PreSonus Eris User Manual

Eris™ Series E4.5

High-Definition Near Field Studio Monitors

Owner’s Manual

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®

www.presonus.com

Table of Contents

1. Overview — 1

1.1. Introduction — 1

1.2. Summary of Eris E4.5

Features — 2

1.3. What’s in the Box — 3

2. Hookup — 4

2.1. Rear Panel Connections and

Controls — 4

2.1.1. Inputs — 4

2.1.2. Power — 5

2.1.3. Acoustic Tuning

Controls — 5

2.1.4. Speaker

connections — 6

2.2. Front-Panel Connections — 6

2.3. Hookup Diagram — 7

3.0 Tutorials — 8

3.1 Monitor Placement — 8

3.2 Level Setting — 9

3.3 Equalizer Setting Suggestions — 9

3.4 Acoustic Space Setting

Suggestions — 10

4. Resources — 11

4.1. Technical Specifications — 11

4.2. Troubleshooting — 11

4.3. PreSonus Limited Warranty — 12

1. Overview

1.1. Introduction

monitors. PreSonus Audio Electronics is committed
to constant product improvement, and we value your
suggestions highly. We believe the best way to achieve
our goal is by listening to the real experts: our valued
customers. We appreciate the support you have shown us
through the purchase of this product and are confident
that you will enjoy your Eris E4.5 studio monitors!

ABOUT THIS MANUAL: We suggest that you use this manual
to familiarize yourself with the features, applications,
and connection procedures for your Eris E4.5s before
connecting them to the rest of your studio gear. This will
help you avoid problems during installation and setup.

Throughout this manual you will find Power User Tips
that can quickly make you an Eris expert. In addition
to the Power User Tips, you will find several tutorials
that cover monitor placement, as well as setting the
input level, EQ, and Acoustic Space controls.

Eris™ Series E4.5 Owner’s Manual

Thank you for purchasing the
PreSonus® Eris™ E4.5 studio monitors.
Eris E4.5 active near-field monitors offer
excellent performance at a reasonable
price for budge-conscious personal
studios, with features normally
reserved for more expensive monitors.

We encourage you to contact us at
[phone] (Monday-Friday,
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time) with
questions or comments regarding
your PreSonus Eris E4.5 studio

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1.2. Summary of Eris E4.5 Features

1.2. Summary of Eris E4.5 Features

• 1” (22 mm) silk-dome tweeter

• 4.5” Kevlar woofer

• Peak SPL: 100 dB

• Frequency response: 70 Hz to 20 kHz

• Class A/B amplifier

• Balanced ¼” TRS and unbalanced RCA inputs

• 1/8” headphone output

• 1/8” stereo Auxiliary input

• Front-panel volume control

• Rear bass-reflex port

• High-frequency shelf EQ with ± 6 dB of
boost/cut centered at 10 kHz

• Mid-frequency peak EQ with ± 6 dB of
boost/cut centered at 1 kHz

• Low-frequency cutoff switch (flat, 80 Hz,
100 Hz) with -12 dB/octave slope

• Acoustic Space switch (0, -2 dB, -4 dB) to
compensate for bass boost near a wall

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1.3. What’s in the Box

In addition to this manual, your Eris E4.5
package contains the following:

• (1) PreSonus Eris E4.5 active studio monitor

• (1) PreSonus Eris E4.5 passive studio monitor

Eris™ Series E4.5 Owner’s Manual

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• (1) 1.5m TRS 1/8” to 2 RCA cable

• (1) 1.5m TRS 1/8” stereo cable

• (1) 2m bare-wire speaker cable

• (8) Foam feet, (4) to be placed on the bottom of each
speaker to improve isolation

• (1) Power cable

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2.1. Rear Panel Connections and Controls

2. Hookup

2.1. Rear Panel Connections and Controls

Each Eris E4.5 pair consists of one active E4.5 and
one passive E4.5. Nearly every connection is located
exclusively on the active Eris E4.5. This speaker provides
signal and power for the passive E4.5. The exceptions
are the bare-wire connectors, which send power and
signal from the active speaker to the passive speaker.

