Short answer: the 305P MkII, for a real premium. It ranks #13 of 65 powered bookshelf speakers at $319; the Eris E5 ranks #49 at $109.99, $209.01 less.
The Eris E5’s cons compare it to the Yamaha HS5, describing it as more hifi sounding and not quite as detailed, although with deeper bass and a more fun listen, a real alternative character rather than a flaw.
The 305P MkII is described as extremely close to the [Focal Alpha 50 EVO](/powered/speakers/Focal-Alpha-50-EVO/), almost indistinguishable, with only minor complaints like possible slight amp hiss at low levels.
Buy the Eris E5 for most of the performance at little more than half the price. Buy the 305P MkII for the stronger ranking if the premium is acceptable.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Presonus Eris E5. It ranks near the bottom of the 65 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 305P MKII | Presonus Eris E5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $319.00 per pair | $219.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #13 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #49 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.3"W x 9.1"D (297.2 x 185.4 x 231.1 mm) | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 49 Hz - 20 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) each | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Amplifier Power | 81w Per Speaker | 80w Per Speaker |
| Sensitivity | 91.1dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.47 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.61 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL 305P MKII:
- Genelec 8331A vs JBL 305P MKII
- JBL 305P MKII vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Genelec 8030C vs JBL 305P MKII
- JBL 305P MKII vs Neumann KH80 DSP
- JBL 305P MKII vs Reflector Audio Square Two
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 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
JBL 305P MKII: $319.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s Klippel data gives 4.47 standalone and 6.61 with an ideal subwoofer, with bass reaching -3dB around 51Hz. Broad horizontal coverage and reasonably smooth reflected sound support stable imaging across a desk. The existing review reports effective limiting and little sustained thermal compression, making it a strong budget-monitor option rather than just a speaker with a promising frequency curve. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91.1dB.
Cons: The 3.3dB midrange span and rising response show it is not perfectly neutral. A port-related feature around 1.6kHz and some excess treble can be audible; the review recommends the treble-trim switch. Vertical crossover interference makes ear height important. Amplifier hiss may matter in very quiet nearfield use, and rear-port placement needs room-boundary adjustment.
Full JBL 305P MKII review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 81w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.3"W x 9.1"D (297.2 x 185.4 x 231.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 49 Hz - 20 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Sensitivity | 91.1dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.47 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.61 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- 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 →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: LIVE! JBL 305P MkII Powered Studio Monitor Review
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs Yamaha HS5 6-Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review JBL 305P MKII vs KRK Classic 5 CL5G3 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs Adam Audio T5V 6-Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio A5X vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Kali Audio LP-6 V2 (2nd Wave) vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Kali Audio IN-5 vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 308P MKII vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Neumann KH80 DSP vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frquency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs PreSonus Eris E5 6-Track Comparison
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Jasper Tech: Best Desktop Computer Speakers for Every Budget – 2026 More from Jasper Tech →
- Jasper Tech: Best Powered Bookshelf Speakers for Every Budget - 2025
- Jasper Tech: Are the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro the Best Studio Monitor Speakers for your Home Studio?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL 305P MKII vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- JBL 305P MKII vs Klipsch The Fives
- JBL 305P MKII vs Genelec 8020D
- JBL 305P MKII vs Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus
- JBL 305P MKII vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII
- JBL 305P MKII vs Topping MA4
- JBL 305P MKII vs Devialet Phantom II 98 dB
- JBL 305P MKII vs Sigberg Audio SBS Gen 2
- See all 64 comparisons
Presonus Eris E5: $219.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced XLR/TRS and RCA inputs plus placement adjustment make the original Eris E5 easy to connect to studio or consumer sources. Existing listening notes describe a fuller low end than some small, bass-light monitors, which may suit casual nearfield listening.
Cons: A fuller bass balance is not necessarily neutral. Placement adjustment is useful, but it does not replace a properly integrated subwoofer for deep-bass monitoring.
Full Presonus Eris E5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T5V vs Presonus Eris E5 5 Track Comparison More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS5 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo
- DSAUDIO.review: Fluid Audio F5 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: M-Audio BX5 D3 vs Presonus Eris E5 5 Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E5 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 (new vs old) Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs PreSonus Eris E5 6-Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Mackie CR5 BT vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 5 RP5G3 vs Presonus E5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL LSR305 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 5 G4 RP5G4 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E5 vs KRK Classic 5
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Audioengine HD6
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier MR4
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier R2000DB
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier S1000W
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier S1000MKII
- See all 45 comparisons