PreSonus Eris Studio 8 Review

The PreSonus Eris line is among the most popular entry-level studio monitor choices. But PreSonus isn’t resting on its laurels, and the updated Eris Studio range brings some notable improvements. In this review, we look closely at the largest choice, the PreSonus Eris Studio 8.

The PreSonus Eris Studio 8 is a well-rounded 8-inch studio monitor. Expertly crafted, it delivers an enhanced sound and a suite of functional design features. Plus, with an enticing price, it is among the most affordable 8-inch choices in a very crowded market.

Features

Large studio monitors need to tick many boxes to make them an appealing choice. Below, we check out where the PreSonus Eris Studio 8 delivers and where it falls short.

Sound Quality

As with all of our reviews, let’s get straight to the most crucial part. If you need a quick answer, the PreSonus Eris Studio 8 delivers on the sound front.

For monitors in this price category, several compromises often lead to an average but not great sound profile. The PreSonus Eris Studio 8 bucks this trend and delivers a remarkably accurate and well-defined sound profile.

The large 8-inch woofer provides a healthy chunk of low-end response. It’s meaty with plenty of punch. The rumble is satisfying from sub-bass regions to upper lows. Thankfully, it doesn’t resort to overhyping any aspect, keeping everything tight and clean with no boominess.

The PreSonus Eris Studio 8 is an excellent choice for a home studio.

Equally impressive is the mid-range performance. Mid-range is the heart and soul of a vast majority of modern productions, and this monitor presents this frequency range with precision. Details are exposed and clear, albeit a little recessed compared to the lows and highs. But nothing that a little tweaking using the onboard tuning can’t resolve.

The highs are crisp and clear and not overly bright. Accuracy is high but not on par with some of the other premium PreSonus offerings.

The transitions between the full range are superb. Everything has its place, and you never feel like either the woofer or the tweeter is misplaced in delivery.

“Remarkable performance for a monitor in this price range.”

Another notable highlight is the expansive sweet spot. The larger waveguide goes a long way to provide even coverage over a much larger area than many other monitors. It is an excellent choice for producer teams but also great for solo producers who want a wide sweet spot.

Imaging is relatively accurate, but the larger sweet spot does result in a slight dip in perceived spatial positioning. But it is easy to overlook this minor imperfection.

It is evident the level of engineering know-how that PreSonus has up its sleeve. Years of experience shine through. This is a capable monitor that is accurate and neutral. A perfect choice for creators wanting an affordable entry-level 8-inch monitor.

Build Quality

This is another area that is notoriously hit-and-miss when it comes to entry-level monitors. But once again, the PreSonus Eris Studio 8 bucks this trend. This well-constructed monitor doesn’t suffer from some of the issues other cheap monitors do.

The cabinet is solid and features bracing for added stability and resonance reduction. It’s a medium-density fibreboard with a vinyl laminated coating, and it’s durable and resistant to damage. That doesn’t mean you should be rough with them, but they do present a greater air of dependability compared to other options on the market.

High-quality materials at an affordable price point.

The 8-inch reinforced woven composite woofer is fantastic, as is the 1.25-inch silk dome tweeter. Internally, it sports a Class A/B amp setup, which does run hotter than a Class D amp, but at no point did I feel the heat generated would cause issues.

The back panel features secure connection points, and the knobs for tuning and volume are robust and satisfying to use. It’s a slick package with all the hallmarks of a well-made product.

Specifications

The PreSonus Eris Studio 8 offers a wide frequency response of 35Hz-20 kHz. Plenty of range and, more importantly, a very flat and neutral sound across the range. Peaks and dips are minimal, and delivery is smooth. 

The Eris Studio 8 features a larger-than-average tweeter.

Opting for a bi-amped Class A/B amp is also a departure from the all too common Class D amps found in most entry-level monitors. But the execution is on point. A total of 140W of power is on hand, with 75W for the low-frequency driver and 65W for the high-frequency driver.

A peak SPL of 106 dB also ensures you have plenty of headroom. Plus, it is nice to crank these up when you want to get a little wild. Impressively, the distortion levels are super low, and these perform great at higher volume levels.

Coverage is also broad, thanks to the updated waveguide. You’ll enjoy 100 degrees of horizontal coverage and 60 degrees on the vertical axis. This generous range makes finding and staying in the sweet spot a breeze.

Tuning Options

The PreSonus Eris Studio 8 also gives you a suite of tuning controls to customize the output further. Let’s face it: most home studios will experience some sonic issues, so having these up your sleeve is critical.

You’ll find a master gain knob on the back panel with a satisfying indent on the unity position. You’ll then have further control with both mid and high-frequency adjustments. Both offer a -6dB or +6dB range and once again provide an indent for the 0dB position.

The Eris Studio 8 offers a solid range of tuning options.

Below these knobs, you’ll have access to a few switches to refine the output further. The acoustic space switch allows for a -2 and -4dB cut. 0dB for when the monitor is in the middle of your studio. -2dB for placement near walls and -4dB for corner positioning. A low cut-off is also available with Flat, 80Hz, and 100Hz options.

Combining all these elements ensures you have great control and flexibility to adjust to your space. I also appreciate the manual’s detailed guide for placement and calibration. It’s a great extra touch for new producers setting up their project studios and an excellent refresher for seasoned veterans.