2.1.1. Inputs

Line-level Inputs. The Eris E4.5 active monitor provides a
choice of two pairs of inputs: left and right balanced ¼” TRS
and left and right unbalanced RCA. These inputs accept a
line-level signal from an audio source and feed that signal to
the each monitor’s built-in power amplifier. These inputs are
provided to enable flexible connectivity, not for connecting
multiple sources to your speakers simultaneously.

Power User Tip: The left inputs send signal to the active E4.5’s
amplifier, and the right inputs send signal to the amplifier
that powers the passive E4.5. PreSonus recommends that the
active E4.5 be placed on the left side of your mix space and the
passive E4.5 be placed on the right. However, if you prefer to
have the controls located on your active monitor placed on
the right side of your workspace, be sure to reverse the inputs
from your audio source to maintain the correct stereo image.

Note: These controls are only available on the active E4.5.

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2.1.2. Power

Eris™ Series E4.5 Owner’s Manual

IEC Power Connection. The Eris E4.5 accepts a
standard IEC C7 power cord. The power switch is
located on the front panel of the active E4.5.

AC Select Switch. The input-power voltage is set at the
factory to correspond with the country to which it was
shipped. Change the setting on this switch only if you are
using your Eris speakers in a country that uses a different
standard voltage than is used in the country where you
purchased your Eris E4.5.

Note: These controls are only available on the active E4.5.

2.1.3. Acoustic Tuning Controls

High. Boosts or cuts all frequencies above 10 kHz by ±6 dB.

Power User Tip: The High control on the Eris E4.5 is a high-shelf
EQ and attenuates or boosts frequencies above 10 kHz. This EQ
is much like the treble control on a car stereo: It raises or lowers
the gain on all frequencies above the specified cutoff frequency.
Shelving EQs can make big changes to the sound very quickly
by adding or removing an entire range of frequencies.

Mid. Boosts of cuts frequencies around 1 kHz by ±6 dB

Power User Tip: The Mid control is a peak EQ that
lets you boost or cut a specified frequency band (in
this case, a band about two octaves wide, centered
at 1 kHz). It’s capable of more subtle changes.

Low Cutoff. Rolls off the level of all frequencies below the
specified frequency (80 or 100 Hz) at a slope of -12 dB/
octave. This can be defeated by setting it to Flat, in which
case, the monitor’s natural roll-off takes over.

Acoustic Space. Cuts the level of all frequencies below 1
kHz by the specified amount (-2 or -4 dB) to compensate for
the bass boost that occurs when the monitor is placed near
a wall or corner. This can be defeated by setting it to 0 dB.

Note: These controls are only available on the active E4.5.

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E4.5 Active Speaker E4.5 Passive Speaker

2.2. Front-Panel Connections

2.1.4. Speaker connections

Bare-wire connectors. This connection is used to power and
send signal to the passive E4.5. Be sure to connect the positive
and negative connections on your active E4.5 to the positive
and negative connections, respectively, on the passive E4.5
(i.e., connect positive to positive and negative to negative).

2.2. Front-Panel Connections

Power Switch. This is the On/Off switch. The LED above the
volume control indicates power status.

Volume. Sets the volume level of the input signal before it is
amplified. This is also the volume control for the front-panel
headphone amp.

Aux In. This stereo 1/8” jack can be used to patch in an MP3
player for a quick reference check.

Power User Tip: This input will sum with
the inputs on the back panel.

Headphone Out. This headphone output is controlled by the
Level knob.

Power User Tip: When the headphone output is connected,
audio will be muted to your E4.5 speakers. This can be
very useful when you’re recording at your desk!

Note: These controls are only available on the active E4.5.

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2.3. Hookup Diagram

R L

IN OUT

USB 2.0 PHONES

MIDI

MAIN OUT

AudioBox 22VSL

Eris E4.5 Active Eris E4.5 Passive

Eris™ Series E4.5 Owner’s Manual

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60˚ 60˚

3.1 Monitor Placement

3.0 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 you are mixing.

Eris speakers can be placed vertically or horizontally;
when placed horizontally, they should form a mirror­image pair, with the tweeters on the outside.

