Presonus Eris E4.5BT 2nd Gen Active Studio Monitors

What makes the “2nd Gen” different?

The original Eris 4.5 was a classic, but it had a few “budget” flaws that Gen 2 addresses:

• Re-voiced EQ: PreSonus re-tuned the internal crossover (at 2.8 kHz). This makes the transition between the woofer and the tweeter smoother, which helps you hear “muddy” frequencies in your vocals (from the Shure SM7dB) more clearly.

• Power Saver Mode: A new internal sensor puts the speakers into a low-power “hibernation” after 40 minutes of silence. They wake up instantly when you play audio.

• Bluetooth 5.0: This is a major stability upgrade over the 4.2/4.0 versions in older models, offering much lower latency if you’re watching videos or streaming from a phone.

• Class AB Amplification: They still use Class AB (which many purists prefer over the “colder” Class D found in other budget speakers) to keep the sound warm and musical.

The Wins:

• Acoustic Tuning: These are one of the few speakers at this price with High and Low tuning knobs on the back. This is huge if your desk is in a corner (which usually causes too much bass)—you can just dial the bass back to keep it “flat.”

• Connectivity: You can have your SSL 12 plugged into the balanced inputs while simultaneously being connected to your phone via Bluetooth.

The Trade-offs:

• The “Hiss”: Like most budget active monitors, if you turn the volume knob to 100% with no music playing, you will hear a very slight “self-noise” or hiss. This is normal for this price bracket but something to know.

• The “Active/Passive” Link: Since only the left speaker has the amp, the wire connecting to the right speaker is quite thin. Upgrading that to a higher-gauge speaker wire is a cheap way to slightly improve the right-side performance.

Build & Design

• Form Factor: Compact desktop size, ideal for small rooms and studios
• Construction: Sturdy MDF cabinet with matte black finish
• Design: Rear‑ported for extended bass response
• Dimensions: ~210 × 163 × 180 mm
• Weight: ~4.9 kg (pair)

Applications

• Home Studio: Accurate enough for mixing and monitoring in small setups
• Content Creation: Great for YouTubers, podcasters, and streamers needing reliable sound
• Casual Listening: Bluetooth makes them convenient for everyday music playback
• Education/Office: Affordable monitors for students or multimedia setups