If you’ve ever made music at home or in a studio, you can appreciate the value of finding the right studio monitors. The PreSonus Eris 4.5 vs Mackie CR5 are two of the best active studio monitors that deliver crystal clear quality sound.
These are budget-friendly monitors that have been the topic of conversation on several audiophile forums. These multimedia studio monitors might overwhelm you with their numerous specifications and functionalities, but the differences are clear and concise. Follow through this article to know how which one is the best for you.
A Quick Comparison of PreSonus Eris 4.5 vs Mackie CR5
| PreSonus Eris 4.5 | Mackie CR5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of monitor | Active 2-way | Active 2-way |
| Power rating | 25W per channel | 80W peak |
| Impedance | 10,000 Ohms | 20,000 Ohms |
| Amplification | 2 x Full-Range Amplifier: Class-AB | 1 x Full-Range Amplifier: Class-D80 W Peak |
| Frequency | 70 Hz to 20 kHz | 50 Hz to 20 kHz (at -10 dB) 69 Hz to 20 kHz (at -3 dB) |
| Maximum sound | 100 db | 105 db |
| Crossover frequency | 2.8 kHz | 3 kHz |
| Power | 100 to 120 VAC, 50/60 Hz 220 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz | 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz |
| Dimensions | 6.4 x 9.5 x 7.1 inches | 6.9 x 10.2 x 9.3 inches |
| Weight | 13.0 pounds | 14.9 pounds |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
PreSonus Eris 4.5 Review
PreSonus has always lived up to its reputation, making studio-quality speakers for music studios and audio industry professionals. With making professional-grade sound systems, they also came out with a line-up of products for the consumers, the PreSonus Eris 4.5 of the E-series.
The best part about these speakers is that they are active 2-way speakers, which means you do not need any external amplification. This saves you a lot of space and budget, making it the ideal speaker for you.
The PreSonus Eris e4.5 is a budget-friendly product for everyone that fulfills all your audio needs while also delivering high-quality audio. You can use this product for your desktop setup, a small movie theatre if you live in one room, or even as an audio engineer working with sound.
JBL 305p MK II studio monitor is another affordable studio monitor to look at.
Pros:
- Compact design suitable for any place.
- Do not fall heavy on the wallet, i.e., budget-friendly.
- Compatible with any add-ons with its various inputs.
- Clear sound quality, optimized for a large space.
- Ideal for gamers, music producers, audio engineers, and room theatre system.
- Active speaker, meaning it does not need an amplifier.
Cons:
- PreSonus 4.5 May lack in delivering clear dialogues from the audio since it is a 2-way speaker.
- No Bluetooth so cannot be used wirelessly from the phone.
- The bass may not be strong enough for some individuals.
- If the speakers are not placed correctly, the sound may be distorted.
Here comes the clincher, Presonus Eris 4.5 studio monitors are not for everyone. Audiophiles will instantly recognize the difference between these speakers and a decent professional-grade speaker.
However, Eris 4.5 monitors are for those who like something stylish and minimalistic on their desks. It is for those who do not engage in heavy audio work but want something simple, good quality, and durable. And furthermore, Presonus Eris 4.5 price is budget-friendly.
Mackie CR5-X: Review
The Mackie CR5-X studio monitors have been in the sound competition for a while now. With other competitors building up quality, the Mackie CR5-X did not stop just there. The excellent minimalistic design and the green rings around the speaker drivers give them a cleaner look, which also screams gaming.
You are here to decide on your audio system with a budget, and the Mackie cr5 bt follows through with all those conditions.
Find ou more about these KRK Rokit 8 G4 and Yamaha HS8 Studio monitors also.
Pros:
- Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you do not have to worry about cables.
- An extensive number of inputs for any type of audio device.
- For the small size of the speaker, the audio quality is excellent.
- Inexpensive, satisfactory service for a low price.
- Audio does not get muted when connected to multiple devices.
- Decent sound quality ideal for games, movies as well as music production.
Cons:
- The speaker unit might get unusually hot and may stop working.
