Short answer: the Edifier M60 for the higher ranking, the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen for the lower price. The Edifier M60 ranks #6 of 8 powered bookshelf speakers at $169.98. The Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen ranks #7 at $99.99, $69.99 cheaper.
On the Edifier M60 side: 1” dome tweeter paired with a 3” cone midwoofer, in a distinctively styled desktop cabinet with illuminated touch controls and a textured. The tradeoff: Trends noticeably brighter moving from midrange into treble.
The case for the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Includes rear-panel high- and low-frequency shelf tone controls, letting you tailor the sound (helpful for near-wall placement. The tradeoff: Stock on-axis response has a pronounced “smiley face” V-curve.
Buy the Edifier M60 if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier M60 | Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.98 | $99.99 |
| Ranked | #6 of 8 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #7 of 8 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz | 70Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz | 80Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 6.6"H x 3.9"W x 5.8"D (167.6 x 99.1 x 147.3 mm) | 8.3"H x 6.0"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg | 8.6 lbs / 3.9 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max SPL | 96dB @ 1m | 95dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 66W total (33W per speaker) | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Outputs | - | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
The Two Speakers In Full
Edifier M60: $169.98 Amazon
Pros: 1” dome tweeter paired with a 3” cone midwoofer, in a distinctively styled desktop cabinet with illuminated touch controls and a textured finish. USB-C, aux input, and a speaker-level output for the passive companion unit, plus small tilting stands (about 15°) for desk positioning. Horizontal dispersion of about ±60° through the upper midrange, right in the reviewer’s preferred range for near-field desktop use. Reasonably neutral through the midrange. Sound quality falls between Edifier’s own MR3 (better) and MR4 (worse) in the reviewer’s estimation, at an attractive price for the segment. Multiple input options make it easy to integrate into a desktop setup.
Cons: Trends noticeably brighter moving from midrange into treble; best tamed by seating position (tweeter slightly below ear level, no more than about 10° above the tweeter line) rather than relying on EQ. Sitting below the tweeter axis causes a significant suckout in the 2-4kHz crossover region and should be avoided entirely. F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 57Hz mean bass falls off a cliff below the mid-60s Hz, with essentially no low-end punch or tactile bass. Built-in limiting caps real-world output well below the theoretical 96dB target - effective maximum is closer to 86-90dB at 1 meter (low 90s dB for a pair on a desk), and multitone distortion testing suggests 78-88dB is the practical ceiling before the sound turns grainy and compressed. Strictly a near-field speaker - not intended for listening beyond arm’s length (about 2.5 feet); farther or louder use calls for a larger speaker like the Kali LP-UNF.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 6.6"H x 3.9"W x 5.8"D (167.6 x 99.1 x 147.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C |
| Max SPL | 96dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 66W total (33W per speaker) |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: $99.99 Amazon
Pros: Includes rear-panel high- and low-frequency shelf tone controls, letting you tailor the sound (helpful for near-wall placement, where the reviewer suggests reducing the bass knob). Distortion and neutrality can be meaningfully improved with simple mods - sealing the rear port and adjusting the tone controls (low +3dB, high -6dB in testing) noticeably flattened the default V-shaped response.
Cons: Stock on-axis response has a pronounced “smiley face” V-curve, with the midrange scooped roughly 6-7dB below the bass and treble - problematic for any mixing or monitoring use. The rear port is too small for the cabinet, producing peaky, boomy bass rather than genuine extension. A strong resonance around 1-2kHz persists even with the port sealed, suggesting an internal standing wave rather than a purely port-related issue. Directivity mismatch between the tweeter and woofer as the woofer narrows with frequency. Hard limiting kicks in above about 86dB, and distortion at 96dB is high - not intended for loud listening. Frequency response measurably drifts over time at moderate-to-high volume (about 1dB shift after 4 minutes at 86dB, worse within a couple minutes at 96dB). In direct comparison, measures 3-5dB hotter in the treble than the Mackie CR3-X, and even after sealing the port and adjusting the tone controls, still measured behind the Mackie overall. Best used aimed off-axis (about 30-40°) and with the port sealed; without EQ/DSP correction, significant tonal problems remain.
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3"H x 6.0"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Max SPL | 95dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs / 3.9 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Edifier R1280T Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Mackie CR3 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Mackie CR3-X vs PreSonus E3.5 Budget Monitor Showdown!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 10 Great (and Terrible) Speakers Under $300!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.