Short answer: the JBL 305P MKII is the proven choice, measured and ranked among powered bookshelf speakers, while the newer PreSonus Eris Studio 5 has no independent measurements yet and can only be compared on specs.
What the PreSonus Eris Studio 5 offers: A 5.25” woven composite woofer and 1” silk dome tweeter on a 120° x 60° EBM waveguide for a wide sweet spot.
What the JBL 305P MKII brings: Erin’s Klippel data gives 5.38 standalone and 7.52 with an ideal subwoofer, with bass reaching -3dB around 51Hz.
On paper: The PreSonus Eris Studio 5 is rated down to 48Hz against 49Hz, though makers quote these at different tolerances.
Price: the PreSonus Eris Studio 5 lists at $299.98 and the JBL 305P MKII at $289.
Buy the JBL 305P MKII if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the PreSonus Eris Studio 5 if you want deeper rated bass and RCA inputs, and you can wait for measurements to confirm how it sounds.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| PreSonus Eris Studio 5 | JBL 305P MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.98 per pair | $289.00 per pair |
| Ranked | - | #13 of 67 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 5.25” woven composite woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker (Class AB) | 81w Per Speaker |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 49 Hz - 20 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA | XLR, TRS |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| XLR 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 |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Low-cut, Mid and High controls, 3-way acoustic space tuning) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Dimensions | - | 11.7”H x 7.3”W x 9.1”D (297.2 x 185.4 x 231.1 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | - | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) each |
| App | - | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 91.1dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.52 |
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
PreSonus Eris Studio 5: $299.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Older model: the Presonus Eris E5 XT (rated 3.5/5).
Pros: A 5.25” woven composite woofer and 1” silk dome tweeter on a 120° x 60° EBM waveguide for a wide sweet spot. 80W Class AB bi-amplification rated to 102dB peak, a front-firing port, and balanced XLR and TRS plus unbalanced RCA inputs. PreSonus rates response at 48Hz to 20kHz.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Sold individually, so a stereo pair costs twice the listed price.
Full PreSonus Eris Studio 5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker (Class AB) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Drivers | 5.25” woven composite woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Low-cut, Mid and High controls, 3-way acoustic space tuning) |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL 305P MKII: $289.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s Klippel data gives 5.38 standalone and 7.52 with an ideal subwoofer, with bass reaching -3dB around 51Hz. Broad horizontal coverage and reasonably smooth reflected sound support stable imaging across a desk. The existing review reports effective limiting and little sustained thermal compression, making it a strong budget-monitor option rather than just a speaker with a promising frequency curve. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91.1dB.
Cons: The 3.3dB midrange span and rising response show it is not perfectly neutral. A port-related feature around 1.6kHz and some excess treble can be audible; the review recommends the treble-trim switch. Vertical crossover interference makes ear height important. Amplifier hiss may matter in very quiet nearfield use, and rear-port placement needs room-boundary adjustment.
Full JBL 305P MKII review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 81w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7”H x 7.3”W x 9.1”D (297.2 x 185.4 x 231.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 49 Hz - 20 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Sensitivity | 91.1dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.52 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: LIVE! JBL 305P MkII Powered Studio Monitor Review
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
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- DSAUDIO.review: Kali Audio IN-5 vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 308P MKII vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Neumann KH80 DSP vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frquency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs PreSonus Eris E5 6-Track Comparison
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Jasper Tech: Best Desktop Computer Speakers for Every Budget – 2026 More from Jasper Tech →
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