PreSonus Eris 3.5 is a pair of highly-regarded studio monitors which will fit almost everyone’s budget due to its very affordable price point. The amount of sonic performance you can get makes it one of the best mini entry-level studio monitors that are worth every penny been invested into them. Its compact size and small footprint allow the PreSonus Eris 3.5 to fit nicely on your desktop even if there is limited space.
This pair of mini-monitors are suitable to be used by audiophiles and professionals but for listeners who need ample bass weight and deep low frequencies reproduction, you will likely need to integrate an active subwoofer to supplement this area. To find the best matching subwoofers to pair with the PreSonus Eris 3.5 will not only require us to learn more about its sonic characteristics. We will also need to work on your subwoofer requirements as they will influence your choice.
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Sonic Characteristics of PreSonus Eris 3.5 and Subwoofer Requirements
As mentioned earlier, the PreSonus Eris 3.5 is very compact in size and comes with only a small 3.5″ low-frequency driver. Above the LF driver, there is a 1″ (25mm) silk dome tweeter and has a rather small rear-firing bass port which will still affect the tonality of the overall sound reproduction and makes the bass more pronounced. Placing it some distance away from the walls will be recommended and you can also use the acoustic tuning settings to adjust the bass frequency response accordingly to your preference. This acoustic tuning feature is pretty neat and useful, providing us with even more value. Another notable feature will be the headphone output and is located at the front panel of the monitor near the volume dial.
For a studio monitor of this size and price, the PreSonus Eris 3.5 does have an impressive frequency response of 80Hz to 20kHz. The built-in amplifier is driving 25 Watts to each speaker (comes in a pair). Based on these specs alone, we can tell that these budget studio monitors will certainly require a subwoofer to deliver very deep bass. The PreSonus Eris 3.5 looks really nice for a budget studio monitor and it does give off a feeling that it cost more than the current pricing.
More Information at Amazon – Eris E3.5 tudio Monitor (Pair)
The sound quality we are getting from the PreSonus Eris 3.5 studio monitors also sounds more than we are paying for. They will project a wide soundstage on your desktop and music details can be heard clearly. The overall clarity is good and the treble may get a bit too bright at times but doesn’t really promote listeners’ fatigue and you could also adjust it via the acoustic tuning settings. At a nearfield listening distance, the PreSonus Eris 3.5 studio monitors can be surprisingly loud and the bass performance is more solid than we expected which belies their size. There is some punch and weight in the midbass delivery.
Low-end reproduction below 80Hz will be lacking and this is where a powered subwoofer comes into play. How deep down the bass extension you want your sound system to reach will be considered as one of your subwoofer requirements. For instance, if the music you are playing or mixing reaches down to 20Hz frequencies, you will need a subwoofer that can reproduce these subterranean bass frequencies prominently. Such subwoofers will cost a lot more than the PreSonus Eris 3.5 and you might want to work on your budget first. One of the reasons to lead you to get the Eris 3.5 could be due to space constraints and this will affect your subwoofer choice as well.
You will need a permanent spot in your room/studio to place your potential subwoofer and you should get a compact size model if there is not enough space. Since the subwoofer will be taking up floor space, you might want to discuss with the individuals who are sharing the studio/room with you. They might give you more subwoofer requirements to consider too. The more requirements you consider the better as they will give you a clearer picture of what you need from an active subwoofer and not just based on its price points. When you have considered all possible requirements then please take a look at the best subwoofers which you can choose and pair with your PreSonus Eris 3.5 studio monitors.
PreSonus Eris 3.5 Specifications
- Type: 2-Way (Rear-firing bass port)
- Frequency Response: 80Hz-20kHz
- Drivers: 1″ (25mm) Silk Dome HF driver, 3.5″ LF driver
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 210mm x 141mm x 162mm | 8.3″ x 5.6″ x 6.4″
- Weight: 2.9kg (6.4lbs) per pair
Best Subwoofers to pair with PreSonus Eris 3.5
The PreSonus Eris Sub8 is a studio subwoofer made by the same company and will be an excellent choice for your PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitors. It is made and designed to naturally extend the bass extension of the Eris 3.5 studio monitors and this allows the Eris Sub8 to integrate with them nicely, giving us a seamless sonic performance. PreSonus Eris Sub8 is an entry-level studio subwoofer with a modest price tag and the 8″ subwoofer could reach down to 30Hz. Using its 50 Watts RMS Class AB power amplifier, the Eris Sub8 is capable of delivering a clean and accurate deep bass performance which is great for professionals as well.