- Bass might be lacking for specific individuals.
- If not positioned correctly, the audio can get distorted.
- No audio tuner on the back of the speakers.
- The build quality may seem cheap with the plastic linings and the gimmicky green circles.
The Mackie cr5 price itself is enough to tell you who this speaker is for. For those who want a good sound quality with no adjustments, the Mackie studio monitors cr5 is for them. If you are looking for a ready speaker to deliver straight out of the box, these will answer your call.
Despite the built quality and other flaws, these provide a decent sound output ideal for any media activity. Even if you spend extra on a more expensive product, you can barely tell the difference between them unless you are an audio professor. Find out, If a studio monitor suitable for home, and can it satisfy your needs?
The Difference Between the Two: Mackie Cr5 Vs Presonus Eris 4.5
Finally, the answer that you have been looking for, which one is better when it comes to quality and build. The monitor PreSonus Eris 4.5 and the Mackie CR5-X have been at odds, fighting to dominate the budget studio monitor market. And to no avail, these speakers are unique in their own way.
Build Quality: PreSonus Eris 4.5 vs Mackie CR5
PreSonus Eris 4.5 has way better build quality and design than Mackie CR5-X.
The build quality of the CR5 speakers is no joke, a wooden finish, and sturdy architecture calls for the speakers’ premium quality. They come in an all-wood enclosure with an attractive black finish and green trimmings around the woofer and tweeters. They have 5″ polypropylene-coated woofers with an amzing range of frequency.
On the other hand, with less to no cable management and a sleek, beautiful design, the Eris e4.5 screams premium at such a consumer-friendly price.To get into the details of this beast, this speaker comprises a huge woofer driver clearly visible under the 4.5-inch cover. The woofer covers the low frequencies of the audio, and with its cutting edge architecture, the bass is smooth yet palpable. Over the woofer, there is the 1-inch tweeter.
The PreSonus Eris 4.5 speaks premium quality, unlike the Mackie CR5-X. The reason being the sturdy and durable quality of the PreSonus Eris 4.5 bt. The CR5-Xs, on the other hand, fall cheap when it comes to build quality. You can almost feel the plastic between the woofer drivers and the covers.
Winner: PreSonus Eris 4.5
Connectivity: PreSonus Eris 4.5 vs Mackie CR5
The Mackie CR5-X takes the win here with its Bluetooth connectivity and seamless audio switching, against PreSonus Eris 4.5.
Connectivity is a real issue, and cable management is hectic. With the numerous input options in the front and back, these speakers speak compatibility and conciseness, bringing the convenience to a whole different level.
The back panel of the CR5-X features balanced and unbalanced inputs for ¼” jacks along with RCA ports, which takes the signal from your PC, mobile, or any other audio device. Additionally, there is a switch that swaps the channels of the active speakers depending on the positioning.
All of these features sound too good to be true, but it does not end there. The front panel consists of a headphone jack, an auxiliary output, a volume rocker, and a Bluetooth switch. You can connect all of this at the same time, and your music will not pause. Furthermore, what takes the cake is its seamless connectivity.
Additionally, with almost no cables to worry about, the CR5-Xs keeps your desk clean and minimalistic.
On the contrary, PreSonus does not feature Bluetooth.
Additionally, if you turn the speakers around, you will see that it has all the necessary settings to tune the audio to your liking. Starting from the acoustic tuning to the bass control, all the functionalities you need to make your experience smooth and clean.
Furthermore, PreSonus did not forget about the analog people who still like to add an amplifier for extra clarity. They included inputs for your amplifiers, computer, TV, and even an amplified port for headphones located on the front panel.
Winner: Mackie Cr5
Audio Performance: PreSonus Eris 4.5 vs Mackie CR5
PreSonus Eris 4.5 is more for the people who have the knack for audio quality, while Mackie CR5-X is a consumer-oriented product line.
In terms of audio, the E4.5 provides clear, crisp sound but may need adjusting with the tuners located behind the speaker units. In contrast, the CR5-X comes pre-equalized with excellent audio quality, where tuning is unnecessary, but you can always download an equalizer if need be. Some of these speakers’ aspects may not be to your liking, but when it comes to performance, they do not falter.
