If you’re looking for a cheap pair of studio monitors, one possible solution you may have come across is, of course, the Eris 3.5 from PreSonus. For just $100, it definitely holds an argument for your consideration, but I’m not the biggest fan of it.
Final verdict
To keep it short, the PreSonus Eris 3.5 is far from being the ideal budget studio monitor, so much so that to call it a proper studio monitor seems wrong. What the Eris 3.5 truly is, is a nice computer speaker.
It’s a good compact option for your favorite movies, video games, and youtube videos. However, if you’re looking for a pair of monitors to mix and master with, use them as a last resort.
What I like
- Affordable.
- Portable.
- Good for multimedia.
What I don’t like
- Extremely colored frequency response.
- Little to no low end.
- Unsettling lack of mid-range.
Why you should trust this review
As a producer and audio engineer for over 15 years, I’ve laid fingerprints on a wide range of gear in all sorts of setups.
I’ve learned how to stretch a budget, working with everything from second-hand monitors from a buddy to cheap pawn shop desktop speakers.
I’ve mixed on consumer-grade models, repurposed radio speakers, high-end monitors, and everything in between.
This hands-on experience, along with years of problem-solving in different recording environments, has taught me what monitors are worth investing in – and which aren’t.
Power and frequency response 2.0
The response from these monitors is anything but flat. While these speakers do have a frequency response of 80 Hz – 20 kHz, there is a lot of information in-between that will negatively affect your listening experience.
For starters, right after a peak at 80 Hz, I noticed a huge dip (nearly -6 dB!) in the mid-range curving up to yet another massive peak at 2 kHz. In practical terms, any vocal or guitar tracks coming out of these speakers will either sound inaccurate or be lost entirely.
If you’re mixing or mastering through your monitors, this response is probably the worst possible scenario to have to deal with.
Ideally, a studio monitor’s response should be as flat or neutral as possible. With the Eris 3.5, I imagine you’ll be having to spend a lot of time over and under-correcting multiple aspects of your mix based on what you’re hearing, only then to have your mix sound terrible on other sound systems.
Furthermore, the level of harmonic distortion present on the Eris 3.5 basically renders it useless at louder volumes. Not that these speakers are meant to be played very loud in the first place, but still.
All in all, the Eris 3.5 is not the “studio monitor” that PreSonus claims it to be. Rather, it would be best utilized as a standard bookshelf speaker to provide audio for movies, games, or small bedroom demo recording.
When listening to things that are already mixed properly, these speakers do a fairly good job. While not accurate, their performance is pleasing enough.
I/O and controls 4.0
So, only one monitor of the pair is powered, which connects to the second speaker with a line-out using speaker cables. On the front of the powered speaker, you’ll find the On/Off switch, a volume control, as well as auxiliary and headphone jacks.
On the rear panel, the Eris 3.5 has two unbalanced RCA inputs, and two balanced TRS inputs for both left and right. Right above are two acoustic tuning knobs for both low and high-shelf cutting and boosting from -6 to +6 dB.
There’s not much else to say here other than you should plan on getting comfortable with those acoustic tuning knobs to attenuate the speakers for a flatter response.
Again, the PreSonus Eris 3.5 shows little fault with the cosmetics of its design, but in terms of its performance… oy vey.
Build quality 4.0
The PreSonus Eris 3.5 is a well-built speaker, no doubt. For its small footprint, the monitor feels fairly durable. I think it’s safe to say that it’s more than capable of withstanding a few bumps during travel.
Beyond that, the design of the monitor is simple and rather unassuming. The cabinet is boxy, with slight contours around the edges, and I felt that the muted blue silk of the woofer added a nice touch.
Compared to other studio monitors
I know after such a “glowing” review, you’re probably dying at the chance to buy a pair of your very own Eris, but before you make the leap, please look at these other monitors.
PreSonus Eris 3.5 vs Mackie CR3.5
The Mackie CR3.5 is the closest comparison to the Eris 3.5 I could find. Both are only $100 for a pair, and for the most part, their performances are roughly the same. The Mackie monitors are more neutral by a small margin.
Unfortunately, both are ported speakers, which considering their small size and inability to produce frequencies below 80 Hz, doesn’t amount to much other than some annoying resonances in the bass.
If you’re really strapped for cash and need a pair of monitors, the Mackie seems to be the better choice for its neutrality.
Read the full Mackie CR3.5 review
PreSonus Eris 3.5 vs JBL 305P Mk2
For whatever reason, the JBL 305P is often viewed side by side with the Eris 3.5 and I really can’t figure out the exact reason why.
If you have the means, just buy the JBLs. To avoid getting too far into the weeds of technical jargon, I’ll just keep it simple and say that they are superior by far.
Read the full JBL 305P Mk2 review
Who are the PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitors best suited for?
The PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitors are best suited to anyone looking for decent-sounding, affordable computer speakers.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon
back in 1966 when I was 17 I recorded at Les Paul’s studio in NJ at that time he was using Alter 604 15 inch coaxial speakers, these were great monitors and even today would be, the down side is size
I’m an advanced producer and I use these (genre is choral and classical instrumentation) along with MDR-7506 headphones. For flat response, I still have to stuff the bass ports with a bit of cloth. I save my big money for sound libraries…or actual musicians.