Short answer: the Edifier MR3, and the measurements back it up clearly. It ranks #8 of 23 small powered bookshelf speakers at $109.99. The Eris E5 ranks #49 of 65 medium powered bookshelf speakers at $109.99, near the bottom of its class.
Erin’s Audio Corner measurements are the deciding factor here. The MR3 shows little overall tilt across the listening window, which helps voices stay naturally balanced at desk distance, and it scores well enough in Erin’s testing to be called a useful budget nearfield option rather than a full reference monitor. It still has real measured flaws: a 4.5dB ripple across the 300Hz-5kHz span, and a limiter that caps effective single-speaker output around 86 to 87dB at 1 meter, meaning it won’t play especially loud even though its rated max SPL is 93dB. The Eris E5’s notes describe a fuller low end than some bass-light monitors, but explicitly caution that a fuller bass balance is not the same thing as a neutral one, and its own placement adjustment doesn’t substitute for a properly integrated subwoofer.
Connectivity favors different users. The MR3 includes Bluetooth alongside aux and RCA, while the Eris E5 sticks to studio-standard balanced TRS and XLR inputs plus RCA, better suited to a dedicated audio interface than a Bluetooth source.
What the MR3 adds that the Eris E5 doesn’t: tone controls for bass and treble, Bluetooth 5.4 streaming, and measured bass extension down to 52Hz at -10dB from Erin’s Audio Corner testing, numbers the Eris E5 doesn’t have independently measured and published here.
Buy the Edifier MR3 for meaningfully more accurate, better-measured sound in a smaller footprint, especially at a desk.
Buy the Presonus Eris E5 only if you specifically need balanced XLR or TRS studio inputs and are willing to trade tonal accuracy for connectivity and a bigger cabinet.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier MR3 | Presonus Eris E5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.99 per pair | $219.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 23 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #49 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Dimensions | 5.9"H x 3.7"W x 5.9"D (149.9 x 94 x 149.9 mm) | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Amplifier Power | 36W total (18W per speaker) | 80w Per Speaker |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.01 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.63 | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Edifier MR3: $109.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s measurements show little overall tilt across the listening window, helping voices retain a broadly natural balance at a desk. Scores of 3.01 standalone and 5.63 with an ideal subwoofer support it as a useful budget nearfield option rather than a reference monitor. Tone controls and app-based EQ provide unusually flexible adjustment, and its bass extends farther than the Fostex PM03’s. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.3dB.
Cons: Local response ripples remain: the measured 300Hz-5kHz span is 4.5dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.538. Bass reaches -3dB at about 70Hz. The limiter protects the drivers but prevents much extra loudness when pushed; existing compression testing puts effective single-speaker output around 86-87dB at 1m. Vertical crossover interference makes tweeter height and tilt important.
Full Edifier MR3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 36W total (18W per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.9"H x 3.7"W x 5.9"D (149.9 x 94 x 149.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.63 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Presonus Eris E5: $219.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced XLR/TRS and RCA inputs plus placement adjustment make the original Eris E5 easy to connect to studio or consumer sources. Existing listening notes describe a fuller low end than some small, bass-light monitors, which may suit casual nearfield listening.
Cons: A fuller bass balance is not necessarily neutral. Placement adjustment is useful, but it does not replace a properly integrated subwoofer for deep-bass monitoring.
Full Presonus Eris E5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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