PreSonus Eris E5 is one of the most popular studio monitors designed by the company, it is a highly regarded choice when it comes to choosing entry-level powered monitors for your sound system. The Eris E5 is not only friendly with our wallets but also provides us with plenty of sonic performances. Its latest iteration, the Eris E5 XT, has a new upgrade thus slightly improving the already high sound quality.
It is certainly worth the time to check them out if you are currently planning to get a new pair of studio monitors. Still, for a studio monitor with this size and price point, the PreSonus Eris E5 will have its own limitations especially when it comes to bass performance. We won’t be expecting prominent subsonic bass reproduction from the Eris E5 or the newer version E5 XT and we are planning to list out subwoofers that you can match with these studio monitors to supplement their low-frequency performance.
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Sonic Characteristics of the PreSonus Eris 5 and Your Subwoofer Requirements
Comparing the PreSonus Eris E5 to its smaller brothers, one of the more notable differences in features will be the acoustic settings where the Eris E5 monitors give its users control and alter their sonic characteristics more thoroughly to suit the environment or to your preference. The front-firing bass port allows us to place them nearer to walls. All these make the PreSonus Eris E5 more flexible in speaker placement and positioning than the smaller Eris series models. The visual aesthetics of these entry-level studio monitors do make them look good in most listening rooms and studios, we particularly prefer the looks of Eris E5 XT though.
It has a 1″ (25mm) silk dome tweeter been driven by 35 Watts of power and right below the HF driver, will be the 5.25″ woven composite woofer which is driven with 45 Watts power. This is a pretty powerful amplification for an entry-level studio monitor. The frequency response is equally impressive, it is at 53Hz to 22kHz. Based on this spec, it does shows the PreSonus Eris E5 could go quite deep into the bass extension but may not have enough weight and impact though. The subterranean bass reproduction will still need the support of an active subwoofer and setting the crossover to 80Hz will be ideal.
More Details at Amazon – Eris E5 2-Way 5.25″ Studio Monitor
The overall sound reproduction of the PreSonus Eris E5 is neutral and is flat enough for professionals to complete their work with accuracy. It would also be great for analytical audio enthusiasts who are looking for affordable speakers alternative. The high-frequency reproduction is very detailed and with clarity but can sound a little too bright at times. The midrange reproduction of the Eris E5 studio monitors produces plenty of details too and cleanly delivers natural-sounding vocals. Low-end reproduction is accurate and agile, able to work seamlessly with the rest of the upper frequencies.
Their bass performance doesn’t have the punch and weight like some other studio monitors in the same price range. Eris E5 also lacks subsonic bass reproduction and is totally understandable. All in all, if the soundtracks you usually work on or listen to are not bass-heavy then the PreSonus Eris E5 alone would be enough. If your work involves very deep bass frequencies which the Eris E5 couldn’t reach then you should go for a subwoofer. You might want to set a requirement of how low you want a subwoofer to be able to reach, for example, down to 30Hz or 20Hz or more.
Going with subwoofers that are made by the same company can be a requirement as well. You should also work on your budget and available room/studio space. The larger and more powerful a subwoofer is needed to fill the room will usually cost more. If space is a luxury then getting a compact subwoofer would be ideal but if you need it to deliver subsonic bass prominently then the pricing of such a sub would not be as affordable. It is recommended to give a bit of headroom when it comes to budget, just in case you need to fork out a bit more for a subwoofer you really like. Do add in more requirements of your own as they will influence the type of powered sub to go for.
