Short answer: the M-Audio BX4 D3. It ranks #50 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $149. The Presonus Eris E5 ranks #51, rated 3.3/5, at $109.99, $39.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the M-Audio BX4 D3: Balanced TRS, RCA and front auxiliary/headphone connections, plus tone controls, make this a flexible inexpensive desktop pair. 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 E5: Balanced XLR/TRS and RCA inputs plus placement adjustment make the original Eris E5 easy to connect to studio or consumer sources. Watch for: A fuller bass balance is not necessarily neutral.
Buy the M-Audio BX4 D3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $39.01 saving on the Presonus Eris E5 is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| M-Audio BX4 D3 | Presonus Eris E5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149 per pair | $219.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #50 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #51 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way powered stereo pair, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1" dome tweeter, 4.5" Kevlar woofer | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| Dimensions | 8.9H x 6.1W x 6.9D in | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg)/pair | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 120W peak system | 80w Per Speaker |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux; headphone output | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.29 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.03 | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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) | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How M-Audio BX4 D3 compares with other leading options:
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs M-Audio BX4 D3
- JBL 305P MKII vs M-Audio BX4 D3
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs M-Audio BX4 D3
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs M-Audio BX4 D3
- KEF LSX II LT vs M-Audio BX4 D3
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
M-Audio BX4 D3: $149 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced TRS, RCA and front auxiliary/headphone connections, plus tone controls, make this a flexible inexpensive desktop pair. The third-party measurement gives scores of 3.29 standalone and 6.03 with an ideal subwoofer, with -3dB bass estimated around 67Hz.
Cons: A rising response of about 0.62dB per octave and listening-window deviation of 0.546 indicate bright, locally uneven reproduction. The compact system suits moderate nearfield use; the preference estimate does not verify high-level headroom.
Full M-Audio BX4 D3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 120W peak system |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.9H x 6.1W x 6.9D in |
| Drivers | 1" dome tweeter, 4.5" Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way powered stereo pair, rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 69Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux; headphone output |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.29 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.03 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg)/pair |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Presonus Eris E5: $219.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced XLR/TRS and RCA inputs plus placement adjustment make the original Eris E5 easy to connect to studio or consumer sources. Existing listening notes describe a fuller low end than some small, bass-light monitors, which may suit casual nearfield listening.
Cons: A fuller bass balance is not necessarily neutral. Placement adjustment is useful, but it does not replace a properly integrated subwoofer for deep-bass monitoring.
Full Presonus Eris E5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T5V vs Presonus Eris E5 5 Track Comparison More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS5 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo
- DSAUDIO.review: Fluid Audio F5 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: M-Audio BX5 D3 vs Presonus Eris E5 5 Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E5 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 (new vs old) Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs PreSonus Eris E5 6-Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Mackie CR5 BT vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 5 RP5G3 vs Presonus E5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL LSR305 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 5 G4 RP5G4 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier MR5
- Presonus Eris E5 vs KRK Classic 5
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Audioengine HD6
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier MR4
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier R2000DB
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier S1000W
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
- See all 49 comparisons