also offer decent built quality for the price.
Edifier R980T
The Edifier R980T speakers have been launched to give relief to all the music lovers with budget issues. The Edifier R980T active speakers are affordable and deliver impressive sound full of presence and depth.
Now that you have got an idea why these two Edifier speakers are extremely popular. Let’s compare them to find out what should be picked.
Edifier R1280T vs Edifier R980T
Type
The two hot-selling speakers(Edifier R1280T and Edifier R980T) that we have been comparing today are both bookshelf speakers. Bookshelf speakers are kers designed to place on shelves, tabless, or on evaluated surfaces. So, it can be said that Edifier R1280T and Edifier R980T would serve you the same way.
Appearance
If we judge the two most popular Edifier speakers(R1280T and R980T) by their appearance, both have decent designs. The Edifier R980T is a bit conventional whereas the R1280T appears slightly more sleek and stylish than the other options. To make the Edifier R1280T stand out, the sides of the enclosure of these speakers are given a unique yellow wooden grain look.
The Edifier R980T speakers might have a traditional appearance but they are magnetically shielded and have 100% pure wooden enclosures. This makes the Edifier R980T far more superior to the other options being sold at more or less the same price.
While searching for a compatible speaker I tried finding an economical solution that comes with a magnetic shield. Guess what happened? I did not find any such speakers at the same price. All magnetic-shielded speakers were way out of my reach.
Sound quality
The speakers’ job is not to look good to the eyes but produce impressive sound. If a speaker has the most stylish design but fails to satisfy you with the sound and bass, it is useless. The Edifier R1280T speakers are designed and assembled to deliver studio sound quality with rich lows and bright clear highs. In other words, the Edifier R1280T speakers have a bright natural sound.
On the other hand, the Edifier R980T produces 21 watts of sound therefore the speakers have decent sound; the mids are clean, the bass is tight, and the highs are crisp. However as compared to the Edifier R1280T, the Edifier R980T’s sound quality is a bit poor. The Edifier R980T lacks clarity and height. The other option is superior because it comes with a custom treble button that allows you to adjust the clarity and height as per your requirements.
Control
When it comes to controls, as you can guess the Edifier R1280T takes the lead. These bookshelf speakers give users complete freedom to adjust volume, bass, and treble. The control knobs are placed on the side for ease of control. Whereas, the other option allows the music lovers to adjust the volume and bass.
To be honest, I’m fine with being able to adjust the volume and bass alone. What annoyed me the most is that the control knobs of the Edifier R980T are placed at the back. Whenever you have to adjust the volume or bass, you have to move the speaker from it’s place, adjust the volume or bass, and adjust it back to it’s place. Therefore, it is concluded that the Edifier R1280T is a better option.
Useability
Since both Edifier R980T and R1280T are both bookshelf speakers, they are highly suitable to serve in our homes. For small and medium-sized needs, the Edifier R980T and Edifier R1280T can be considered. However, if you are investing in a speaker solely to fetch better sound, Edifier R1280T is a fine option.
Price
It might already have become obvious that the Edifier R1280T is slightly more expensive than the Edifier R980T. The Edifier R980T was initially offered for $89.99 however, it is currently on sale at $74.99. The Edifier R1280T has a listed price of $109.99 whereas it is now being offered at $99.99.
Edifier R1280T
Edifier R980T
Lastly, Edifier R980T or Edifier R1280T?
Upon comparing the options, I have come to the conclusion that Edifier R1280T is a better option. However, if you have budget issues, Edifier R980T is also not a bad choice.