Short answer: the Edifier R1280DB. It ranks #94 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $189.99. The PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen ranks #45, rated 2.5/5, at $99.99, $90 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Edifier R1280DB is the deeper-bass option. An inexpensive powered bookshelf pair with Bluetooth, optical and coaxial inputs, a remote and tone controls. Its bass reaches about 63Hz before falling 3dB, against 80Hz for the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. The catch: The compact format is better suited to nearfield listening than high-volume playback across a large room.
The case for the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Small desktop monitors with bass and treble controls on the back to adjust for desk or wall placement. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Edifier R1280DB lacks. The catch: The stock response spans 7.2dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and has a strong rising trend of about 1.27dB per octave, emphasizing treble over the midrange.
Buy the Edifier R1280DB. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $90 you would save on the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
An inexpensive powered bookshelf pair with Bluetooth, optical and coaxial inputs, a remote and tone controls.
Small desktop monitors with bass and treble controls on the back to adjust for desk or wall placement.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier R1280DB | PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $189.99 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #94 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - shares the R1280T driver and cabinet; read from that measurement | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 9.2”H x 5.7”W x 7.7”D (233.7 x 144.8 x 195.6 mm) | 8.3”H x 6”W x 5.5”D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 55 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax | RCA, 1/4” Balanced |
| Outputs | None | 1/8” headphone jack |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Drivers | 4” (102mm) woofer | 3.5” woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | - |
| EQ | No | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Amplifier Power | 42w RMS Total | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | Yes | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.17 |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
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