When it comes to the audio quality, the Mackie cr5 speakers do not compromise despite their convenient functionalities. The woofers reproduce excellent bass, so much so that you will not require a subwoofer for extra bass.
Moreover, the tweeters respond to the high frequencies really well, giving your music its clarity. These speakers are good enough for professional users in music production and regular consumers who use these for multimedia purposes. And Mackie cr5 frequency response is 50 Hz to 20 kHz (at -10 dB) and 69 Hz to 20 kHz (at -3 dB).
Gaming has never been more fun with the Mackie CR5-Xs. Competitive or story-driven games, these speakers deliver the utmost quality. You can even hear the gunshots or footsteps coming from behind you, a feat only possible with headphones.
You can also use these speakers for movies, but you might want to adjust the positioning to your ear levels for an optimal experience.With the low price point and high convenience, the Mackie CR5-X speaks for itself when it comes to regular users. The budget-friendliness of the speakers does come with shortcomings, but those are only noticeable if you are an audiophile.
Similarly, the PreSonus Eris 4.5 is perfect for professional studio-quality production. These may be consumer line products, but the quality it delivers is close to the studio-quality speakers.
The speaker handles the high frequencies outputting a clear crisp, near raw audio. And PreSonus Eris 4.5 frequency response is 70 Hz – 20 kHz.
You might be wondering with that big woofer and the small tweeter, all you will be hearing is bass. Well, that is where PreSonus proves you wrong. The tweeters may be small but are designed and optimized to emit sound at a more comprehensive range covering a large area.
So no matter which part of the room you are in, you can hear the music’s still clear sound and at the same volume level.
On the other hand, the Mackie CR5-X focuses more on the consumer line of products, meaning they are not suitable for professional work without some additional equipment and adjustments like an amplifier or a universal audio controller.
If you look at the PreSonus Eris 4.5 specs, then you already know the Eris 4.5 is ideal for gamers, audio engineers, music studios, and even room theatres alike with its compact design and additional flexibility.
Which Is the One for You: PreSonus Eris 4.5 vs Mackie CR5
What speaker is best suited for you comes down to your preference and usage. Some may use these speakers for gaming, watching movies, music, or even audio production and tuning.
The best way to know what is best for you is to test them. But there are also other factors that do not require testing and can determine its compatibility with your likings.
- If you are a rising audiophile with a knack for sound quality, the PreSonus e4.5 is for you. They are cheap yet do not compromise on the audio quality. If you are looking to start somewhere, these speakers could be your way to go.
- For gaming and other multimedia purposes that do not require you to make adjustments, the Mackie CR5-X is the perfect fit. It does not break the bank and delivers excellent quality for the money.
Moreover, with the integration of Bluetooth, it will surely catch your eye with convenience. Since you are on a budget, the CR5 bt provides the whole package.
Final Verdict: PreSonus Eris 4.5 vs Mackie CR5s Studio Monitors
To conclude, both speakers deliver satisfactory performance in their own field of expertise. While PreSonus focuses on persistent quality and longevity, Mackie sets their eyes on convenience. In the end, it comes down to what your preferences are.
The PreSonus Eris 4.5 is a consumer-friendly product that provides professional accuracy ideal for content creates, music producers, and gamers. On the other hand, the Mackie CR5 features Bluetooth for those bothered with cable management.
You can listen to music, jazz, or watch movies with your friends, or just complete your new gaming setup with some good looking speakers. Your preferences define what fits you. And as I have a thing for audio quality, I loved PreSonus Eris 4.5
So, go to the store, test them out yourself, get a feel of the sound and stress test them to your liking. Or, you can just read this article, which has everything you need for your decision making. If you are confuse about studio monitoras, take a peak at Features difference between Bookshelf Speakers and Studio Monitors
Editor’s Pick: PreSonus Eris 4.5
Engineer and Tech Journalist.Read More
