Short answer: the Neumann KH120 MKII. It ranks #2 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.7/5) at $1,898 and is still sold new; the PreSonus Eris E5 ranks #77 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The PreSonus Eris E5’s replacement, the PreSonus Eris Studio 5, is rated 3.6/5 at $299.98.
What the Neumann KH120 MKII gets right: CEA2034 spinorama is about as flat as the reviewer has measured, with excellent directivity aside from a small blip around 2kHz. The catch: A minor directivity blip appears around 2kHz.
Buy the Neumann KH120 MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the PreSonus Eris E5 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Neumann KH120 MKII | PreSonus Eris E5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,898.00 per pair | $186.98 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #2 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #77 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Dimensions | 11.3”H x 7.2”W x 8.9”D (287 x 182.9 x 226.1 mm) | 10.2”H x 7”W x 7.7”D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 1” titanium fabric dome tweeter | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) each | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| App | Yes (MA 1 alignment) | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (via DSP) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 21kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 245W (145W woofer + 100W tweeter) | 80w Per Speaker |
| Maximum SPL | 116.8dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.49 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.44 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
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