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The speakers should be separated so that the tweeters
form an equilateral triangle with your head. The
monitors should be “toed in,” or angled, so that they
are pointed at you, not pointed straight ahead.

3.2 Level Setting

Make sure that the gain controls on your audio source have
been optimized for maximum signal level and minimum
noise. This process is called “gain staging,” and you can learn
about it from many online sources. You should always set
the volume on your Eris monitor so that all other level
controls in the system needn’t be turned way up or way
down to achieve a comfortable listening volume.

If you properly gain-stage your audio source, setting the
Eris Volume to 12 o’clock or slightly lower should work fine.

Once the monitor’s volume control is set, leave it
alone; don’t use it as a system-volume control. Leave
that job to your audio device’s output-level control.

3.3 Equalizer Setting Suggestions

The Eris 4.5 provides three EQ controls in its Acoustic Tuning

section: High, Mid, and Low Cutoff. (There’s also an Acoustic
Space control, which is covered in the next section.) In
general, setting the High control to 0 (no boost or cut) will
produce the best results. However, if the sound is generally
too bright or shrill, try turning this control down below 0; if
the sound is too dull and lifeless, try turning it up above 0.
It’s always better to cut than to boost and to use the
smallest cut or boost needed to get the job done.

The Mid control is a mid-frequency peak filter that boosts
or cuts frequencies centered on 1 kHz and extending
about one octave above and below that frequency. Again,
setting this control to 0 will generally produce the best
results. If you want to emulate a car stereo, try turning it
down below 0 to approximate the common “smiley face”
EQ curve. On the other hand, if you want to emulate a
cheap portable radio, try turning it up above 0. Try not
to boost much, since this can add noise to the signal.

The Low Cutoff control rolls off the low frequencies below
the specified frequency (80 or 100 Hz). Engage this control if
you are using a subwoofer in conjunction with the Eris E4.5
monitors, and set it to the same frequency as the crossover
to the subwoofer. If you’re not using a subwoofer, set the
control to Flat. If you want to emulate a cheap radio, engage
this control at 80 or 100 Hz while boosting the Mid control.

Power User Tip: Do not use the EQ controls on
your Eris monitor to correct problems in your mix.
While this changes what you hear in the control
room, it has no effect on your recorded audio.

Eris™ Series E4.5 Owner’s Manual

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3.4 Acoustic Space Setting Suggestions

3.4 Acoustic Space Setting Suggestions

When a monitor is placed close to a wall, or in a corner,
the low frequencies tend to be emphasized more than
if the monitor is far from any room boundary; this effect
is called “boundary bass boost.” It is most pronounced
if the monitor is in a corner and less pronounced,
but present, if the monitor is near one wall.

To compensate for this bass boost, the Eris E4.5
provides an Acoustic Space switch that cuts all
frequencies below 1kHz by a fixed amount.

If the monitors are close to the corners of the room, start by
setting the Acoustic Space switch to -4 dB, which provides the
most bass attenuation.

If the monitors are close to the back wall, try setting the
Acoustic Space switch to -2 dB for less attenuation.

If the monitors are far from any wall, there will
be no bass boost, so set the switch to 0 dB.

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Eris™ Series E4.5 Owner’s Manual

4. Resources

4.1. Technical Specifications

Inputs

2 balanced ¼” TRS, 2 unbalanced RCA, 1 stereo 1/8”

Performance

Frequency Response 70 Hz to 20 kHz
Crossover Frequency 2.8 kHz
Amplifier Power 25W per speaker
Peak SPL at 1m 100 dB
Input Impedance 10 kΩ

User Controls

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

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Power

100-120V ~50/60 Hz or 220-240V ~50/60 Hz

Physical

Cabinet Vinyl laminated MDF
Dimensions (WxHxD) 6.42” x 9.45” x 7.09” (163 mm x 241 mm x 180 mm)

Weight (per pair) 13 lbs (5.9 kg)

4.2. Troubleshooting

No Power. First ensure that your active Eris E4.5 is plugged
in. If it’s connected to a power conditioner, verify that the
power conditioner is turned on and functioning.

