Short answer: the Presonus Eris E5 XT. It ranks #16 of 36 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $119.99; the KRK Classic 5 ranks #24 and costs $280, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Presonus Eris E5 XT offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: More HiFi sounding than a studio monitor.
What the KRK Classic 5 offers: Good soundstage Watch for: More hifi than studio monitors.
Buy the Presonus Eris E5 XT. It ranks higher for sound quality than the KRK Classic 5 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Presonus Eris E5 XT | KRK Classic 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $280 |
| Ranked | #16 of 36 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #24 of 36 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) | 9.7"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) |
| Output Power | 80w Per Speaker | 50w RMS Per Speaker |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KRK Rokit 5 G4 vs Presonus Eris E5
- Dayton Audio M4 vs Donner Dyna 3
- Adam Audio T5V vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
- KRK Classic 5 vs Neumi BS5P
- JBL 305P MKII vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
The Two Speakers In Full
Presonus Eris E5 XT: $119.99 Amazon
Cons: More HiFi sounding than a studio monitor. Not as good as the E5. Very close to the Rokit 5, but these sound slightly colored.
Full Presonus Eris E5 XT review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 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) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 80w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs / 4.6 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- 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
- 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
- Reddit Search for Presonus Eris E5 XT Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Presonus Eris E5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs JBL 305P MKII
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Edifier R1700BT
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Pioneer DJ VM-50
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Audioengine HD4
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Neumi BS5P
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Donner Dyna 3
- See all 9 comparisons
KRK Classic 5: $280 Amazon
Pros: Good soundstage
Cons: More hifi than studio monitors. Elevated, splashy highs above 4kHz stem from port/woofer resonance glitches, plus directivity error at the crossover dips the upper midrange. Distortion exceeds 100% below 50Hz, and the lack of a waveguide narrows the tweeter’s beam sharply, so toe-in and listening position matter a lot. Not recommended out of the box, but the reviewer said EQ correction turns it into a capable, high-power monitor.
Full KRK Classic 5 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 9.7"H x 7.4"W x 11.2"D (246.4 x 188 x 284.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz-30KHz (+-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, TRS, XLR |
| Output Power | 50w RMS Per Speaker |
| Weight | 12.9 lbs / 5.87 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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