Short answer: the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. It ranks #20 of 22 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $99.99; the Midiplus MI3 II ranks #21 and costs $139, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Midiplus MI3 II offers: Compact cabinets, Bluetooth, analog inputs and high-frequency adjustment can suit a basic desktop system. The measured -3dB point is about 67Hz, so missing bass is not its only differentiator from other tiny speakers. Watch for: Preference scores of 0.60 standalone and 3.45 with an ideal subwoofer are poor. High narrow-band deviations on-axis (0.938) and across the listening window (0.852) indicate pronounced response irregularities that can color voices and instruments. The fairly flat overall trend does not mean the response itself is smooth. A subwoofer or simple treble adjustment cannot resolve all of these problems.
What the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen offers: 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. Watch for: 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 1.15 standalone and 3.81 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.
Buy the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Midiplus MI3 II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 22 powered bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Midiplus MI3 II | Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139/pair | $99.99 |
| Ranked | #21 of 22 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #20 of 22 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way | - |
| Drivers | 0.75-inch silk tweeter, 3-inch fiberglass woofer | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz-25kHz | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Output | 60W RMS per pair | - |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB | - |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Dimensions | 6.5H x 4.7W x 6D in | 8.3"H x 6"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Outputs | - | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Weight | - | 8.6 lbs / 3.9 kg |
| App | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Max SPL | - | 95dB @ 1m |
| Sensitivity | - | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Output Power | - | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- M-Audio BX3 vs Fiio SP3
- Mackie CR3-X vs Fiio SP3
- Edifier MR3 vs Fiio SP3
- Edifier MR3 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- Edifier M60 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
Prices on this page were last checked September 8, 2026 at 6:02 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
Midiplus MI3 II: $139/pair eBay
Pros: Compact cabinets, Bluetooth, analog inputs and high-frequency adjustment can suit a basic desktop system. The measured -3dB point is about 67Hz, so missing bass is not its only differentiator from other tiny speakers.
Cons: Preference scores of 0.60 standalone and 3.45 with an ideal subwoofer are poor. High narrow-band deviations on-axis (0.938) and across the listening window (0.852) indicate pronounced response irregularities that can color voices and instruments. The fairly flat overall trend does not mean the response itself is smooth. A subwoofer or simple treble adjustment cannot resolve all of these problems.
Full Midiplus MI3 II review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 6.5H x 4.7W x 6D in |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 0.75-inch silk tweeter, 3-inch fiberglass woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz-25kHz |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB |
| Power Output | 60W RMS per pair |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: $99.99 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.
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 1.15 standalone and 3.81 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 →
| 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 |
- 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 →
- Jasper Tech: Best Desktop Computer Speakers for Every Budget
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Fiio SP3
- 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+
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Edifier MR3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Edifier M60
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- See all 10 comparisons