Short answer: the Kanto YU if sound quality matters most, the Presonus Eris E5 XT if price matters most. The Kanto YU ranks #39 of 65 powered bookshelf speakers at $349.99. The Presonus Eris E5 XT ranks #44 at $119.99, $230 cheaper.
What the Kanto YU offers: RCA and Bluetooth inputs, remote control, tone adjustment and a subwoofer output make this compact pair simple to use. ASR’s measurements show a 2.9dB midrange span and a 5.51 preference score with an ideal subwoofer, supporting moderate desktop use with bass assistance. Watch for: Standalone preference is 2.59 and the -3dB point is about 85Hz, so it lacks low-bass weight. The response trends upward toward the treble and retains local irregularities across the listening window. A subwoofer adds bandwidth but does not make the speaker neutral. Connectivity is basic compared with models offering USB, optical or HDMI.
What the Presonus Eris E5 XT offers: ASR’s measurements show reasonably consistent directivity through the crossover, so EQ changes are more likely to benefit both direct and reflected sound. Bass reaches -3dB around 56Hz. A standalone preference score of 2.88 rises to 5.30 with an ideal subwoofer, indicating useful bass reach but only moderate native tonal performance. Watch for: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it. Existing distortion testing shows problems across a broad range when pushed to 96dB. Tone correction and moderate levels help, but it is not a reference-flat monitor out of the box.
Buy the Kanto YU when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Presonus Eris E5 XT when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kanto YU | Presonus Eris E5 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.99 per pair | $239.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #39 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #44 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way powered, rear-ported MDF | - |
| Drivers | 1" silk-dome tweeter, 4" Kevlar woofer | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| Dimensions | 8.7H x 5.5W x 7.5D in | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) active, 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) passive | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 70W RMS / 140W peak per pair | 80w Per Speaker |
| Inputs | RCA and Bluetooth 4.2 aptX | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| Country | Canada (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.59 | 2.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.51 | 5.30 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | Subwoofer | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | - | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | No |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Kanto YU:
- Genelec 8331A vs Kanto YU
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Kanto YU
- Genelec 8030C vs Kanto YU
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Kanto YU
- Kanto YU vs Dynaudio LYD 5
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Kanto YU: $349.99 per pair Kanto Audio eBay
Pros: RCA and Bluetooth inputs, remote control, tone adjustment and a subwoofer output make this compact pair simple to use. ASR’s measurements show a 2.9dB midrange span and a 5.51 preference score with an ideal subwoofer, supporting moderate desktop use with bass assistance.
Cons: Standalone preference is 2.59 and the -3dB point is about 85Hz, so it lacks low-bass weight. The response trends upward toward the treble and retains local irregularities across the listening window. A subwoofer adds bandwidth but does not make the speaker neutral. Connectivity is basic compared with models offering USB, optical or HDMI.
Full Kanto YU review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 70W RMS / 140W peak per pair |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Country | Canada (design) |
| Dimensions | 8.7H x 5.5W x 7.5D in |
| Drivers | 1" silk-dome tweeter, 4" Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way powered, rear-ported MDF |
| Inputs | RCA and Bluetooth 4.2 aptX |
| Outputs | Subwoofer |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.59 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.51 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) active, 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) passive |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Presonus Eris E5 XT: $239.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: ASR’s measurements show reasonably consistent directivity through the crossover, so EQ changes are more likely to benefit both direct and reflected sound. Bass reaches -3dB around 56Hz. A standalone preference score of 2.88 rises to 5.30 with an ideal subwoofer, indicating useful bass reach but only moderate native tonal performance. Measured bass extension of 85Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it. Existing distortion testing shows problems across a broad range when pushed to 96dB. Tone correction and moderate levels help, but it is not a reference-flat monitor out of the box.
Full Presonus Eris E5 XT review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | 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) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.30 |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: New PreSonus E5 XT and Yamaha HS5 could not sound any more different! SOUND AND RESPONSE COMPARISON More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Bright and brighter. PreSonus E5 XT takes on Adam Audio T5V SOUND & FREQUENCY RESPONSE COMPARISON
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E5 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 (new vs old) Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E7 XT vs PreSonus E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E8 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E5 XT vs KRK Rokit 5 G4 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Edifier MR4
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Adam Audio A4V
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs KRK Classic 5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Yamaha HS5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Presonus Eris E5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Dayton Audio M4
- See all 51 comparisons