Bose Companion 2 Series III 3.5mm Black
Score: 74/100
Edifier R1280T
Score: 84/100Rankings
The Edifier R1280T is a 2.0 active powered bookshelf speaker system delivering 42 W RMS through 4-inch woofers and silk-dome tweeters, housed in a retro wooden enclosure with a remote for easy control. Its drawbacks are the lack of Bluetooth and the potential for bass to dominate mids at higher volumes. Ideal for wired desktop, near-field studio monitoring, or small-room home audio where power and classic aesthetics matter.
The Bose Companion 2 Series III delivers clear mids and a surprisingly spacious soundstage for its compact size. Its main trade-off is modest bass and the absence of Bluetooth. Best suited for budget-conscious PC users who need a simple wired solution.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
— | 101.6 mmbest | |
2best | 2best | |
— | 42 Wbest | |
— | 2 yearsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.223 kgbest | 4.9 kg |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Controls(1) | ||
Volume Control Type | dial | remote |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.223 kg | 4.9 kg |
Dimensions (H×W×D) (cm) | 19.1×7.9×15.0 cm cm | 14.7×24.1×17.5 cm cm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Companion 2 Series III for delivering a surprisingly wide and clear soundstage for its size, thanks to Bose's TrueSpace digital processing. They acknowledge its solid value for desktop audio but note the modest bass and lack of Bluetooth as drawbacks compared to newer multi-channel or wireless offerings.
Consumers consistently highlight the speaker's straightforward plug-and-play setup, clear mids and highs, and compact desk-friendly design. The most common complaints revolve around the limited bass depth and the perception that the maximum volume can be restrictive for louder media.
Professional reviewers commend the R1280T for delivering studio-grade sound and strong bass at an affordable price, noting its low distortion, high SNR, and effective 2-way crossover. However, they criticize the lack of Bluetooth, limited input options, and the potential for bass to dominate mids at higher volumes, as well as the reliance on physical controls over app-based solutions.
Everyday users praise the speakers for their punchy bass, easy plug-and-play setup, attractive wooden design, and convenient remote, but repeatedly lament the missing Bluetooth, occasional muddy bass at high levels, and the limited connectivity options.
