Short answer: the Presonus Eris E5. It ranks #51 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $109.99; the Midiplus MI5 II ranks #62, rated 3.0/5, and costs $169, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the Midiplus MI5 II: Balanced inputs, Bluetooth and a powered-pair format offer useful connectivity. Watch for: The 2.24 standalone and 4.53 ideal-subwoofer scores show significant problems above the bass region.
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. The catch: A fuller bass balance is not necessarily neutral.
Buy the Presonus Eris E5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Midiplus MI5 II 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
| Midiplus MI5 II | Presonus Eris E5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169 per pair | $219.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #62 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #51 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch fiberglass woofer | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-25kHz | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS per pair | 80w Per Speaker |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB | - |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Dimensions | 10.1H x 6.7W x 9.4D in | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.24 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.53 | - |
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Weight | - | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
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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
Midiplus MI5 II: $169 per pair eBay
Pros: Balanced inputs, Bluetooth and a powered-pair format offer useful connectivity. The measured -3dB point is around 54Hz, so it reaches lower in the bass than some compact monitors.
Cons: The 2.24 standalone and 4.53 ideal-subwoofer scores show significant problems above the bass region. A large 9.4dB midrange response span and listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.644 indicate substantial coloration even though the overall response slope is fairly mild. A subwoofer cannot fix those irregularities. Amplifier-power specifications do not establish clean output.
Full Midiplus MI5 II review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS per pair |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1H x 6.7W x 9.4D in |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch fiberglass woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-25kHz |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, RCA, 3.5mm, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.24 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.53 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| 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
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