PreSonus Eris Series E44 / E66 High-Definition MTM Studio Monitors
Owner's Manual
1 Overview
Thank you for purchasing the PreSonus Eris E44/E66 studio monitors. The E44 and E66 active monitors feature a nested MTM (midwoofer-tweeter-midwoofer) design that delivers accurate response, expanded frequency range, and the widest stereo field available in their class.
For questions or comments regarding your PreSonus Eris E44/E66, you can contact PreSonus Audio Electronics at 225-216-7887 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time). PreSonus is committed to constant product improvement and values your suggestions highly. We believe listening to our customers is the best way to achieve this goal. We appreciate your support and are confident you will enjoy your Eris E44/E66!
About This Manual: This manual is designed to help you familiarize yourself with the features, applications, and correct connection procedures for your Eris E44/E66 before connecting it to your studio gear, thus avoiding installation and setup problems.
Throughout this manual, you will find 'Power User Tips' to help you become an Eris expert, along with tutorials covering monitor placement and settings for Input Level, EQ, and Acoustic Space controls.
1.1 Summary of Eris E44/E66 Features
- Nested MTM design for smooth on- and off-axis response.
- Dual 4.5"/6.5" Woven composite LF Drivers for more dynamic output than conventional designs.
- 1.25" silk dome HF Driver.
- Supports horizontal and vertical speaker placement.
- LF Amplifier Power: 50W (E44) / 80W (E66).
- HF Amplifier Power: 40W (E44) / 60W (E66).
- Inputs: Balanced XLR, 1/4" TRS, and unbalanced RCA.
- Continuously Variable HF and MF Controls (-6 to +6dB).
- Low Cut Filter (Flat, 80Hz, 100Hz).
- Acoustic Space settings (Flat, -2 dB, -4 dB) to compensate for room placement.
- Protection features: RF interference, Output-current Limiting, Over-temperature, Turn-on/off transient, Subsonic filter, External mains fuse.
- Power: 110-120V ~50/60 Hz or 220-240V ~50/60 Hz.
1.2 What is in the box
- (1) PreSonus Eris E44 or E66 powered studio monitor.
- (1) IEC power cable.
- (6) Foam feet to be placed on the bottom of the speaker to improve isolation.
2 Hookup
2.1 Rear Panel Connections and Controls
2.1.1 Inputs
The Eris E44/E66 provides three inputs: two balanced (XLR and 1/4" TRS) and one unbalanced (RCA). These inputs accept a line-level signal from your audio source and feed it to the monitor's built-in power amplifiers. They allow for flexible connectivity, but please connect only one source to your Eris E44/E66 at a time.
Input Diagram Description: Shows the rear panel with connections for XLR (balanced), 1/4" TRS (balanced), and RCA (unbalanced) inputs, along with the Input Gain control.
Power User Tip: For balanced XLR or 1/4" TRS outputs from your audio source, use the corresponding balanced Eris inputs. Balanced cables are resistant to noise from radio-frequency or electromagnetic interference (RFI or EMI). For unbalanced 1/4" TS outputs, use a 1/4"-to-RCA adapter or cable. Always use the shortest possible cable to minimize RFI or EMI noise.
Input Gain: Sets the level of the input signal before amplification.
2.1.2 Power
IEC Power Connection: Your Eris E44/E66 accepts a standard IEC power cord.
Warning: Do not remove the center grounding prong or use a ground-lift adapter, as this could result in electric shock.
Power Switch: This is the On/Off switch. The power status is indicated by an LED on the front of the cabinet.
AC Select Switch: The input-power voltage is factory-set for the country of shipment. Use this switch only if you are using your Eris speakers in a country with a different standard voltage than where you purchased them.
2.1.3 Acoustic Tuning Controls
- High: Boosts or cuts all frequencies above 10 kHz by ±6 dB. This is a high-shelf EQ, similar to a treble control, affecting all frequencies above the specified cutoff.
- Mid: Boosts or cuts frequencies around 1 kHz by ±6 dB. This is a peak EQ that affects a band approximately two octaves wide centered at 1 kHz.
- Low Cutoff: Rolls off frequencies below the specified frequency (80 or 100 Hz) at a slope of -12 dB/octave. Set to 'Flat' to disable this function and use the monitor's natural rolloff.
- Acoustic Space: Cuts frequencies below 800 Hz by a specified amount (-2 or -4 dB) to compensate for bass boost caused by proximity to walls or corners. Set to 0 dB when the monitor is placed far from any wall.
Power User Tip (High Control): Shelving EQs can significantly alter sound quickly. Use them judiciously.
2.2 Hookup Diagrams
2.2.1 Basic Setup
Diagram Description: Shows a basic hookup connecting an AudioBox iTwo to Eris E66 monitors using XLR and RCA cables. The diagram illustrates the rear panel connections of the Eris E66.
2.2.2 Advanced Setup with Speaker Switching
Diagram Description: Illustrates an advanced setup connecting a Studio 192 to Sceptre S6 monitors and Eris E44 monitors. It also shows the connection of a Temblor T10 subwoofer.
3 Tutorials
3.1 Monitor Placement
Ideally, near-field monitors should be placed so that the tweeters are at the same height as your ears when mixing.
Eris E44 and E66 speakers can be placed vertically or horizontally. When placed vertically, they should form a mirror-image pair with the tweeters on the outside. When placed horizontally, the tweeters should be on top.
Diagram Description: Shows ideal monitor placement with tweeters at ear height.
Diagram Description: Shows Eris E44/E66 monitors placed vertically in a mirror-image configuration with tweeters outward.
Diagram Description: Shows Eris E44/E66 monitors placed horizontally with tweeters on top.
