Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the M-Audio BX5 D3 is the better pick: it ranks #42 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 3.9/5), against #70 (rated 3.5/5) for the PreSonus Eris E5 XT. If you want one new, the PreSonus Eris Studio 5 replaces the PreSonus Eris E5 XT and is rated 3.6/5 at $299.98.
The case for the PreSonus Eris E5 XT: An affordable 5 inch studio monitor with fairly deep bass and balanced XLR, TRS and RCA inputs. The tradeoff: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it.
The M-Audio BX5 D3 is the more accurate option. A budget studio monitor with balanced inputs and room adjustment for a basic home studio. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.09 against 3.58 for the PreSonus Eris E5 XT. The tradeoff: The response slopes downward by about 0.65dB per octave, potentially softening treble relative to the midrange.
Buy the M-Audio BX5 D3 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the PreSonus Eris Studio 5, which replaces the PreSonus Eris E5 XT.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
An affordable 5 inch studio monitor with fairly deep bass and balanced XLR, TRS and RCA inputs.
A budget studio monitor with balanced inputs and room adjustment for a basic home studio.
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Specifications Side By Side
| PreSonus Eris E5 XT | M-Audio BX5 D3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.98 per pair Discontinued | $637.22 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #70 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #42 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56.4Hz (measured, 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) | 10H x 6.9W x 7.8D in |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 52Hz-35kHz |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA | XLR and TRS |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker | 100W each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.58 | 4.09 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.00 | 6.69 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| 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 |
| Enclosure | - | Active 2-way, rear-ported |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB |
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