Short answer: the M-Audio BX4 D3. It ranks #75 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $149. The PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen ranks #45, rated 2.5/5, at $99.99, $49.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The M-Audio BX4 D3 is the more accurate choice. An inexpensive desktop pair with balanced TRS, RCA and front aux inputs, a headphone jack and tone controls. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.29 against 1.51 for the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. It keeps a wired aux input, which the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen lacks. Watch for: A rising response of about 0.62dB per octave and listening-window deviation of 0.546 indicate bright, locally uneven reproduction.
The case for the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Small desktop monitors with bass and treble controls on the back to adjust for desk or 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 BX4 D3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $49.01 saving on the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
An inexpensive desktop pair with balanced TRS, RCA and front aux inputs, a headphone jack and tone controls.
Small desktop monitors with bass and treble controls on the back to adjust for desk or wall placement.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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
| M-Audio BX4 D3 | PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #75 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way powered stereo pair, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1” dome tweeter, 4.5” Kevlar woofer | 3.5” woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.9H x 6.1W x 6.9D in | 8.3”H x 6”W x 5.5”D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg)/pair | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 120W peak system | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux; headphone output | RCA, 1/4” Balanced |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.29 | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.03 | 4.17 |
| 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 |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 69Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Outputs | - | 1/8” headphone jack |
| 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) |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
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