Short answer: the Mackie CR3-X. These sit at #45 and #34 of 48 small powered bookshelf speakers at the same price, and the difference comes down to on-axis tonal balance rather than anything else on the spec sheet.
The core issue is a scooped midrange on the Eris. Measured on-axis response shows a pronounced “smiley face” V-curve on the Eris E3.5 2nd Gen, with the midrange sitting roughly 6 to 7dB below the bass and treble, which is a real problem if you plan to use it for mixing or monitoring rather than casual listening. The CR3-X measures more neutral overall, with less of that scooped shape, though it is not without its own flaw: its ported design in a small cabinet produces boosted, boomy bass rather than genuine low-end extension.
One thing works in the Eris’s favor: control. It has rear-panel high and low frequency shelf tone controls that let you dial in the sound, which the reviewer notes is useful for near-wall placement by pulling the bass knob back. The CR3-X has no such tone controls or EQ modes.
Everything measurable elsewhere is identical. Both measure 70Hz bass extension at -10dB and 80Hz at -3dB (Erin’s Audio Corner), both run 50W total across two drivers, and both share the same 80Hz-20kHz manufacturer frequency response spec. The CR3-X does measure notably higher sensitivity at 96dB versus the Eris’s 87.4dB.
Buy the Mackie CR3-X for the more neutral out-of-box tonal balance at the same price, especially if you don’t need onboard tone controls.
Buy the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen if you want the flexibility of bass and treble shelf controls to correct for near-wall placement, and are willing to work around its scooped midrange.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Mackie CR3-X scores 5.4 against 4.2 for the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Efficiency: the Mackie CR3-X is rated at 96 dB sensitivity against 87.4 dB for the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen, so it plays as loud with roughly a third of the amplifier power.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (70 Hz vs 70 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | Mackie CR3-X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 per pair | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #45 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #34 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) | 8.1”H x 5.5”W x 7.1”D (205.7 x 139.7 x 180.3 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4” Balanced | RCA, Aux |
| Outputs | 1/8” headphone jack | 1/8” headphone jack |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Drivers | 3.5” woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter | 3” woofer, 0.75” silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Acoustic space) | No |
| Sensitivity | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 96dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | 92dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.51 | 2.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.17 | 5.42 |
| 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 | No | Yes |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Mackie CR3-X vs PreSonus E3.5 Budget Monitor Showdown!
- DSAUDIO.review: Presonus Eris E3.5 vs Mackie CR3 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
Where the Ratings Come From
- PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner, Audio Science Review and DSAUDIO.review.
- Mackie CR3-X: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner, Audio Science Review and DSAUDIO.review.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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