Short answer: the PreSonus Eris Studio 5, if you are buying new. The PreSonus Eris E5 XT ranks higher than the KRK Classic 5 (#70 vs #74 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the PreSonus Eris Studio 5, is rated 3.6/5 at $299.98 and is still sold new.
What the PreSonus Eris E5 XT does well: An affordable 5 inch studio monitor with fairly deep bass and balanced XLR, TRS and RCA inputs. The catch: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it.
Why pick the KRK Classic 5: A basic 5 inch studio monitor with XLR, TRS and RCA inputs, best for someone willing to tune it with EQ. Watch for: The native standalone score is 3.47 and the midrange span is a large 6.5dB.
Buy the PreSonus Eris Studio 5, the replacement for the discontinued PreSonus Eris E5 XT; it is rated higher for sound quality than the KRK Classic 5.
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Measured Differences
- Close enough not to matter: preference score with a subwoofer (6.0 vs 6.0).
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Specifications Side By Side
| PreSonus Eris E5 XT | KRK Classic 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.98 per pair Discontinued | $319.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #70 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #74 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60.1Hz (Spinorama/Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.9Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | - |
| Dimensions | 10.2”H x 7”W x 7.7”D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) | 9.7”H x 7.4”W x 11.2”D (246.4 x 188 x 284.5 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 56Hz-30kHz (+-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA | RCA, TRS, XLR |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each | 12.9 lbs (5.87 kg) |
| 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 | 50w RMS Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.58 | 3.47 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.00 | 5.99 |
| 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 (-6dB) | - | 54.2Hz (Spinorama/Audio Science Review) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- PreSonus Eris E5 XT: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Audio Science Review and DSAUDIO.review.
- KRK Classic 5: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by 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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