Short answer: the M-Audio BX3, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #21 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $89; the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen ranks #22, rated 2.5/5, and costs $99.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 24 powered bookshelf speakers; for better sound, the Edifier MR3 ranks #8 at $109.99.
What the M-Audio BX3 does well: Balanced TRS, RCA and auxiliary inputs, headphone output and high/low tone controls offer useful flexibility for an inexpensive desktop pair. Watch for: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer.
Why pick the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Rear-panel bass and treble controls allow broad correction for desk and 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 M-Audio BX3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX3 | Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.00 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #21 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #22 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 3.5-inch Kevlar woofer | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-22kHz | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS per pair | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Outputs | Headphone | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Dimensions | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in | 8.3"H x 6"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.04 | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.18 | 4.17 |
| Headphone Output | Yes | Yes |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | 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 |
| Weight | 7.4 lbs (3.35 kg) each | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| App | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| EQ | - | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Sensitivity | - | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for M-Audio BX3:
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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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The Two Speakers In Full
M-Audio BX3: $89.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced TRS, RCA and auxiliary inputs, headphone output and high/low tone controls offer useful flexibility for an inexpensive desktop pair. The controls give some scope to adjust broad tonal balance for placement.
Cons: ASR’s data gives only 2.04 standalone and 5.18 with an ideal subwoofer. Listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.580 indicates persistent tonal irregularities, while bass reaches -3dB at about 88Hz. The limited bass and uneven response make it a weak choice for accurate monitoring even with a subwoofer. Broad tone controls cannot precisely fix crossover or dispersion problems.
Full M-Audio BX3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS per pair |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.2H x 5.5W x 5.7D in |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 3.5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-22kHz |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | Headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.18 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 7.4 lbs (3.35 kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: $99.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Rear-panel bass and treble controls allow broad correction for desk and wall placement. Erin’s second-generation Klippel measurements give a -3dB point around 69Hz, so the speaker has useful upper-bass reach for its size. Its adjustable balance is more flexible than a fixed-response budget desktop pair. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.4dB.
Cons: 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. Preference scores of 1.51 standalone and 4.17 with an ideal subwoofer indicate major tonal problems beyond bass extension. EQ may help, but a subwoofer alone will not make it neutral. Output and port-modification results from reviews of the original E3.5 should not be assumed to apply to this second-generation model.
Full Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| 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 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- 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 →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- 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)
- Jasper Tech: Are the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro the Best Studio Monitor Speakers for your Home Studio? More from Jasper Tech →
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Fluid Audio C35BT
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Mackie CR3-X
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Audioengine HD3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Audioengine A2+
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