Short answer: the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #22 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 2.5/5, at $99.99; the Monoprice DT-3 ranks #24, rated 2.3/5, and costs $139.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 24 powered bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Edifier MR3 instead, ranked #8 at $109.99.
Why pick the Monoprice DT-3: An inexpensive, compact powered pair with front volume control, auxiliary input and headphone output. The tradeoff: The measured response spans 7.6dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with large irregularities both on-axis and across the listening window.
The case for the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Rear-panel bass and treble controls allow broad correction for desk and wall placement. 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.
Buy the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Monoprice DT-3 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice DT-3 | Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #24 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #22 of 24 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way stereo pair, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 0.75-inch tweeter, 3.5-inch woofer | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 50W system | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 69Hz (measured, Spinorama) | - |
| Inputs | Rear stereo RCA and front 3.5mm auxiliary | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Outputs | Front headphone | 1/8" headphone jack |
| Dimensions | 8H x 5.5W x 5.9D in each | 8.3"H x 6"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.10 | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.03 | 4.17 |
| Headphone Output | Yes | Yes |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | 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 | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) |
| 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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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
Monoprice DT-3: $139.99 per pair Monoprice eBay
Pros: An inexpensive, compact powered pair with front volume control, auxiliary input and headphone output. Erin’s Klippel measurements put the -3dB bass point around 74Hz, sufficient for some upper-bass content at a desk.
Cons: The measured response spans 7.6dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with large irregularities both on-axis and across the listening window. Preference scores are 0.10 standalone and only 3.03 with an ideal subwoofer, the weakest comparable result in this group. That means adding bass support does not remove its major tonal problems. It offers little reason to choose it for accurate listening over better-measuring budget alternatives.
Full Monoprice DT-3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W system |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 69Hz (measured, Spinorama) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8H x 5.5W x 5.9D in each |
| Drivers | 0.75-inch tweeter, 3.5-inch woofer |
| Enclosure | Powered 2-way stereo pair, rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | Rear stereo RCA and front 3.5mm auxiliary |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | Front headphone |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.10 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.03 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: $99.99 per pair 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. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.4dB.
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 1.51 standalone and 4.17 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 →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4" Balanced |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.17 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- 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
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