Short answer: the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen, if you are buying new, though neither ranks well in its class. The Presonus Eris E3.5 ranks higher than it (#34 vs #36 of 39 powered bookshelf speakers, 2.6/5 vs 2.5/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen is still sold new at $99.99. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 39 powered bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Creative Pebble Pro instead, ranked #25 at $59.99.
Why pick the Presonus Eris E3.5: Compact powered monitors with a 3.5” Kevlar woofer, 25W class AB per side, front headphone jack and 1/8”, TRS and RCA inputs. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen lacks. The tradeoff: Erin’s Audio Corner measured a very uneven on-axis response (3.71dB average deviation) and a listening window spanning 6.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, for a preference score of 2.01.
Why pick the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: Rear-panel bass and treble controls allow broad correction for desk and wall placement. The catch: 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.
Buy the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen, since the Presonus Eris E3.5 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Presonus Eris E3.5 | Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 per pair Discontinued | $99.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #34 of 39 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #36 of 39 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Drivers | 3.5” Kevlar woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter | 3.5” woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per side), class AB | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-20kHz (manufacturer specified) | 80 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 8.3”H x 5.6”W x 6.4”D (210 x 141 x 162 mm) | 8.3”H x 6”W x 5.5”D (210.8 x 152.4 x 139.7 mm) |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs (1.45 kg) each | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Headphone Output | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 60.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.01 | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.94 | 4.17 |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Inputs | - | RCA, 1/4” Balanced |
| Outputs | - | 1/8” headphone jack |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Acoustic space) |
| Sensitivity | - | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Presonus Eris E3.5: $99.99 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen, ranked lower, rated 2.5/5.
Pros: Compact powered monitors with a 3.5” Kevlar woofer, 25W class AB per side, front headphone jack and 1/8”, TRS and RCA inputs. Measured bass extension of 76.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Erin’s Audio Corner measured a very uneven on-axis response (3.71dB average deviation) and a listening window spanning 6.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, for a preference score of 2.01. Bass rolls off at 76.9Hz (-3dB). Replaced by the second-generation E3.5. Discontinued.
Full Presonus Eris E3.5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per side), class AB |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 60.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3”H x 5.6”W x 6.4”D (210 x 141 x 162 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.5” Kevlar woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.94 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs (1.45 kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen: $99.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Older model: the Presonus Eris E3.5 (ranked higher, rated 2.6/5).
Pros: Rear-panel bass and treble controls allow broad correction for desk and wall placement. Erin’s second-generation Klippel measurements give a -3dB point around 69Hz, so the speaker has useful upper-bass reach for its size. Its adjustable balance is more flexible than a fixed-response budget desktop pair. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.4dB.
Cons: 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. Preference scores of 1.51 standalone and 4.17 with an ideal subwoofer indicate major tonal problems beyond bass extension. EQ may help, but a subwoofer alone will not make it neutral. Output and port-modification results from reviews of the original E3.5 should not be assumed to apply to this second-generation model.
Full Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W total (25W per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Headphone Output | Yes |
| Inputs | RCA, 1/4” Balanced |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | 1/8” headphone jack |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 87.4dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.17 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- 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!
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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