PreSonus Eris 5 Specifications
- Type: 2-Way (Front-firing bass port)
- Frequency Response: 53Hz-22kHz
- Drivers: 1″ (25mm) Silk Dome Tweeter, 5.25″ Woven Composite Woofer
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 260mm x 178mm x 195mm | 10.2″ x 7″ x 7.7″
- Weight: 4.6kg (10.2lbs)
Best Subwoofers to match with PreSonus Eris 5
JBL Professional LSR310S is one of the best studio subwoofers to match with the PreSonus Eris E5 studio monitors. The subwoofer’s 10″ down-firing driver is been powered by a 200W amplifier and can be driven to a level of volume that should be more than enough for nearfield listening. The JBL Professional LSR310S can reach down to 27Hz (-10dB) or 33Hz (+/-3dB). Its subsonic bass reproduction is clean and accurate which matches well with the Eris E5 studio monitors’ upper registers. This is an ideal studio subwoofer for professionals and for casual music listeners who just want a clean extended bass.
More Details at Amazon – JBL Professional LSR310S Studio Subwoofer
The PreSonus Temblor T8 is probably the best studio subwoofer to go for as it is designed to pair well with the Eris series studio monitors such as the PreSonus Eris E5. This is an 8″ down-firing subwoofer that has the agility to keep pace with most music genres and the speed to seamlessly blend its deep bass reproduction with the Eris E5. Not to mention, since both are made by the same company, they would possess similar sound signatures and this will allow an even more seamless full-range sound reproduction. PreSonus Temblor T8 frequency response is between 30Hz to 200Hz and has 100 Watts of RMS amplifier power.
More Details at Amazon – PreSonus Temblor T8
If you require a bigger driver then the KRK S12.4 will be an exceptional choice for you and your PreSonus Eris E5. It has a 12″ Kevlar composite woofer and is driven by a Class D amplifier with 220 Watts of continuous power. The KRK S12.4 studio subwoofer is powerful enough to fill a small or medium-sized listening room and can go really loud, max peak SPL of 119.9dB to be exact. It also packs weight and impact which is great for listeners who want a punchier bass performance. The S12.4 could reach deep into the bass extension as well, down to 26Hz, and should be enough for most music genres.
More Details at Amazon – KRK S12.4 Generation 4 Studio Subwoofer
Adam Audio Sub7 is a terrific studio subwoofer for listeners who have limited space and require a slimmer sub. Even though it has a 7″ driver, the Sub7 is still capable of producing a very deep bass response of down to 32Hz and is loud enough for nearfield listening. It has rather high amplifier power (140W RMS) for such a compact sub. The tight bass response and clear low-end reproduction of the Adam Audio Sub7 will be an amazing match with the PreSonus Eris E5 studio monitors. The overall bass performance is clean and fast, not to mention, it is highly accurate too.
More Information at Amazon – Adam Audio Sub7
The PreSonus Eris Sub 8 is a compact studio subwoofer and it doesn’t break the bank. Its affordability will fit most listeners’ budgets and more importantly, matches well with the PreSonus Eris E5 studio monitors. This is the very first studio subwoofer to be made for the Eris line of studio monitors and so we can be assured of how well they will work together. The 8″ studio subwoofer is also agile and fast, keeping up with the Eris E5 without overwhelming it, and extends the bass extension cleanly. It is definitely worth your time to hear them out and see how accurate the PreSonus Eris Sub 8 deep bass response is.
More Info at Amazon – PreSonus Eris Sub 8 Compact Subwoofer
Adam Audio Sub8 is an 8.5″ subwoofer with plenty of amplifier power (up to 240 Watts) and can go deep into the bass extension, down to 28Hz which is really impressive. The volume level it could reach is equally remarkable and belies its size. The Adam Audio Sub8 will make a great studio subwoofer partner for your PreSonus Eris E5. Its bass performance is highly accurate and has the right weight. More importantly, it doesn’t smudge the upper registers of the Eris E5 studio monitors, giving us a precise and articulate bass reproduction. It might be a little too expensive but is still worth the effort to check them out first.
More Info at Amazon – Adam Audio Sub8 Powered Studio Subwoofer
To Conclude
You should audition the potential subwoofers first before making your decision. The studio subwoofers listed here are some of the best on the market and you might want to shortlist some of them based on your requirements. It is recommended to listen to them at your own studio/room together with your own PreSonus Eris E5 studio monitors if it is possible as this is how you could get a more accurate result.
