Presonus Eris E5 Review

Do you need a reliable studio monitor?

The Presonus Eris E5 might be just what you’re looking for. It has decades of experience as a producer and audio engineer, and has a quality design and build.

With decent connectivity and tuning options, and a solid rear panel layout, you’ll have all the tools you need to get the best sound.

Take a look at this review to see if the Presonus Eris E5 is the perfect monitor for you.

Key Takeaways

  • The Eris E5 is a affordable option for most people, with a quality design and build.
  • The monitor has a frequency response of 53 Hz to 22 kHz, but suffers from distortion in the low end and a fatiguing brightness in the high end.
  • It offers a range of I/O options, including balanced XLR and TRS jacks, and unbalanced RCA inputs, as well as adjustable input gain and acoustic tuning.
  • While the Eris E5 may not perform as well as some other studio monitors in terms of distortion, mid frequencies, and bass cleanliness, it is suitable for beginner music producers in the $200 price range. Consider alternatives for a more neutral monitor.

Power and Frequency Response

With a max peak of 102 dB SPL and frequency response of 53 Hz to 22 kHz, you’ll get plenty of power and range from the Presonus Eris E5. However, distortion is present in the low end, especially at higher volumes. Additionally, the high end can be fatiguingly bright.

The crossover frequencies aren’t well-aligned, which can lead to vocals being lost in the reproduction.

To reduce the distortion and bright frequencies, the Eris E5 features adjustment rotary dials for input gain and acoustic tuning, as well as a low cutoff switch for flat response or cuts at 80 Hz or 100 Hz.

Thanks to these features, you can fine-tune the sound to your liking.

I/O and Controls

Continuing on, the Presonus Eris E5 has balanced XLR and TRS jacks, and unbalanced RCA inputs. The rotary dials for input gain and acoustic tuning let you fine-tune the sound to your liking. There’s also a low cutoff switch for flat response or cuts at 80 Hz or 100 Hz.

The rear panel layout is well-designed and intuitive. This is great for getting the best results from the Acoustic Space switch. Connectivity options and versatility are both good, and the controls are easy to use. Thanks to the images accompanying the controls, it’s easy to make sure you’ve got the best sound possible.

Build Quality

Building on the well-designed rear panel layout, the Presonus Eris E5 monitors have a nice look and feel with their blue woven Kevlar on the woofer. Their build quality is further enhanced by a vinyl and medium-density fiberboard case for protection. They’re solid and weigh about 10 lbs each, making them a good choice for a portable setup.

The design of the monitor is a standout feature, and it stands out from other studio monitors in terms of aesthetics. The Eris E5 is a good choice for those who are looking for a monitor that looks and feels good, as well as one that offers good sound quality.

Comparison to Other Monitors

When compared to other studio monitors like the KRK Rokit 5 G4, JBL 305P Mk2, and Yamaha HS5, the Presonus Eris E5 falls short in terms of distortion, mid frequencies, and bass cleanliness.

When considering sound quality comparison and performance in different environments, the Eris E5 has more of a V-shaped sound curve, meaning that the low frequencies and high frequencies are more pronounced than the mids. This can lead to a loss of clarity and definition in the mid-range.

Additionally, the Eris E5 has a slightly higher amount of distortion in the low end, which can be heard even at moderate volumes. As such, the Eris E5 may not be the best choice for those looking for a neutral monitor.

However, it’s a budget-friendly option for beginner producers.

Pros and Cons

Now that you know how the Presonus Eris E5 compares to other studio monitors, you may be wondering what its pros and cons are.

At $200, it’s certainly affordable. Its design and build quality are of good quality, and the connectivity and tuning options are decent.

However, its high-end can be fatiguing, and there’s distortion in the low end, especially at higher volumes. Additionally, the crossover frequencies aren’t well-aligned, which can result in vocals being lost in the reproduction.

Despite these drawbacks, the Eris E5’s performance is good enough for most people, considering the price.

Final Verdict

Drawing on the information from the previous subtopic, it’s time to wrap up with a final verdict on the Presonus Eris E5.

Sound quality analysis reveals a frequency response of 53 Hz to 22 kHz, a max peak of 102 dB SPL, and distortion present in the low end.

The I/O and controls are well-designed, with balanced XLR and TRS jacks, and unbalanced RCA inputs.

Build quality is solid, with a nice look and feel.

In terms of value for money, the Eris E5 is good enough for most people, considering affordability and quality design and build.

However, it may not be suitable for more demanding applications due to its fatiguing high-end and distortion in the low end.

Conclusion

The Presonus Eris E5 is an excellent studio monitor that provides great sound quality without breaking the bank.

Its frequency response is 53 Hz to 22 kHz, a max peak of 102 dB SPL, and a low-end distortion that can be adjusted with the rotary dials.

The Kevlar woofer adds to the aesthetic of the monitor, and the build quality is solid.

All in all, this is a great choice for producers and audio engineers who are looking for a reliable and affordable studio monitor.

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