The Presonus Eris Sub 8BT is an active subwoofer featuring Bluetooth functionality. Designed specifically for the Presonus Eris series of compact studio monitors, the subwoofer delivers bass frequencies of up to 30Hz and a peak output of 100W, enabling an impressive maximum sound pressure level (SPL) of 100dB to be achieved at a distance of one metre. The rear of the subwoofer is equipped with flexible connection options in the form of wired inputs and outputs and additionally provides access to settings such as gain, high and low-pass filters, and a polarity invert switch for individual integration into an existing setup. All of these features add up to create powerful productions in an optimised setup, whatever the application – whether to complement emotionally moving music or in post-productions for breathtaking films.
This subwoofer is equipped with an 8" low-frequency driver, which is powered by a class AB amplifier. Signal routes into the subwoofer are provided courtesy of balanced 6.35mm TRS jack sockets and unbalanced RCA inputs, while identically formatted outputs to the right of these can be used to transmit the signal to satellite speakers. The gain control, which can provide a level reduction of up to 30dB and a gain boost of up to 6dB, is located top left alongside the low-pass filter, which in turn can be continuously adjusted between 50Hz and 200Hz. There is also the option to rotate the polarity of the input signals by 180°. On the far right-hand side is a switchable high-pass filter, which filters frequencies above 80Hz from the full-range signal for the connected monitor speakers.
A subwoofer is now an indispensable component of many audio productions, particularly in EDM and Hip-Hop music and also in the post-production of commercials, where the deep bass truly makes its presence felt. In addition to the facility at the rear of the Presonus Eris Sub 8BT for connecting up studio monitors, a convenient means of integrating mobile devices for listening to reference mixes is also available courtesy of the Bluetooth 5.0 interface. A corresponding pairing button can be found at the rear of the subwoofer, between the inputs and outputs. In addition to extensive flexibility, integrated protection circuits comprising RF shielding, output current limitation, and over-temperature and subsonic protection functions, ensure that the Presonus Eris Sub 8BT also delivers in terms of reliability. As the tone and frequency response of the Presonus Eris Sub 8BT have been tailored to monitors from the Presonus Eris series, the subwoofer should be combined with these monitors for optimum use.
Presonus is a US company founded in 1995 by Jim Odom and Brian Smith in Baton Rouge, Lousiana. The firm designs hardware and software at both professional and more affordable levels for musicians and producers. Presonus first made a splash in the mid-1990s with the DCP8, an eight-channel analogue compressor/limiter/gate with fader and mute automation that could be digitally controlled by MIDI. In the early 2000s followed a series of microphone amplifiers and the first audio interfaces for the then-emerging home studio scene. Today, the company's product range includes audio interfaces, microphone preamps, digital mixing consoles, and studio monitors as well as the established DAW software Studio One.
The Presonus Eris Sub 8BT is fitted with four sturdy feet, allowing it to be placed on a studio floor. Acoustic shielding can be provided courtesy of a simple carpet, although anyone looking for a more professional solution can opt for special absorbers, which provide excellent acoustic decoupling. With a height of just 29.5cm, this subwoofer can be accommodated in any studio, no matter how small. The lower slot-shaped bass reflex opening at the front of the subwoofer will also prove ideal when installing the Presonus Eris Sub 8BT close to a wall. The subwoofer housing is composed of MDF – a well-known material in speaker cabinets – which, in this case, is vinyl-laminated.