Short answer: the Fluid Audio C35BT. It ranks #19 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $139. The Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen ranks #22, rated 2.5/5, at $99.99, $39.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The case for the Fluid Audio C35BT: Balanced TRS inputs, Bluetooth, front volume control and a headphone output make this inexpensive pair practical for a basic desktop setup. Watch for: Preference scores of 2.57 standalone and 5.57 with an ideal subwoofer indicate that the limitations are not just missing bass.
Why pick the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Rear-panel bass and treble controls allow broad correction for desk and wall placement. 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 Fluid Audio C35BT. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $39.01 saving on the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Fluid Audio C35BT | Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #19 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #22 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way, front-ported | - |
| Drivers | 0.8" silk-dome tweeter, 3.5" composite woofer | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 64W total | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, 3.5mm, balanced TRS | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Outputs | Headphone | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Dimensions | 7.3H x 4.9W x 5.9D in | 8.3"H x 6"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.57 | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.57 | 4.17 |
| Headphone Output | Yes | Yes |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.52 kg) pair | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| EQ | - | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Sensitivity | - | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Fluid Audio C35BT compares with other leading options:
- Monacor SOUND-4BT vs Fluid Audio C35BT
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Monoprice Monolith MM-3 vs Fluid Audio C35BT
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Audioengine HD3
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Mackie CR3-X
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
Fluid Audio C35BT: $139 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced TRS inputs, Bluetooth, front volume control and a headphone output make this inexpensive pair practical for a basic desktop setup. ASR’s measured -3dB point is about 78Hz, so it covers more upper bass than the shallowest-reaching mini speakers.
Cons: Preference scores of 2.57 standalone and 5.57 with an ideal subwoofer indicate that the limitations are not just missing bass. Listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.555 and sound-power deviation of 0.657 show that response irregularities affect both direct and room-reflected sound. A subwoofer cannot correct those tonal problems, and the small drivers are not a basis for expecting high clean output.
Full Fluid Audio C35BT review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 64W total |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.3H x 4.9W x 5.9D in |
| Drivers | 0.8" silk-dome tweeter, 3.5" composite woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way, front-ported |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, 3.5mm, balanced TRS |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | Headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.57 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.57 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.52 kg) pair |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Mackie CR3-X
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Fiio SP3
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs M-Audio BX3
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Audioengine HD3
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Monoprice Monolith MM-3
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Midiplus MI3 II
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Fluid Audio C35BT vs Monoprice DT-3
- See all 9 comparisons
Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: $99.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Rear-panel bass and treble controls allow broad correction for desk and wall placement. Erin’s second-generation Klippel measurements give a -3dB point around 69Hz, so the speaker has useful upper-bass reach for its size. Its adjustable balance is more flexible than a fixed-response budget desktop pair. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.4dB.
Cons: 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. Preference scores of 1.51 standalone and 4.17 with an ideal subwoofer indicate major tonal problems beyond bass extension. EQ may help, but a subwoofer alone will not make it neutral. Output and port-modification results from reviews of the original E3.5 should not be assumed to apply to this second-generation model.
Full Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3"H x 6"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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.17 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- 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!
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Jasper Tech: Are the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro the Best Studio Monitor Speakers for your Home Studio? More from Jasper Tech →
- Jasper Tech: Best Desktop Computer Speakers for Every Budget
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Midiplus MI3 II
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs M-Audio BX3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Fiio SP3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Monoprice DT-3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Mackie CR3-X
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Audioengine HD3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Audioengine A2+
- See all 15 comparisons