Short answer: the JBL 305P MKII. It ranks #18 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $319. The PreSonus Eris Studio 5 ranks #65, rated 3.6/5, at $299.98, $19.02 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the PreSonus Eris Studio 5 does well: An inexpensive 5 inch studio monitor with a wide waveguide, front port, and balanced XLR and TRS inputs. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The JBL 305P MKII is the better-sounding option. Budget studio monitors with balanced sound and wide coverage that keeps the stereo image stable across a desk. The tradeoff: The 3.3dB midrange span and rising response show it is not perfectly neutral.
Buy the JBL 305P MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $19.02 with the PreSonus Eris Studio 5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Worth knowing: the PreSonus Eris Studio 5 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.4 to 3.8, so treat this verdict as provisional.
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Specifications Side By Side
| PreSonus Eris Studio 5 | JBL 305P MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.98 per pair | $319.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #65 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #18 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 11.5”H x 8”W x 8.8”D (292 x 203 x 223 mm) | 11.7”H x 7.3”W x 9.1”D (297.2 x 185.4 x 231.1 mm) |
| 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) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| 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 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- PreSonus Eris Studio 5: manufacturer specifications and listening comparisons; no independent measurement has been published yet.
- JBL 305P MKII: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner, 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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