Short answer: the M-Audio BX3, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #39 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $99.99; the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen ranks #45, rated 2.5/5, at $99.99. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 48 powered bookshelf speakers; for better sound, the Creative Pebble Pro ranks #32 at $66.49.
The BX3 is the more balanced of two weak budget pairs. It has balanced TRS, RCA and aux inputs, a headphone output and high and low tone controls. Its bass falls 3dB at about 88Hz and its response is uneven, with a preference score of only 2.04, so it is not a good choice for accurate monitoring.
The Eris E3.5 2nd Gen reaches lower but sounds brighter. Its bass reaches about 80Hz before falling 3dB, and it has rear tone controls and an acoustic-space switch. Its response spans 7.2dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and rises about 1.27dB per octave toward the treble, so it sounds bright and thin without EQ.
Buy the M-Audio BX3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen at the same price, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX3 | PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #39 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 48 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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