Short answer: the E5, and the XT’s own review admits it. The E5 ranks #49 of 65 powered bookshelf speakers at $109.99; the XT ranks #44 at $119.99, $10 more, with cons that state directly it isn’t as good as the standard E5.
Both are pitched as more hifi than reference-neutral, with the E5 described as not quite as detailed as the [Yamaha HS5](/powered/speakers/Yamaha-HS5/) but with deeper bass and a more fun listen. The XT is compared instead to the [KRK Rokit 5 G4](/powered/speakers/KRK-Rokit-5-G4/), very close but slightly more colored.
There isn’t a clear reason the XT costs more, since our own notes don’t identify a specific advantage it holds over its cheaper sibling.
Buy the E5. Between two speakers from the same brand where one’s own review says it’s worse, the choice is straightforward.
Skip the Presonus Eris E5 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 65 powered bookshelf speakers.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Presonus Eris E5 | Presonus Eris E5 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.98 per pair | $239.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #49 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #44 of 65 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) | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker | 80w Per Speaker |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 2.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.30 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Presonus Eris E5 XT compares with other leading options:
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Genelec 8331A
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Genelec 8030C vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Dynaudio LYD 5
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM 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 E5: $219.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Balanced XLR/TRS and RCA inputs plus placement adjustment make the original Eris E5 easy to connect to studio or consumer sources. Existing listening notes describe a fuller low end than some small, bass-light monitors, which may suit casual nearfield listening.
Cons: A fuller bass balance is not necessarily neutral. Placement adjustment is useful, but it does not replace a properly integrated subwoofer for deep-bass monitoring.
Full Presonus Eris E5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T5V vs Presonus Eris E5 5 Track Comparison More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS5 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo
- DSAUDIO.review: Fluid Audio F5 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: M-Audio BX5 D3 vs Presonus Eris E5 5 Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E5 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 (new vs old) Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs PreSonus Eris E5 6-Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Mackie CR5 BT vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 5 RP5G3 vs Presonus E5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL LSR305 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 5 G4 RP5G4 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E5 vs KRK Classic 5
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Audioengine HD6
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier MR4
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier R2000DB
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier S1000W
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Edifier S1000MKII
- Presonus Eris E5 vs Kali Audio IN-UNF
- See all 45 comparisons
Presonus Eris E5 XT: $239.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: ASR’s measurements show reasonably consistent directivity through the crossover, so EQ changes are more likely to benefit both direct and reflected sound. Bass reaches -3dB around 56Hz. A standalone preference score of 2.88 rises to 5.30 with an ideal subwoofer, indicating useful bass reach but only moderate native tonal performance. Measured bass extension of 85Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it. Existing distortion testing shows problems across a broad range when pushed to 96dB. Tone correction and moderate levels help, but it is not a reference-flat monitor out of the box.
Full Presonus Eris E5 XT review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.30 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: New PreSonus E5 XT and Yamaha HS5 could not sound any more different! SOUND AND RESPONSE COMPARISON More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Bright and brighter. PreSonus E5 XT takes on Adam Audio T5V SOUND & FREQUENCY RESPONSE COMPARISON
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E5 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 (new vs old) Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E7 XT vs PreSonus E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E8 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E5 XT vs KRK Rokit 5 G4 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Edifier MR4
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Adam Audio A4V
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs KRK Classic 5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Yamaha HS5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Kanto YU
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Dayton Audio M4
- See all 51 comparisons