Review on Edifier R1280Ts Powered Bookshelf Speakers: 🔊 Superior Studio Monitor Speakers with Subwoofer Line Out by Jennifer Corbett

I bought these to replace my Edifier r1700 kit which was moved from my desktop to my TV. I didn't want to write a review comparing the two sets, but I think people would be interested to know about the $50 price difference between the two sets. So here it is. Build Quality: To be honest they are about the same. Both sets are solid speakers. The 1280's controls feel a bit cheaper and not as attractive. Aesthetics: This should go to the 1700s. The paper skittles of the 1280's are not as attractive as those of the 1700's. The same goes for tweeters - 1280s just aren't that attractive. If you prefer not to shoot covers, and I don't know why, then I don't see much of a difference between them. Sound: That's what I'm here for. I admit that the 1280 sounds clearer and maybe a little less boomy. But you can tell the 1700's sound is more balanced, or at least what I consider balanced (historically I like mid-range speakers). It just depends on your taste in music. The 1280s really struggle with hard rock but shine with crisp and light music like soft rock and bluegrass/country/americana. The 1700 shines when playing heavier music like hard rock, but does a pretty good job at everything else. My favorite listening set is the 1700. Final thoughts: I think you get what you pay for with these speakers. The 1280s are still great, great speakers and will sweep most systems off their feet, but the 1700s are still marginally better in every way. Is it worth the extra $50? Yes, if sound quality is important to you. If you don't, you won't notice any difference between the 2.