Design

A few striking features jump out at you with the PreSonus Eris Studio 8. The most obvious is the large waveguide dominating the box’s upper portion. But beyond that, the rest of the aesthetic is standard PreSonus design.

The blue tinge of the woofer gives it some character and integrates well with the PreSonus logo. The matte black finish is appealing and can comfortably blend into any studio environment. I also like the dividing line that separates the woofer and bass port with a slimline LED in the middle.

The Eris Studio 8 is a professional-looking studio monitor.

It is also worth noting the front-facing port. This does make it easier to place these monitors closer to walls, which is often a consideration for smaller studio spaces. With the suite of tuning options, this monitor is viable for smaller areas where an 8-inch monitor would generally be overkill. But it still might be too large for some spaces.

I also like the selection of built-in protections, the most noteworthy being the RF interference protection and the over-temperature protection.

Dimensions

I’ve handled my fair share of 8-inch monitors, so I wasn’t expecting a small package. But even then, the size of this monitor did initially throw me. The expanded waveguide necessitates an increase in size, so ensure you have an appropriate amount of space for these.

The PreSonus Eris Studio 8 is a large studio monitor.

The PreSonus Eris Studio 8 weighs 22.27 lbs. (10.1 kg). It is not excessively heavy and a bit lighter than its predecessor, the Eris E8 XT, but also hefty enough to provide stability. I don’t like super heavy monitors, but equally, I don’t like featherweight options. This is a nice balance between the two extremes.

Inputs

This is another area that earns the PreSonus Eris Studio 8 some extra points. It offers a wide range of connection options to handle various situations.

The Eris Studio 8 offers both balanced and unbalanced inputs.

The back panel features an unbalanced RCA connection, a balanced ¼-inch TRS, and a balanced XLR point. The addition of RCA is a nice touch, as many monitors forgo this option entirely. As always, I recommend using balanced connections where possible. But with added RF interference protection, these didn’t exhibit any issues when using the unbalanced RCA connection.

It is also worth mentioning that all three of these connection points are active. You can feed source material via all of them at the same time. Something that not all monitors offer.

The only connection options lacking are a headphone jack and Bluetooth. But for a monitor designed for a studio environment, these extras are unnecessary, and it is not surprising to see them absent here.

Value

PreSonus offers a wide range of studio gear, from entry-level to top-tier choices. The Eris line is the entry-level budget option and is very approachable. Setting up a studio can be expensive, so I always appreciate an affordable alternative to help minimize setup costs.

So many times, a lower price point results in poor quality and below-average sound. But the PreSonus Eris Studio 8 doesn’t succumb to these pitfalls. It’s well-built and sounds great while not straining your budget. Excellent balance between price and quality and is a perfect entry point for new producers or seasoned veterans who want a capable yet affordable monitor.

Big Monitors In Small Spaces

Selecting the right studio monitor for your space is challenging. Every studio space is different, with different dynamics. Often, an 8-inch monitor will be too much for smaller rooms. But it is hard to resist the fuller bass response and overall power boost that an 8-inch option provides.

8-inch monitors are large and sometimes overbearing for small spaces.

If you have a smaller space and want an 8-inch monitor, there are a few key things you’ll need to keep in mind. In most cases, a front-firing monitor will be preferable so that you can place it closer to a wall. You’ll also want to ensure you have enough tuning options to accommodate and adjust to any sonic issues. This can make or break having a larger monitor in a small studio.

Finally, it is worth understanding correct placement and exploring various ways to minimize sound issues. Monitor pads to reduce vibrations, absorption panels for reflections, bass traps to tame aggressive low-end build-up, and diffusion to disperse soundwaves. All these elements can assist in making sure you get the most out of your large monitor in a small space. 

Alternatives

If you are looking at buying an 8-inch monitor, there are a range of potential options worth investigating. Below are some other choices you should consider.

ADAM Audio T8V Review

The T8V from ADAM Audio is a natural competitor to the Eris Studio 8 and is an impressive alternative. With a U-Art ribbon tweeter, it also features sharper and more precise highs.

• Superb sound quality that is crystal clear and neutral for accurate mixing work.
• High build quality while retaining a modest price point.
• The rear-facing port could be problematic for some studio setups.

Kali Audio IN-8 V2 Review

The latest version of this popular 8-inch monitor from Kali Audio is also appealing. Several improvements from the original have made it an easy recommendation. 

• Excellent audio delivery. Tight bass, generous mids, and crisp highs.
• Neutral across the frequency range and plenty of headroom.
• It has a narrower sweet spot than the Eris Studio 8.

PreSonus R65 V2 Review

If you want to stick with PreSonus but want a more advanced option, the R65 V2 is a firm contender. This attractive monitor backs up its good looks with impressive sound.

• Fantastic sound quality with a high level of accuracy.
• The smaller woofer results in a smaller overall footprint. Suitable for smaller studio spaces.
• Substantially more expensive than the Eris Studio 8.

Should You Buy?

I’ve loved seeing the increased attention and competition at the entry-level. Companies are pulling out all the stops to earn your hard-earned cash. However, some companies will always have an edge due to years of experience, and Presonus is among them.

PreSonus has delivered a fantastic monitor by leaning into its abundance of knowledge and technology from its more expensive options. It sounds incredible, looks the part, and offers enough flexibility to adapt to a wide range of studio spaces. If you are looking for an entry-level 8-inch monitor, the PreSonus Eris Studio 8 is an excellent choice.