Cheers marsman - yeah just listening to them with my Pixel XL now, same issue. I thought maybe same manufacturing process / batch of parts etc. I've gone so far as to get someone else to come and have a listen, they closed their eyes, I moved the left/right balance, stopped when they thought it was centred, and they came to the same conclusion as me, both sets around 15 - 20% needing the left speaker turned down for it to be centred. I think I'm done now with Edifier, I'll return this pair to OverClockers within the 14 day window.
Fair enough. Certainly worth trying just in case. Likely a batch problem. If it were a larger issue with Edifier speakers, it would be seen in user reviews on various sites. The 1280T in particular out of 58 reviews, none are negative and only one of them is 3*.
Anyway; It depends what you are really looking to spend in an alternative. You've got some £200 speakers listed there and some £100 ones. If you've got £100, and only that, AV42 and CR4 will be a decent enough choice. BX5 D2 are certainly better, but an extra £80 or so. If you can afford closer to £200, I wouldn't look at the AV42. Similar goes for the Mackie CR4. Budget studio monitors, that are a bit too budget. This is when normally where the Edifier's are such good speakers with £100 to spend. Once confidence has been shaken with a brand though, understandable someone would want to look elsewhere.
Audioengine A2+, while good speakers, they cost too much in my opinion for their size. Their appeal is someone wanting small speakers with a built in DAC; otherwise, at least if it were me, I'd look elsewhere.
Presonus Eris 4.5 or M Audio BX5A are worth the extra over the cheaper ones if you can stretch that far.
The Dali's are passive speakers, so you'd need an amp, which would bring the cost to well over £200; but cheaper passive speakers and an DAC/amplifier are certainly worth consideration. Topping VX2 amplfier with built in DAC for £60, then spend the rest on some passive hi-fi speakers. Depends what space you have to play with and what size would be preferable. Q Acoustics 2010i in graphite can be bought from Richer Sounds for £80, and they have the 2020i in graphite for £100. Both are a damn good buy, but the larger 2020i have to be the better buy for only an extra £20, if they aren't too large. They are deep speakers; not far off 30cm.
