Quick verdict: Buy the Edifier R1280T if your speakers will be wired to a computer or TV and you want warm, room-filling sound for a desk without paying for features you will not use. Buy the Edifier R1700BTs if you want to stream from your phone over high-quality Bluetooth, need more power for a larger room, or plan to add a subwoofer later. Both use wooden bookshelf cabinets and the same basic layout; the difference is power, wireless, and room to grow.
- Power
- 42W RMS
- 66W RMS
- Type
- 2.0 active bookshelf
- Powered bookshelf
- Inputs
- Dual AUX
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- Enclosure
- MDF wood
- —
- Warranty
- 2 years
- —
- Drivers
- —
- 4 in woofer + 19 mm tweeter
- Bluetooth
- —
- 5.0 aptX HD
- Sub out
- —
- Yes
- 42W RMS active near-field studio sound
- Real wood MDF enclosure, warm balanced tone
- On-speaker EQ, dual AUX inputs, remote
- Larger footprint than compact USB speakers
- No Bluetooth on this model
- 66W RMS fills a room
- aptX HD Bluetooth plus 2 RCA inputs
- Subwoofer output with auto crossover
- Large for a small desk
- No USB or optical input
The Core Difference: Wired Simplicity vs Bluetooth and Expansion#
The R1280T is a straightforward 2.0 active bookshelf pair. It has two analog AUX (RCA) inputs, so you can connect a computer and a second source such as a TV or turntable preamp at the same time, plus bass and treble controls on the speaker and a remote. There is no Bluetooth on this model, so every source needs a cable.
The R1700BTs keeps two RCA inputs and adds Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD support. With a compatible phone or computer, aptX HD carries higher-resolution audio than standard Bluetooth codecs. It also adds a subwoofer output with an automatic crossover, so you can bolt on a powered sub later without replacing the speakers.
Power and Room Size#
Edifier rates the R1280T at 42W RMS and the R1700BTs at 66W RMS. On a desk where you sit a few feet away, 42W is plenty, and the R1280T is a big step up from small USB speakers. The R1700BTs' extra headroom matters more if the speakers also fill a living room, a bedroom, or a larger home office, or if you like to listen loud without the sound straining.
Both use 4-inch woofers paired with silk-dome tweeters; the R1700BTs lists a 19mm tweeter. Both have a warm, easy-listening tuning that owners consistently describe as pleasant for music, video, and games rather than clinical.
Desk Fit and Size#
Neither is small. The R1280T is already larger than compact desktop speakers, and the R1700BTs is larger again. On a shallow desk, measure before you buy, and consider stands or a monitor shelf to lift the tweeters toward ear height. If space is tight, the R1280T is the easier fit of the two.
Inputs and Missing Features#
Neither speaker offers USB audio or an optical input, so you connect over analog cables (and Bluetooth on the R1700BTs). That is fine for most computers and audio interfaces, but if you want to plug a TV in digitally over optical, neither of these is the right choice. Both include a remote for volume and input switching.
On both pairs, one speaker is active and houses the amplifier, inputs, and tone controls, while the other is passive and connects to it with the supplied speaker wire. Plan your layout so the powered speaker sits on the side closest to your outlet and your computer.
Who Should Buy Which#
Choose the Edifier R1280T if you:
- Will connect the speakers to a computer or TV with cables
- Listen at a desk in a small to medium room
- Want the smaller footprint and the simplest setup
Choose the Edifier R1700BTs if you:
- Want to stream from a phone or laptop over aptX HD Bluetooth
- Need more power for a larger room or louder listening
- Plan to add a subwoofer later using the dedicated output
Frequently Asked Questions#
Does the Edifier R1280T have Bluetooth?#
No. The R1280T is wired only, with two RCA AUX inputs. If you want Bluetooth, choose the R1700BTs, or add a separate Bluetooth receiver to one of the R1280T's inputs.
Can I add a subwoofer to the Edifier R1280T?#
Not directly; it has no subwoofer output. The R1700BTs has a dedicated sub out with an automatic crossover, which makes it the better choice if you want deeper bass later.
Are the Edifier R1280T speakers good for a computer?#
Yes. They connect to a computer's headphone jack or an audio interface with an RCA cable, and the second input lets you keep another source connected at the same time.
Is the R1700BTs worth it over the R1280T?#
It is if you will use what it adds: Bluetooth with aptX HD, roughly 50 percent more rated power, and a subwoofer output. For a wired desk setup in a modest room, the R1280T delivers most of the experience.
The Verdict#
The R1280T is the smarter buy for a wired desk setup: warm sound, two inputs, a remote, and a smaller footprint without features you may never use. The R1700BTs is the better long-term speaker if you stream from your phone, need more power, or want a path to a subwoofer. Decide by how you will connect and how big your room is, and see our full speaker reviews for more options.
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