Short answer: the HiVi Swan X3. It ranks #10 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $179. The PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen ranks #45, rated 2.5/5, at $99.99, $79.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Small desktop monitors with bass and treble controls on the back to adjust for desk or wall placement. The tradeoff: 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.
The HiVi Swan X3 is the more accurate pick. An affordable small coaxial desktop pair with fairly balanced sound for the money. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.04 against 1.51 for the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen. The tradeoff: Not a flat reference monitor: the response spans 5.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and trends upward toward the treble.
Buy the HiVi Swan X3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $79.01 with the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Small desktop monitors with bass and treble controls on the back to adjust for desk or wall placement.
An affordable small coaxial desktop pair with fairly balanced sound for the money.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | HiVi Swan X3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 per pair | $179.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #45 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #10 of 48 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) | 5” x 4.8” x 7.1” (128 x 123 x 181 mm) (W x D x H) |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 75Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4” Balanced | RCA |
| Outputs | 1/8” headphone jack | - |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 3.5” woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter | 3-inch coaxial woofer and tweeter |
| App | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Acoustic space) | - |
| Sensitivity | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) | 28W RMS Per Speaker |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.51 | 4.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.17 | 7.03 |
| Headphone Output | 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 | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | Active coaxial, rear-ported |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | - | 71Hz (measured, Spinorama) |
| Configuration | - | Powered desktop monitor |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How HiVi Swan X3 compares with other leading options: