Short answer: the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor for bass, the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen for placement flexibility. The iLoud Micro Monitor has much deeper bass than any other speaker this size, with slightly boosted bass as the tradeoff. The Eris E3.5 2nd Gen adds rear-panel high- and low-frequency shelf tone controls for near-wall placement, but its stock on-axis response has a pronounced smiley face V-curve.
What the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen does well: 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 IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $200 saving on the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen is not enough to make up the difference.
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Specifications Side By Side
| IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor | PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #6 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 7.1”H x 3.5”W x 5.3”D (180.3 x 88.9 x 134.6 mm) | 8.3”H x 6”W x 5.5”D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux | RCA, 1/4” Balanced |
| Weight | 2 lbs (0.9 kg) | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Drivers | 3” woofer, 0.75” silk dome tweeter | 3.5” woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (A2DP) | No |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble switches, Desktop/Free field) | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (combined) | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | 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 | Yes | 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 |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- Jasper Tech: Best Desktop Computer Speakers for Every Budget
- Jasper Tech: Are the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro the Best Studio Monitor Speakers for your Home Studio?
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