Edifier R1280T vs Sonos Era 300
Side by side comparison of two of the best speakers on the market. Same category, different priorities.
Sonos Era 300
The best wireless speaker for spatial audio and whole home systems.
How do the Edifier R1280T and Sonos Era 300 compare, spec for spec?
| Spec | Edifier Edifier R1280T | Sonos Sonos Era 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $449 |
| Rating | 4.6 (25,400) | 4.5 (3,800) |
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Should you buy the Edifier R1280T or the Sonos Era 300?
Both are strong picks in the speakers category. Here's how to decide:
Get the Edifier R1280T if...
For $129 these speakers punch way above their weight. The bass is punchy and layered without getting muddy and the treble stays crisp even on hi-hat heavy tracks. Reviewers note zero distortion even at really loud volumes, which is impressive for speakers in this price range. If you're setting up a desk rig or pairing with a turntable this is a genuinely great buy. The dual RCA and aux inputs are a big deal. You can keep your turntable and your laptop plugged in at the same time without swapping cables. There are also physical bass and treble dials on the side so you can tune the sound without any app or software nonsense. Plug them in and they just work. That's refreshing. The design is retro in a way that not everyone will love. Think early 2000s hi-fi box energy. Not ugly but not exciting either. More importantly there's no Bluetooth at all. If you want to stream wirelessly from your phone you'll need to look at something else like the R1280DB which runs about $60 more. These are strictly wired speakers. At 21W rated power the spec sheet looks modest but in real world use they get seriously loud with no breakup. Don't let that number scare you off. For anyone who wants great sounding wired bookshelf speakers at an affordable price these are hard to beat right now.
Get the Sonos Era 300 if...
Six drivers pointed in different directions actually create convincing Dolby Atmos in a single speaker.