Short answer: the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. It ranks #9 of 11 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $99.99; the Fiio SP3 ranks #11 and costs $299.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen offers: Includes rear-panel high- and low-frequency shelf tone controls, letting you tailor the sound (helpful for near-wall placement, where the reviewer suggests reducing the bass knob). Watch for: Stock on-axis response has a pronounced “smiley face” V-curve, with the midrange scooped roughly 6-7dB below the bass and treble - problematic for any mixing or monitoring use.
What the Fiio SP3 offers: Solid build quality that feels more substantial than the ribbed, 3D-printed-looking exterior would suggest. Watch for: Treble runs too hot and the mid-range is heavily scooped out on-axis, the supposedly ideal listening position.
Buy the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Fiio SP3 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 11 powered bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | Fiio SP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #9 of 11 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #11 of 11 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 8.3"H x 6"W x 5.5"D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) | 6.4"H x 4.7"W x 5.2"D (163 x 120 x 132 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4" Balanced | AUX, RCA |
| Outputs | 1/8" headphone jack | - |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs / 3.9 kg | 4.3 lbs / 1.95 kg each |
| Drivers | 3.5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter | 3.5" carbon fiber midwoofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59Hz (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) | 40W total (30W midwoofer + 10W tweeter) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Mackie CR3-X vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Mackie CR3-X
- Audioengine A2+ vs Mackie CR3-X
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- Mackie CR3-X vs Fiio SP3
The Two Speakers In Full
Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: $99.99 Amazon
Pros: Includes rear-panel high- and low-frequency shelf tone controls, letting you tailor the sound (helpful for near-wall placement, where the reviewer suggests reducing the bass knob). Distortion and neutrality can be meaningfully improved with simple mods - sealing the rear port and adjusting the tone controls (low +3dB, high -6dB in testing) noticeably flattened the default V-shaped response.
Cons: Stock on-axis response has a pronounced “smiley face” V-curve, with the midrange scooped roughly 6-7dB below the bass and treble - problematic for any mixing or monitoring use. The rear port is too small for the cabinet, producing peaky, boomy bass rather than genuine extension. A strong resonance around 1-2kHz persists even with the port sealed, suggesting an internal standing wave rather than a purely port-related issue. Directivity mismatch between the tweeter and woofer as the woofer narrows with frequency. Hard limiting kicks in above about 86dB, and distortion at 96dB is high - not intended for loud listening. Frequency response measurably drifts over time at moderate-to-high volume (about 1dB shift after 4 minutes at 86dB, worse within a couple minutes at 96dB). In direct comparison, measures 3-5dB hotter in the treble than the Mackie CR3-X, and even after sealing the port and adjusting the tone controls, still measured behind the Mackie overall. Best used aimed off-axis (about 30-40°) and with the port sealed; without EQ/DSP correction, significant tonal problems remain.
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 sound.DEMO
- 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!
- Reddit Search for Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Mackie CR3-X
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Edifier M60
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Edifier MR3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Audioengine HD3
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Adam Audio D3v
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen vs Genelec 8010A
Fiio SP3: $299.99 Amazon
Pros: Solid build quality that feels more substantial than the ribbed, 3D-printed-looking exterior would suggest. RGB lighting accent on the base. Genuinely good dynamic range and compression behavior at higher frequencies - the one area where the reviewer says the manufacturer’s marketing claims actually hold up. Compact footprint for a desktop setup, with a 7° riser built into the base to angle the drivers toward the listener.
Cons: Treble runs too hot and the mid-range is heavily scooped out on-axis, the supposedly ideal listening position. A severely mismatched enclosure-to-driver tuning creates a very high-Q bass resonance - a one-note bass “boom” rather than usable extension, with a steep 7dB rolloff between F3 (59Hz) and F10 (53Hz). Tilting the speaker to change listening angle doesn’t fix the tonal problems; because the crossover itself is poorly executed, off-axis listening just trades one set of problems (5-10dB dip at the crossover region) for another. The reviewer found no EQ or placement adjustment that made it sound acceptable, and specifically calls out the manufacturer’s marketing claims (driver size, dynamics, soundstage) as misleading relative to comparably-priced competitors like the Presonus Eris 3.5. No volume knob on the front panel. Recommended alternative: the Monoprice MM3.
Full Fiio SP3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 6.4"H x 4.7"W x 5.2"D (163 x 120 x 132 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.5" carbon fiber midwoofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Inputs | AUX, RCA |
| Output Power | 40W total (30W midwoofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Weight | 4.3 lbs / 1.95 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons