Short answer: the Klipsch ProMedia Lumina for better sound quality, the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen for the lower price. The Klipsch ProMedia Lumina ranks #8 of 13 powered bookshelf speakers at $379.99. The Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen ranks #10 at $99.99, $280 cheaper.
The case for the Klipsch ProMedia Lumina: Genuinely useful bass extension for a compact desktop system thanks to the separate powered subwoofer - measured F3 at 46Hz and F10 at 38Hz, deeper than most speakers in this size and price class. Set against that: Treble is boosted 3-5dB out of the box when pointed directly at the listener, giving a bright, somewhat digital and fatiguing character - fixed by toeing the speakers out 20-30 degrees, but that’s an extra setup step most buyers won’t know to take.
What the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen offers: Includes rear-panel high- and low-frequency shelf tone controls, letting you tailor the sound (helpful for near-wall placement, where the reviewer suggests reducing the bass knob). Watch for: Stock on-axis response has a pronounced “smiley face” V-curve, with the midrange scooped roughly 6-7dB below the bass and treble - problematic for any mixing or monitoring use.
Buy the Klipsch ProMedia Lumina if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. It ranks near the bottom of the 13 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch ProMedia Lumina | Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $379.99 | $99.99 |
| Ranked | #8 of 13 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #10 of 13 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| App | Klipsch Control app - EQ (fixed bands), RGB lighting control, night mode, music-reactive mode | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Dimensions | Satellite: 248 x 165 x 102 mm, Subwoofer: 356 x 152 x 352 mm | 8.3"H x 6"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| EQ | Fixed-band EQ via app (not parametric) | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Inputs | USB-C, 3.5mm Aux, Bluetooth 5.3 | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Drivers | 1" tractrix horn tweeter, 3.5" mid, 6.5" powered subwoofer | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Weight | Satellite: 2.1 lbs / 0.95 kg each, Subwoofer: 11 lbs / 4.99 kg | 8.6 lbs / 3.9 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB, Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max SPL | 98dB | 95dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 100W RMS, 200W peak | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Crossover Frequency | Satellite: 3.5kHz, Subwoofer: 150Hz | - |
| Outputs | - | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Edifier M60 vs Audioengine A2+
- Edifier M60 vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Edifier MR3 vs Audioengine A2+
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Mackie CR3-X
- Audioengine HD3 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch ProMedia Lumina: $379.99 Amazon
Pros: Genuinely useful bass extension for a compact desktop system thanks to the separate powered subwoofer - measured F3 at 46Hz and F10 at 38Hz, deeper than most speakers in this size and price class. The tractrix waveguide design allows for effective EQ correction if you use it. Distortion at both moderate and loud levels is reasonable for the size, and compression behavior is in line with expectations. Extensive RGB lighting and app control, plus tiltable stands.
Cons: Treble is boosted 3-5dB out of the box when pointed directly at the listener, giving a bright, somewhat digital and fatiguing character - fixed by toeing the speakers out 20-30 degrees, but that’s an extra setup step most buyers won’t know to take. The companion app only offers fixed-band EQ, not true parametric EQ, so you can’t precisely dial out the treble bump. Sounds more compressed and less neutral than pricier studio-style monitors like the Adam Audio D3v.
Full Klipsch ProMedia Lumina review and specifications →
| App | Klipsch Control app - EQ (fixed bands), RGB lighting control, night mode, music-reactive mode |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Crossover Frequency | Satellite: 3.5kHz, Subwoofer: 150Hz |
| Dimensions | Satellite: 248 x 165 x 102 mm, Subwoofer: 356 x 152 x 352 mm |
| Drivers | 1" tractrix horn tweeter, 3.5" mid, 6.5" powered subwoofer |
| EQ | Fixed-band EQ via app (not parametric) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | USB-C, 3.5mm Aux, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Max SPL | 98dB |
| Output Power | 100W RMS, 200W peak |
| Weight | Satellite: 2.1 lbs / 0.95 kg each, Subwoofer: 11 lbs / 4.99 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Audioengine A2+
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Edifier M60
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Edifier MR3
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Mackie CR3-X
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Adam Audio D3v
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Fiio SP3
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Genelec 8010A
Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: $99.99 Amazon
Pros: Includes rear-panel high- and low-frequency shelf tone controls, letting you tailor the sound (helpful for near-wall placement, where the reviewer suggests reducing the bass knob). Distortion and neutrality can be meaningfully improved with simple mods - sealing the rear port and adjusting the tone controls (low +3dB, high -6dB in testing) noticeably flattened the default V-shaped response.
Cons: Stock on-axis response has a pronounced “smiley face” V-curve, with the midrange scooped roughly 6-7dB below the bass and treble - problematic for any mixing or monitoring use. The rear port is too small for the cabinet, producing peaky, boomy bass rather than genuine extension. A strong resonance around 1-2kHz persists even with the port sealed, suggesting an internal standing wave rather than a purely port-related issue. Directivity mismatch between the tweeter and woofer as the woofer narrows with frequency. Hard limiting kicks in above about 86dB, and distortion at 96dB is high - not intended for loud listening. Frequency response measurably drifts over time at moderate-to-high volume (about 1dB shift after 4 minutes at 86dB, worse within a couple minutes at 96dB). In direct comparison, measures 3-5dB hotter in the treble than the Mackie CR3-X, and even after sealing the port and adjusting the tone controls, still measured behind the Mackie overall. Best used aimed off-axis (about 30-40°) and with the port sealed; without EQ/DSP correction, significant tonal problems remain.
Full Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3"H x 6"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Max SPL | 95dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Sensitivity | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs / 3.9 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Edifier R1280T Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Mackie CR3 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Mackie CR3-X vs PreSonus E3.5 Budget Monitor Showdown!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 10 Great (and Terrible) Speakers Under $300!
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Audioengine A2+
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Mackie CR3-X
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Edifier M60
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Fiio SP3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Audioengine HD3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Edifier MR3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Adam Audio D3v
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- See all 9 comparisons