Audioengine A2+ Next Gen vs Edifier R1280T
Compare features and trade-offs. Catalog scores are editorial assessments, not customer review averages or proof of hands-on testing.
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Facts and prices checked
The short answer: a small, well-connected desk pair versus bigger sound for about half the price
Buy the Audioengine A2+ Next Gen if your desk is small and you want modern connections: USB-C that Audioengine says plays up to 24-bit/96kHz, Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD, and a subwoofer output, in cabinets about 6 inches tall. It lists at $279. Buy the Edifier R1280T if you have room for larger speakers and mainly listen from a computer or turntable over a cable. Its 4-inch mid-bass drivers and 42W RMS rating give it more volume and bass for $149.99 list, and it includes a remote. The deciding factor is connectivity versus size: the R1280T has no Bluetooth or USB, only two analog RCA inputs, while the A2+ Next Gen covers almost every source.
Key differences
| Audioengine A2+ Next Gen | Edifier R1280T | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279 list; Audioengine has run it at $219 on sale. | $149.99 list at Edifier; often around $130 from Amazon sellers. |
| Drivers | 2.75-inch aramid fiber woofers and 0.75-inch silk dome tweeters. | 4-inch mid-bass drivers and 0.5-inch silk dome tweeters. |
| Power | 60W peak total, according to Audioengine. | 42W RMS total, according to Edifier. |
| Inputs | USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3 (aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC), 3.5mm and RCA. | Two RCA inputs; a 3.5mm-to-RCA cable is included. No Bluetooth or USB. |
| Frequency response | 65 Hz to 22 kHz, per a 2025 review. | 52 Hz to 20 kHz, according to Edifier. |
| Subwoofer output | Yes, variable RCA line output. | No. |
| Controls | Volume and power knob on the back of the left speaker. | Side-panel volume, bass and treble knobs plus an included remote. |
Choose Audioengine A2+ Next Gen if…
- your desk is small and full-size bookshelf speakers would crowd your monitor.
- you want to stream from your phone over Bluetooth or connect a laptop with a single USB-C cable.
- you may add a subwoofer later.
Choose Edifier R1280T if…
- you want more volume and bass from larger drivers and can spare the desk space.
- you want to spend about half as much and connect over a wired cable anyway.
- you want a remote and bass and treble knobs on the side of the speaker.