Looking at the +/- 12v to the I/O board there's no hum/ripple - but it's very spikey with about 10mV p2p. Not sure of frequency, but probably around 30kHz, but with lots of lower level noise between peaks. Finally, an Acoustic Space switch gives you access to 0db, -2db, and -4dB to further control the output. Ideal for smaller studios and wall placement where reflections and bass build-up can be problematic.

However, the near-field experience is excellent for monitoring. They are rather loud when within close proximity and more than loud enough for most listening and studio applications. I get anything from zero to some hiss but that depends on the room I use them and the outlet configuration so I know it's not the speakers that may or will cause any hiss (always TRS connection and volume set on max). So, that's that. I've tested the -2 and -4 dB selector switches, and they seem to lower the gain below 1,000 Hz. If you're not going to EQ these units, I suggest you always enable the -4 setting regardless of position, as this significantly flattens the bass bump. The rolloff setting does what it says on the tin. If you are going to manually EQ these units, you get the least distortion by starting with -0 dB and rolloff set to Flat. If you've read the Sweetwater Studio Monitor Buying Guide, then you already know about the problems that go with putting your monitors too close to walls. That's when extreme low frequencies actually cause your walls to vibrate and act like big speaker cones, filling the air with false harmonics and ruining your ability to mix with accuracy. But sometimes, the shape and size of your room leaves you with no alternative but to place your monitors close to a wall. That's where the Eris E5's Acoustic Tuning controls come in handy. By cutting your Eris E5's bass by up to 4dB, you can compensate for this phenomenon, without neutering your sound. 80 watts of Class AB amplification provide plenty of gain and headroom

Does anybody have any suggestions? I believe I've tried just about everything - and purchasing the line conditioners (with no improvement at all) were eye openers to say the least. As I mentioned, this makes me think it's the speakers themselves. The music I record comes from electric guitars and all of them are tuned in standard D, electric bass with 55-110 strings tuned in standard D etc. I can hear everything on the E5's and pretty much as they were recorded. In fact as I am writting this review, I am listening to some Miles Davis mid fifties music and I can hear the uptight bass loud and clear (and that's with -2db on the bass freqs due to speaker placement). Good response down to around 65 Hz (higher than the advertised 53), so you'll need a sub if you want any sub-bass. Response is exaggerated by 5-10 dB from 65-450 Hz, resulting in noticeably exaggerated bass. It's quite flat after that, resulting in a very clean non-bass sound. With the linear scaling shown above, each grid interval is 1000 Hz. We can see there is a moderate dip beginning around 7 kHz all the way up to around 10 kHz. From there, there is a gradual slope all the way up to around 22 kHz, where the curve begins to taper off as we would expect since this monitor’s maximum frequency is 22 kHz. There’s also the option of putting them on desktop stands, which will raise them up in space, so the tweeters are inline with your ears.

With their smooth, accurate frequency response; powerful amplification with tons of headroom; and acoustic tuning functions that ensure you always get the best sound... it's no wonder that the original Eris®-series studio monitors have been a runaway hit since their introduction. The Eris E5 XT is a substantial update to a lauded classic. Deeper lows and a wider, more controlled sweet spot (thanks to its new EBM wave guide design) mean that our best-selling studio monitors just got even better. Studio speakers with a wide sweet spot. I have an issue that is driving me batty. I've owned quite a few active studio monitors and bookshelf speakers, including models from Edifier, Swans, JBL, Dayton Audio, Kanto, and now Presonus.

Customer Reviews

We know modern recording studios can be anywhere from a spare bedroom to a multi-million dollar facility; that's why every studio monitor we make is equipped with controls that ensure the flattest response in your mix environment. Acoustic tuning controls allow you to configure the Eris E5 XT perfectly for your room—you get Low-cut, Mid, and High controls, as well as 3-way acoustic space tuning that allows you to easily compensate for the sonic consequences of speaker placement against a wall or in a corner. Studio monitor connections. All in all, sorry but no, the E5's are not the "bestest" of all, there is no such thing. They are VERY balanced and sure a pair of HS5's (more mid and high heavy in my opinion) or 305's (somewhere between the E5's and HS5's in my opinion) may suit you more but those have the best balance for what I do. Suitable for both home recording studios and professional production, Eris E5 studio monitors combine sterling audio quality with the flexible tuning and connectivity you've come to expect from PreSonus®.

With exactly the same connectivity options, frequency response tailoring and design ethos, the E8 goes down to 35Hz and has more power in the amplifier department, with 75W available to the woofer and 65W to the tweeter, adding another 3dB to the maximum SPL of the E5. The crossover frequency is lower, at 2.2kHz, and the cabinet work is larger and heavier to take the eight-inch woofer and 1.25-inch tweeter. Measuring 250 x 299 x 384 mm, these speakers are more than twice the weight of the E5s at a hair over 10kg each, but follow the same style and general construction. Flexible input options let you connect almost any line-level source, from mixers to audio interfaces and more. Eris E5 XT monitors provide balanced XLR, balanced ¼-inch TRS, and unbalanced RCA line-level inputs. You'll have no problem hooking your Eris speakers up to virtually anything. If anyone is probing around (v carefully!), the ribbon link (from right to left looking et the board edge, components upwards):

It’s easy to feed audio to your Eris E5 XT studio monitors from an audio interface, mixer, monitor controller, or almost any other line-level source. Eris E5 XT monitors provide balanced XLR, balanced ¼” TRS, and unbalanced RCA line-level inputs. You’ll have no problem hooking your Eris speakers up to virtually anything. Accuracy defined. The low mids could do with filling out a bit and the midrange is quite reserved. Nevertheless, we think the overall frequency balance is good and works well straight out of the box. That said, the onboard EQ is pretty powerful and we found after a bit of tweaking that by boosting the highs and cutting the lows a little bit we could get a more typical monitor sound. This made the low mids less reserved and lifted the upper mids slightly. The woven cone woofers in the Eris E5 monitors share some similarities with the other studio monitors in the PreSonus Eris range. They’re made of Kevlar (K100), a fibre also used for bullet proof vests and other products in the aerospace industry. Built from vinyl-finished MDF, the internally braced cabinets measure a compact 178 x 195 x 260 mm and weigh a reassuring 4.63kg each. The slot-shaped port is located on the baffle below the woofer, while the baffle is curved and slightly sculpted around the drivers to smooth out any sharp angles that might otherwise result in diffraction. A discrete PreSonus logo illuminates when the speakers are switched on.