Short answer: the Edifier MR4 on measured sound quality, the PreSonus Eris E5 on price. The MR4 ranks #77 of 108 medium powered bookshelf speakers against #72 for the Eris E5, and it costs $16.99 more. Both sit in the lower half of their class, so neither is a strong performer overall. The PreSonus Eris E5 is discontinued; its replacement is the PreSonus Eris Studio 5.
Erin’s Audio Corner measurements favor the MR4’s tonal balance. It shows a tight 3.0dB midrange span with little overall on-axis tilt, translating to preference scores of 3.25 standalone and 6.00 with an ideal subwoofer, and Erin’s notes call it more balanced than Edifier’s own R1280DB. Its real weakness is bass: it reaches its -3dB point around 79Hz, so its otherwise flat trend shouldn’t be read as deep extension, and the existing review reports rapidly increasing distortion when pushed well above moderate desktop levels.
The Eris E5 leans into a fuller, warmer low end instead of flat accuracy. Existing listening notes describe it as more fuller-sounding than bass-light monitors in its size, useful for casual nearfield listening, but that fullness is explicitly not the same as neutrality, and its room-response knob doesn’t substitute for a properly integrated subwoofer if deep bass monitoring is the goal.
Connectivity differs in a way that matters for some buyers: the Eris E5 has balanced XLR, TRS, and RCA inputs, while the MR4 offers TRS balanced, RCA, and an aux input plus a headphone output, but no Bluetooth on either speaker.
Buy the Edifier MR4 for the flatter, more neutral measured response if accurate desktop monitoring matters more than a fuller low end.
Buy the PreSonus Eris E5 if you want a warmer, fuller sound for casual listening at a lower price and don’t need XLR-grade measured accuracy.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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 E5 | Edifier MR4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $186.98 per pair Discontinued | $169.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #77 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #72 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 10.2”H x 7”W x 7.7”D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) | 9”H x 5.5”W x 7.6”D (228.6 x 139.7 x 193 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA | TRS Balanced, RCA, Aux |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each | 9.9 lbs (4.5 kg) |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 4” (102mm) woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Monitor and Music modes) |
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker | 42W RMS total (21W per speaker) |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | 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 | Yes |
| Outputs | - | Headphone |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 79Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | - | 78dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.25 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.00 |
| Headphone Output | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- PreSonus Eris E5: reviews by DSAUDIO.review.
- Edifier MR4: 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.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Edifier MR4: