Short answer: the Palmer STUDIMON 5. It ranks #68 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 3.6/5) at $599.98 and is still sold new; the PreSonus Eris E5 XT ranks #70 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The PreSonus Eris E5 XT’s replacement, the PreSonus Eris Studio 5, is rated 3.6/5 at $299.98.
The case for the Palmer STUDIMON 5: A plain compact studio monitor with balanced XLR and TRS inputs that fits easily into a home studio setup. The catch: The trace spans 4.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and estimates -3dB bass around 80Hz, with local irregularities despite the level overall trend.
The case for the PreSonus Eris E5 XT: An affordable 5 inch studio monitor with fairly deep bass and balanced XLR, TRS and RCA inputs. The catch: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it.
Buy the Palmer STUDIMON 5. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the PreSonus Eris E5 XT is discontinued.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Palmer STUDIMON 5 | PreSonus Eris E5 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.98 per pair | $239.98 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #68 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #70 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 0.75” soft-dome tweeter, 5” woofer | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| Dimensions | 10.6H x 7.5W x 8.5D in | 10.2”H x 7”W x 7.7”D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) each | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 60W each (30W LF, 30W HF) | 80w Per Speaker |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR and 1/4” TRS | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Country | Germany (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.48 | 3.58 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.37 | 6.00 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | 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 | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 56.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 46.9Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
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