Short answer: the 305P MkII, for a real premium. It ranks #18 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers at $319; the Eris E5 ranks #77 at $186.98, $132.02 less. The PreSonus Eris E5 is discontinued; its replacement is the PreSonus Eris Studio 5.
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, 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.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Budget studio monitors with balanced sound and wide coverage that keeps the stereo image stable across a desk.
A low cost 5 inch studio monitor with a fuller low end, balanced and RCA inputs, and placement adjustment.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 305P MKII | PreSonus Eris E5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $319.00 per pair | $186.98 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #18 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #77 of 108 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 | 5.38 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.52 | - |
| 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 |
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