Hello everyone !
I would like to dedicate one of my laptop (dell xps 2019 / ubuntu studio) for everything related to bass (specifically, bassbuzz course, recording etc). So I would need speakers with it, and compact with that (I don’t have that much space). I’ve just finish reading topics such as this one :
… which has basically (almost) everything I needed to know, but the gear list was for 2021.
I was going for the PreSonus Eris E4.5 4.5 but is there anything better (more suitable ?) for bass maybe in 2023/2024 ? Also, I know some of you use this kind of setup, do you have specifics advices for this setup scenario ?
I have the Eris 4.5. Whilst I’m not hugely knowledgeable about these things the one thing that is noticeable, and a little surprising, is it is rather heavy on the bass. I have read this elsewhere so it’s not just my bad ear! I have had to turn the bass response down, so thank goodness it does have the tone controls.
I like the flexibility of it. I can plug the computer or an mp3 player into it via the 3.5mm plugs. I can plug the monitor output from my Focusrite DAI with a pair of 6.35mm plugs. I can plug the output of my preamp into it via either the 3.5mm or 6.35mm plugs and have it work as a small practice system.
That versatility seems to be what I’m looking for. I didn’t expect your answer on the bass response, so it’s also a plus for me.
I assume you have the “cable” version (I can see a BT version) ?
I have the Presonus E3 BT (space is an issue for me too) and they work fine. For music they are wired into my DI and connect to my PC via USB. I’ve used the BT for other mobile devices, and have had no issues there either. I like that the main power is on the front of the active speaker instead of on the back like most monitors. For the size and price point, they are decent monitors. I will replace them at some point when I can get more space, but they are doing fine for now.
Honestly the E3’s are ideal if you’re limited for space, they’re insanely cheap, barely much bigger than an average pc speaker, and sound surprisingly great!
One thing I would recommend is checking out this guy’s channel - he does side by sides with lots of monitors and includes frequency response graphs he measures:
Now for a recommendation - I would recommend taking a look at JBL. They box way above their weight class and are inexpensive. I love mine, which actually might work well for you; I own the JBL 305P mk II. Here it is against a slightly larger Presonus:
To my ears they have superior clarity and quality of sound. And in fact stand up well against the larger Yamaha HS7:
Thanks for your infos, @howard. The 6-track comparison seems like a close battle to me, but with the JBL as the definitive winner (at least to my ears, and for at least 4 of 6 tracks).
Now, I’ve just looked up for a pair of JBL (amazon france) and it’s almost 2x times the price of the Presonus (E4.5, not E5).
Overall, since I can see other people happy with the Presonus, I think I should stick with it unless I find a good deal for the JBL (looking into it right now !)
Again, thanks for your infos
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