More Information at Amazon – PreSonus Eris Sub 8 Subwoofer
M-Audio SBX10 will be a bigger and more powerful studio subwoofer choice to pair with the PreSonus Eris 3.5. This is a 10″ active studio sub with 240 Watts dynamic power (Class A/B amplifier) and has an impressive frequency response of 20Hz to 200Hz (-3dB). The M-Audio SBX10 could deliver a thunderous bass response with accuracy and has the articulation of a sealed subwoofer but could provide a slightly cleaner subsonic bass response when compared to other sealed subs in the same price range. The SBX10 may be built for professionals but audiophiles would appreciate the bass quality that this subwoofer can muster.
For listeners who prefer to use a 10″ studio subwoofer designed by the same company that made your PreSonus Eris 3.5 studio monitors. The PreSonus Temblor T10 will be an amazing choice to go for and will match nicely with the Eris 3.5. This is a powerful studio subwoofer with up to 250 Watts Peak and 170 Watts RMS power. It is capable of delivering subsonic bass down to 20Hz and would enable your stereo system to produce accurate full-range sound reproduction. Overall bass performance and delivery are tight, not to mention, the low ends are well-textured and detailed which are crucial for professionals.
More Details at Amazon – Presonus Temblor T10 Studio Subwoofer
The Adam Audio Sub7 is another terrific choice to go for especially for listeners who have very limited space. It has the bass performance and agility to make it a worthy match for your PreSonus Eris 3.5. The 7″ paper cone driver is still able to deliver subsonic bass frequencies of down to 32Hz extension which is rather incredible for an active studio sub of this price and size. The RMS power output is 140 Watts and is enough to provide us with precision bass responses which are important for accurate audio mixing and mastering. The subsonic bass reproduction is cleanly delivered and detailed too.
More Info at Amazon – Adam Audio Sub7 7″ Subwoofer
The KRK S10.4 is another remarkable 10″ studio subwoofer and has a modest price tag to boot. It will pair well with the PreSonus Eris 3.5 studio monitors and the S10.4 could deliver punchy bass performance with articulation. Due to the way the subwoofer cabinet is designed, the KRK S10.4 looks slightly more compact than your usual 10″ subs, and using subwoofer stands will not make it look too tall. The frequency range is between 27Hz-156Hz (-10dB) and is good enough for most music genres. KRK S10.4 uses a Class D amplifier to generate a total power of 160 Watts.
More Info at Amazon – KRK S10.4 Generation 4 Studio Subwoofer
The Mackie CR8S-XBT is one of the best affordably priced subwoofers to partner up with the PreSonus Eris 3.5 studio monitors. The most notable feature of the CR8S-XBT will be the built-in Bluetooth connectivity and allows you to stream your music wirelessly. This is an all-rounder 8″ subwoofer with a total power of 200 Watts been generated by its Class D amplifier. The frequency range is between 35Hz to 400Hz (-10dB) and will be ideal for listeners who need a sub for multiple usages. The wired remote of the Mackie CR8S-XBT multimedia subwoofer also makes it easy to adjust the volume.
More Info at Amazon – Mackie CR8S-XBT 8-Inch Multimedia 200w Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
When you have finalized your subwoofer requirements, you should use them to filter the above list and the remaining subs should be shortlisted for auditioning. During the subwoofer auditions, you will be able to find out if the bass performance and quality are what you are looking for when paired with the PreSonus Eris 3.5 studio monitors. You might want to use your favorite music and/or one of your own mixed soundtracks to test the accuracy of the subwoofers’ sonic performance.