No audio. If your Eris E4.5 appears to power on but you hear no
sound when playing audio from your audio source (the lights are on
but nobody’s home), first make sure that the cable connecting your
audio source to the monitor is working correctly. Also, verify that the
volume control is set to provide enough amplitude for the signal.

If only the passive E4.5 is not passing audio, check
your speaker-wire connections and verify that the bare
wire is fully inserted into each connection.

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4.3. PreSonus Limited Warranty

Hum. Usually, hum is caused by a ground loop. Verify that all
audio equipment is connected to the same power source.

Sound is thin. If the sound of the speakers seems thin and brittle,
check that your speaker wires are connected correctly (i.e., the positive/
red connection on the active Eris E4.5 is connected to the positive/red
connection on the passive Eris E4.5 and the negative/black connection
on each is connected to the negative/black connection on the other).

4.3. PreSonus Limited Warranty

PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc., warrants this product to be free of defects in
material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original retail
purchase. This warranty is enforceable only by the original retail purchaser. To be
protected by this warranty, the purchaser must complete and return the enclosed
warranty card within 14 days of purchase. During the warranty period PreSonus
shall, at its sole and absolute option, repair or replace, free of charge, any product
that proves to be defective on inspection by PreSonus or its authorized service
representative. If you are located in the USA and need warranty repair, please
submit an online technical support request at http://support.presonus.com
to receive a return-authorization number and shipping information. If you are
located outside of the USA, please contact the PreSonus distributor for your
region for warranty repairs. All inquiries must be accompanied by a description
of the problem. All authorized returns must be sent to the PreSonus repair facility
postage prepaid, insured, and properly packaged. PreSonus reserves the right
to update any unit returned for repair. PreSonus reserves the right to change
or improve the design of the product at any time without prior notice. This
warranty does not cover claims for damage due to abuse, neglect, alteration,
or attempted repair by unauthorized personnel and is limited to failures arising
during normal use that are due to defects in material or workmanship in the
product. Any implied warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability
and fitness for a particular purpose, are limited in duration to the length of
this limited warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an
implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you. In no
event will PreSonus be liable for incidental, consequential, or other damages
resulting from the breach of any express or implied warranty, including,
among other things, damage to property, damage based on inconvenience
or on loss of use of the product, and, to the extent permitted by law, damages
for personal injury. Some states do not allow the exclusion of limitation of
incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion
may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you
may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. This warranty only
applies to products sold and used in the United States of America. For warranty
information in all other countries, please refer to your local distributor.

PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc.
7257 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 USA

1-225-216-7887

www.presonus.com

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Dinner is Served

Added bonus: PreSonus’ previously Top Secret recipe for…

Rice Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 lb chopped chicken liver

• 1 onion (diced)

• 2 green peppers (diced)

• 4-6 celery stalks (diced)

• 2 garlic cloves (minced)

• ¼ C. chopped fresh parsley

• 3 C. chicken stock

• 6 C. cooked rice

• 1 Tbs. oil

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Cayenne pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. In a large pot, heat oil on medium high and add meat, salt, and pepper to taste.
Stir until meat begins to brown.

2. Lower heat and add all vegetables. Cook until onions are transparent and celery
is very tender. Add stock as necessary to prevent burning.

3. Stir in cooked rice. Add remaining stock and simmer on low until ready to serve.

© 2013 PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. AudioBox, CoActual, DigiMax, Eris, FireStudio, Nimbit,
PreSonus, QMix, Riff to Release, Sceptre, StudioLive, and XMAX are trademarks or registered trademarks of PreSonus Audio
Electronics, Inc. Capture, Impact, Mixverb Presence, RedLightDist, SampleOne, Studio One, and Tricomp are trademarks
or registered trademarks of PreSonus Software Ltd. Mac and Mac OS are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc., in the U.S.
and other countries. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. Temporal EQ and
TQ are trademarks of Fulcrum Acoustic. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective
companies. All specifications subject to change without notice...except the recipe, which is a classic.

Eris™ Series E4.5

High-Definition Near Field Studio Monitors

Owner’s Manual

18011 Grand Bay Ct. • Baton Rouge,
Louisiana 70809 USA• 1-225-216-7887

®

www.presonus.com

Part# 820-GE40027-B