When it comes to music production, having access to a good set of studio monitors is essential. When listening to music, you want the audio to sound good on your speakers. Right? This is where studio monitors come into play.
The Presonus Eris E5 XT and the JBL 305P MkII are excellent studio monitors that can accurately represent music in its neutral state, making them the best option for high-quality sound production. Here are the specs of the PreSonus Eris E5 XT and JBL 305P MkII to help you narrow down your choice.
The PreSonus Eris E5 XT is known for its minimalist design and high performance in studio monitors. Featuring a new and improved elliptical waveguide design, they provide more focused vertical dispersion, making them ideal for small studios.
The PreSonus Eris E5 XT is a front ported compact near field monitor that offers a 5.25-inch woven composite woofer to handle the low end. It has an ultra low mass silk dome tweeter, and a 1 inch diameter.
Class AB amplification provides greater fidelity and efficiency to handle intricate productions and delivers up to 102 dB of sound pressure level. You’ll be able to hear steady increases in volume without noticeable distortions, suitable for any audio mix or production application requiring consistent, accurate performance.
With a wide dispersion of 100° horizontally, the new elliptical waveguide design provides superior high-frequency performance. Additionally, it has an audible solid frequency response of 48 Hz – 20 kHz, which provides a greater level of detail and depth to reveal subtle transients.
In conclusion, the PreSonus Eris E5 XT is an overall well-built studio monitor given its size and price point. Among its amazing features are its useful EQ options which come in handy in all kinds of placement. These help sort out optimum settings including EQ adjustments at mid and high frequencies, as well as high frequency cutoffs and acoustic space adjustment.
Pros:
- Improved elliptical waveguide
- Class AB amplification
- Excellent tuning controls
Cons:
- Recessed Mids
- Mild hissing
- Not suited or heavy bass application
The JBL 305P MkII is a powered 5″ two-way studio monitor that combines affordability and sound quality. With the JBL 305P MkII, you’ll experience seamless transitions between low and high frequencies due to its patented Image Control Waveguide and refined transducers and a more expansive soundstage than other studio monitors.
The most important part of a studio monitor is the sound quality. The JBL 305P MkII has a frequency response of 49 Hz – 20 kHz ±3 dB, and 43 Hz – 20 kHz at -10 dB, which is the perfect standard for an affordable and reliable home studio monitor.
HF Trim and Boundary EQ are also helpful inclusions. With the 3 position HF Trim switch, you can adjust either low or high frequency response, so you can find the ideal configuration for your studio’s acoustics or personal preference. The boundary EQ attenuates the low-end boost so that there is no unnatural buildup of bass.
The JBL 305P MkII delivers an overall outstanding performance and they sound great at medium to high volume. The only drawback is when the volume is low, the speaker makes an audible hiss.
Pros:
- Detailed and clear sound
- Image control waveguide
- EQ settings
- Tuning options
Cons:
- Sound quality isn’t well balanced
- Audible hiss at low volumes
Technical Specifications
| Presonus Eris E5 XT | JBL 305P MkII | |
| Monitor Type | Active 2-Way | Active 2-Way |
| Drivers | LF Driver: 1 x 5″ / 127 mm Composite Woofer
HF Driver: 1 x 1″ / 25.4 mm Silk Dome Tweeter |
HF Driver: 1 x 1″ / 25.4 mm Dome Tweeter
LF Driver: 1 x 5″ / 127 mm Woofer |
| Amplification | 1 x Full-Range Amplifier: Class-AB Rated at 80 W RMS | 1 x HF Amplifier: Class-D Rated at 41 W
1 x LF Amplifier: Class-D Rated at 41 W |
| Frequency Response | 48 Hz to 20 kHz | 49 Hz to 20 kHz ± 3 dB |
| Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL) | 102 dB | 108 dB |
| Analog Inputs | RCA, TRS, XLR | XLR, TRS |
Comparison : Presonus Eris E5 XT vs JBL 305P MkII
The PreSonus Eris E5 XT and the JBL 305P MkII are a two-way active 5” studio monitor that have a lot of bass, and a smooth, realistic sound. They both have a modern, compact design. So if you like minimalist monitors these two tick all the boxes.
They both have a 1-inch dome tweeter, with the Presonus Eris E5 XT using Class AB amplifiers and the JBL 305P MkII using Class D amplifiers.
The JBL 305P MkII has a frequency response of 49 Hz – 20 kHz ±3 dBa and a wider stereo image due to its patented Image Control Waveguide but doesn’t sound as precise as the sound of the Presonus Eris E5 XT, which has an audible solid frequency response of 48 Hz – 20 kHz, offering a more detailed and clean sound.
There are more input options on the Presonus Eris E5 XT, including RCA inputs and balanced TRS and XLR, allowing for easy headphone monitoring. The JBL 305P MkII’s XLR and TRS inputs don’t seem to give much, despite all the knobs being great.
Conclusion
There are many different features a set of studio monitors offers, some will boost certain frequencies, others will focus on reproducing as much bass as possible. As opposed to designs, which are subjective and based on personal preference.
The Presonus Eris E5 XT is great if you want a more consistent listening experience in any mix environment. If you want some monitors with a brighter and energetic soundstage, go with the JBL 305P MkII.
