A decent pair of home studio monitors are excellent equipment to add to your studio space. It will expose every detail precisely and clearly to enable you to analyze every sound detail. So, a high-quality monitoring system will ensure you get sonically transparent audio, whether you are recording, mastering, or editing.
Big brands are stepping up their game to offer studio monitors with excellent offerings at affordable prices. In this article, we will take Presonus Eris E5 XT and JBL 305P MkII to a head-to-head comparison. Keep in mind that these are some of the best options available and are effortless to set up.
The Presonus Eris is superbly built with a very aesthetic look. For their price, they have an amazing build with a solid cabinet that has a nice finish and a very good selection of options on the back, including 1/4 inch, XLR, and RCA connections, as well as a volume control to balance the sound left to right.
On the other hand, The JBL 305P has a revolutionary Image Control Waveguide and refined transducers. This offers stunning detail, precise imaging, a wide sweet spot, and an impressive dynamic range. They are generally easy to set up hence most can use them for the home studio.
Design
PreSonus Eris E5:
The matte black finish gives the speakers a sleek look. In addition, the blue illuminated logo adds a splash of color. The design is minimalist, although this is subjective based on personal preference.
JBL 305P MkII:
The speakers are black with shiny plastic on the front and a JBL. Although there is more to a studio monitor than the looks, this is an escape from the matte finish dominating the market. The only issue is that dust and fingerprints quickly build up on the surface.
Build quality
Initially, most studio monitors were constructed with lumbering wood boxes, making them extremely heavy. Thankfully, many are moving away from this heavy design and embracing new materials and technologies.
PreSonus Eris E5 XT:
At only 11pounds (4.9Kgs), the speaker is noticeably light, and you may think it has a poor build quality. On the contrary, it is made with Kevlar, a heat-resistant and robust material. This gives the speaker a robust construction at this price point. There is also extra shielding to eliminate external interference.
JBL 305P MkII:
JBL has a long-standing reputation for offering solid build quality. In particular, the 30P MkII has a sturdy cabinet that protects the internal components. Fortunately, it weighs only 10 pounds (4.5Kgs), making it slightly lighter than the Presonus Eris E5 XT.
Sound Quality
Studio monitors should be as precise and accurate as possible and not sound just good. So, the ideal set must expose every detail, good and bad, while maintaining perfect balance across the frequency range.
The Presonus is powered by a 45W and 35W Class-AB amplifier for its lows and highs, respectively, making it cross over at 3kHz. The specifics give a usable frequency response of between 53Hz to 22kHz, and a surprisingly loud maximum SPL of 102dB at one only meter.
Many small-sized monitors lose out on rear-panel adjustment, but the Eris E5s are exceptionally well-appointed in that department. Apart from the usual gain control, they have an acoustic space switch that can optimize the bass response to compensate for its placement near walls or corners.
On the other hand, the JBL 305P offers some impressive features, even sound quality. This is one of the main reasons for adding a studio monitor to your setup. In addition, it has its own patented Image Control Waveguide, which allows the speaker to have a more expansive sound stage than other Presonus. This is a good thing if you have a larger studio space as the sweet spot is broader.
The speaker gives a bigger hit in the low end on the low-frequency response. For deep bass lovers or for those that work with bass-heavy tracks, you’ll be very impressed with the low end. As a studio speaker, it is not overbearing in bass like the commercial loudspeakers. Mixing or deejaying is still satisfying while still maintaining good mid and high ranges.
Specifications
PreSonus Eris E5:
It has a frequency response of 53Hz – 22 kHz. This is comparable to other studio monitors in this range and will provide all the details you need in a sound.
In terms of loudness, the speakers reach a peak of 102dB at a distance of 1 meter, excellent for a small to the medium studio. Moreover, the Woofer may look small but produces a solid kick. This is a great choice if you want loud but not overbearing music.
Drivers
- 1.25” Tweeter
- 5” woofer
Frequency range
- 53Hz- 22kHz
Weight
- 10.2lbs (4.63Kgs)
JBL 305P MkII:
The company has integrated advanced features into these affordable studio monitors. One good example is the double-flared port that brings out the deep bass.
It has a frequency range of 43Hz – 24kHz and response of 49Hz – 20kHz, giving you all the details you need. The speakers can reach 108Db, which is adequate for a small to the medium-sized studio when it comes to loudness.
Drivers
- 1” Tweeter
- 5” Woofer
Frequency range
- 43Hz – 24kHz
Weight
- 10.43 pounds (4.73Kgs)
Tuning options
All studios are not similar, and sometimes it isn’t easy to find an ideal position to place the speakers. That is why tuning options on studio monitors to trim the low and high frequencies are essential.
The Presonus Eris E5 has knobs at the back that let you adjust the mid and high frequencies. Thankfully, you can control each frequency to get the best sound possible, which is unavailable in cheaper studio monitors. In addition, the speakers can change the acoustic space based on the placement. This will help to smooth up the sound and give you a better experience.
On the other hand, the JBL 305P MkII offers two main sound tuning options: High-Frequency Trim and boundary EQ with three adjustment levels for both. This means you can place the speakers in different positions and still get the best sound output.
What We Liked
PreSonus Eris E5
- Excellent built quality
- Solid tuning options
- Great value for money
JBL 305P MkII
- The broad listening sweet spot
- Wide soundscape
- Room-tuning features
What We Did Not Like
PreSonus Eris E5
- Slightly weak bass
- The highs might be a little harsh
JBL 305P MkII
- The glossy finish attracts dust and fingerprints easily
- Does not come with audio cables
The Verdict
So, which one is better between the Presonus Eris E5 and JBL 305P MkII? Both are some of the best monitors in this price range with high-quality features and a natural sound. The size and weight is almost the same, but the E5 seems to edge 305P in terms of sound quality and aesthetics slightly.
