Short answer: the Presonus Eris E5 XT. It ranks #19 of 60 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $119.99; the Edifier S2000MKIII ranks #29 and costs $594.98, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Edifier S2000MKIII offers: Spinorama’s digitized measurements show unusually deep extension for a powered bookshelf speaker: 40.5Hz at -3dB and 37Hz at -6dB. Its preference score is 3.58 without a subwoofer and 5.34 with one, placing it just above the KRK Classic 5 and Edifier MR4 on the same with-subwoofer measure. It also accepts digital input up to 24-bit/192kHz. Watch for: The Spinorama record is low-quality data digitized from a scanned graph rather than an independent Klippel measurement, so the score carries more uncertainty. Frequency deviation is 4.0dB, predicted in-room smoothness is only 0.107, and the response needs substantial EQ around 1kHz and 3.3kHz to approach neutrality.
What the Presonus Eris E5 XT offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows very smooth, consistent directivity through the crossover region and into the treble, with early reflections tracking the on-axis curve closely. Watch for: On-axis response is uneven, with peaks at both frequency extremes and a dip around the roughly 3kHz crossover, giving a bass-and-treble-heavy tonal balance with the midrange partially recessed. Because directivity is otherwise good, room reflections closely mirror that same imbalance rather than smoothing it out. At 96dB SPL distortion spans a wide range of frequencies, and while dropping to 86dB helps, the woofer or its amplifier remains the weak link.
Buy the Presonus Eris E5 XT. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Edifier S2000MKIII and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier S2000MKIII | Presonus Eris E5 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $594.98 | $119.99 |
| Ranked | #29 of 60 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #19 of 60 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 7.8"W x 10.8"D (342.9 x 198.1 x 274.3 mm) | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 40.5Hz at -3dB; 37Hz at -6dB (Spinorama) | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.58 without subwoofer; 5.34 with subwoofer | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Outputs | None | - |
| Drivers | 5.5" (140mm) woofer | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Output Power | 65w RMS Per Speaker | 80w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 20.7 lbs / 9.4 kg | 10.1 lbs / 4.6 kg each |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 24, 2026 at 6:53 AM 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 S2000MKIII: $594.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Spinorama’s digitized measurements show unusually deep extension for a powered bookshelf speaker: 40.5Hz at -3dB and 37Hz at -6dB. Its preference score is 3.58 without a subwoofer and 5.34 with one, placing it just above the KRK Classic 5 and Edifier MR4 on the same with-subwoofer measure. It also accepts digital input up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Cons: The Spinorama record is low-quality data digitized from a scanned graph rather than an independent Klippel measurement, so the score carries more uncertainty. Frequency deviation is 4.0dB, predicted in-room smoothness is only 0.107, and the response needs substantial EQ around 1kHz and 3.3kHz to approach neutrality.
Full Edifier S2000MKIII review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 7.8"W x 10.8"D (342.9 x 198.1 x 274.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.5" (140mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40.5Hz at -3dB; 37Hz at -6dB (Spinorama) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax |
| Output Power | 65w RMS Per Speaker |
| Outputs | None |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.58 without subwoofer; 5.34 with subwoofer |
| Weight | 20.7 lbs / 9.4 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier S1000MKII vs Edifier S2000MKIII sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier S2000MKIII vs Klipsch The Three II sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier R2850DB vs Edifier S2000MKIII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Edifier S2000MKIII vs Edifier S3000PRO Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Archimago Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Edifier S2000MKIII Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Edifier S2000MKIII vs KRK Classic 5
- Edifier S2000MKIII vs Dayton Audio M4
- Edifier S2000MKIII vs KEF LSX II LT
- Edifier S2000MKIII vs Edifier MR4
- Edifier S2000MKIII vs Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus
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- Edifier S2000MKIII vs Focal Alpha 50 EVO
- Edifier S2000MKIII vs Edifier R1280DB
- See all 48 comparisons
Presonus Eris E5 XT: $119.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows very smooth, consistent directivity through the crossover region and into the treble, with early reflections tracking the on-axis curve closely.
Cons: On-axis response is uneven, with peaks at both frequency extremes and a dip around the roughly 3kHz crossover, giving a bass-and-treble-heavy tonal balance with the midrange partially recessed. Because directivity is otherwise good, room reflections closely mirror that same imbalance rather than smoothing it out. At 96dB SPL distortion spans a wide range of frequencies, and while dropping to 86dB helps, the woofer or its amplifier remains the weak link.
Full Presonus Eris E5 XT review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | 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) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 80w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs / 4.6 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: New PreSonus E5 XT and Yamaha HS5 could not sound any more different! SOUND AND RESPONSE COMPARISON More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Bright and brighter. PreSonus E5 XT takes on Adam Audio T5V SOUND & FREQUENCY RESPONSE COMPARISON
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E5 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 (new vs old) Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E7 XT vs PreSonus E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E8 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E5 XT vs KRK Rokit 5 G4 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Presonus Eris E5 XT Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Airpulse A100
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- See all 36 comparisons