The speakers should be separated to form an equilateral triangle with your head. The monitors should be 'toed in,' or angled, to point directly at you, not straight ahead.
Diagram Description: Illustrates monitor placement with speakers angled inward to form an equilateral triangle with the listener's head.
3.1.1 Badge Rotation
The logo badge on your Eris E44 and E66 can be rotated to match their orientation in your studio. Simply use your fingers to twist the logo so it is right side up after positioning your monitors.
Diagram Description: Illustrates the rotatable logo badge on the Eris E44/E66 monitor, showing a 180° range.
3.2 Input Gain Setting
Start by setting the Input Level control to its unity gain position (labeled 'U'). This means the signal level reaching the amplifier is the same as the input signal level, ensuring a strong signal without extraneous noise. Ensure your audio source's gain controls are optimized for maximum signal level and minimum noise (a process called 'gain staging'). Set the Input Gain on your Eris monitor so that other level controls in the system do not need to be turned excessively high or low for a comfortable listening volume.
If unity gain is unsatisfactory, try different settings, but avoid settings above 'U' if possible. If the volume is too loud at unity gain, turn the Input Gain down slightly, but not so low that you must crank your audio source's output to maximum. Setting it too low will amplify audible noise from your source. Setting it too high will amplify any noise in the signal.
Once the monitor's Input Gain control is set, leave it; do not use it as a system volume control. Use your audio device's output-level control for that purpose.
Diagram Description: Shows the Input Gain control knob.
3.3 Equalizer Setting Suggestions
The Eris E44/E66 features three EQ controls: High, Mid, and Low Cutoff. The Acoustic Space control is covered in the next section.
- High Control: Setting this to 0 generally yields the best results. If the sound is too bright or shrill, try turning it down. If it's too dull, turn it up. It's generally better to cut than boost, using the smallest adjustment needed.
- Mid Control: This is a mid-frequency peak filter centered on 1 kHz. Setting it to 0 is usually best. Turning it down below 0 can emulate a car stereo's 'smiley face' EQ curve. Turning it up above 0 can emulate a cheap portable radio, but avoid excessive boosting to prevent adding noise.
- Low Cutoff: Use this to roll off low frequencies below 80 or 100 Hz. Engage it if using a subwoofer and set it to match the subwoofer's crossover frequency. Set to 'Flat' if not using a subwoofer.
Power User Tip: Do not use the EQ controls on your Eris monitor to correct problems in your mix. While this affects what you hear in the control room, it does not alter the recorded audio.
3.4 Acoustic Space Setting Suggestions
When monitors are placed close to a wall or in a corner, low frequencies tend to be emphasized ('boundary bass boost'). This effect is most pronounced in corners and less so near a single wall.
The Acoustic Space switch compensates for this by cutting frequencies below 800 Hz:
- For monitors placed close to corners: set the Acoustic Space switch to -4 dB for maximum bass attenuation.
- For monitors placed close to the back wall: set the Acoustic Space switch to -2 dB for less attenuation.
- For monitors placed far from any wall: set the Acoustic Space switch to 0 dB, as there will be no bass boost.
4 Resources
4.1 Technical Specifications
| Specification | Eris E44 | Eris E66 |
|---|---|---|
| Inputs | 1- Balanced XLR, 1- Balanced 1/4" TRS, 1- Unbalanced RCA | |
| Frequency Response | 55 Hz to 22 kHz | 45 Hz to 22 kHz |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.9 kHz | 2.4 kHz |
| LF Amplifier Power | 50W | 80W |
| HF Amplifier Power | 35W | 65W |
| Peak SPL at 1M | 103 dB | 106 dB |
| LF Drivers | Dual 4.5" Woven composite | Dual 6.5" Woven composite |
| HF Driver | 1.25" silk dome | 1.25" silk dome |
| Input Impedance | 10 kΩ | |
| Volume Range | A-type taper | |
| MF Control | Variable (-6 to +6 dB) | |
| HF Control | Variable (-6 to +6 dB) | |
| Low Cut | Flat, 80 Hz, 100 Hz | |
| Acoustic Space | Flat, -2 dB, -4 dB | |
| Protection | RF interference, Output-current limiting, Over-temperature, Turn-on/off transient, Subsonic filter, External mains fuse | |
| Power | 100-120V ~50/60 Hz or 220-240V ~50/60 Hz | |
| Cabinet | Vinyl-laminated MDF | |
| Physical (Width/Height/Depth) | 7" x 7" x 14.3" (180 mm x 180 mm x 365 mm) | 8.5" x 9.8" x 18.1" (215 mm x 250 mm x 460 mm) |
| Weight | 11.9 lb (5.4 kg) | 23.4 lb (10.6 kg) |
4.2 Troubleshooting
No Power
Ensure the Eris E44/E66 is plugged in. If connected to a power conditioner, verify the conditioner is on and functioning. If the problem persists, disconnect the power cable and check the fuse on the back panel, located beneath the IEC power connection. A blown fuse may appear black inside or have a broken wire. Replace with the correct fuse type for your monitor's input-power voltage. If the fuse blows again, contact PreSonus for repair.
No Audio
If the Eris E44/E66 powers on but produces no sound, first check the audio source cable for proper function. Verify that the Input Gain control is set to provide sufficient signal amplitude.
Hum
Hum is typically caused by a ground loop. Ensure all audio equipment is connected to the same power source. Using a power conditioner is highly recommended to minimize hum and protect equipment from surges and brownouts.
Use balanced cables whenever possible. If your audio device lacks a balanced output, use a direct box to provide a ground-lift switch and balanced output.
Ensure audio cables are not run near power cables and use appropriate cable lengths. Long cables increase the risk of noise and can act as antennas, picking up interference.
