Short answer: the Genelec 8010A for neutrality, the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen for placement flexibility. The 8010A is extremely neutral for mastering and mixing recordings, though it is not as deep in the bass as the iLoud Micro Monitor. The Eris adds rear-panel high- and low-frequency shelf tone controls that help near-wall placement, but its stock on-axis response has a pronounced “smiley face” V-curve.
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. The tradeoff: 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 Genelec 8010A if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen if the price matters more than sound quality.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8010A | PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $900 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #2 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 7.7”H x 4.8”W x 4.5”D (195.6 x 121.9 x 114.3 mm) | 8.3”H x 6”W x 5.5”D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 67 Hz-25 kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR | RCA, 1/4” Balanced |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Drivers | 3” woofer, 0.75” metal dome tweeter | 3.5” woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Bass tilt, Desk proximity) | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W (25W woofer + 25W tweeter) | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Outputs | - | 1/8” headphone jack |
| 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 |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
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