Edifier vs Pure Bookshelf Speakers

Edifier and Pure tackle different listening setups. Edifier's R1280TS powered speakers cost £109, its R1280DBS Bluetooth pair £119 and its T5 subwoofer £129. Pure's Classic CD6 DAB+ radio with CD and Bluetooth costs £168 in black or £179 in white, and its premium Classic ST all-in-one music system is £349 in white and £469 in coffee black. The Pure CLASSIC-CD6-BLK costs £49 more than the Edifier R1280DBS.

Edifier's speakers are active, so they need no separate amplifier, and they offer tone controls and a subwoofer output. Pure's systems are all-in-one, with DAB+ and FM radio, CD playback and Bluetooth streaming in a single unit. The Classic ST has a retro-inspired design with walnut and oak accents, and Pure is known for its digital radio expertise. Edifier's speakers are designed to connect to a computer, TV or turntable, rather than to provide radio.

Edifier suits desk, TV and turntable setups where better sound matters more than design, and the T5 subwoofer adds bass for films and games. Pure suits radio and CD listeners who want a stylish all-in-one system for a living room, kitchen or bedroom, with Bluetooth for streaming from a phone. Buyers who mainly stream should consider a WiFi speaker instead, and anyone who wants CD playback should check that the chosen Pure model includes it. Edifier's R1280DBS adds Bluetooth for phone streaming, so its wireless use is comparable to the Pure systems.

Bottom line: choose Edifier if you want powered speakers for a computer, TV or turntable from £109, with a subwoofer for deeper bass. Choose Pure if you want a stylish all-in-one system with DAB+ radio, CD and Bluetooth, from £168 for the CLASSIC-CD6 up to £469 for the Classic ST.