Keeps its feet on the ground in the truest sense of the word
frequency range: 20 - 20000 Hz | sound pressure level: 96 dB | impedance: 16 Ohm | dynamic
The PRESONUS ERIS HD10BT sets itself a very high claim, which it cannot necessarily confirm.
Sound 7.2
Bass Mids Trebles Stage Imaging
7 7 7.5 7.5 7
Handling 8.5
Processing Comfort Earpads Headband Weight
9 8 8 8 341 Gramm
Total 7.6
Price 99 €
Quickcheck
Pro Contra - good comfort - tonality
- workmanship - BT sound
- Handling - ANC
- battery - resolution
Intro
The ERIS HD10BT impresses more with its design and robustness than with the sound. Even though I appreciate both, the latter is clearly more important to me. Unfortunately, the ERIS offers too little in this discipline, at least if you have to and want to measure it against the self-imposed claim of a "studio headphone".
Handling
Bluetooth: 5.0
Audio codecs: SBC, AAC
Operating range: up to 10 m
Driver unit size: 40 mm
Speaker impedance: 16 Ohm ± 15%
Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz
Play time: ≤ 16 hours
The ERIS HDBT makes a very high-quality and especially robust impression. It is quite heavy for a Bluetooth headphone, but that rather underlines the durable character, which one would definitely want in the studio or on the road. Here, the ERIS delivers what it promises: a "studio headphone for on the go".
In addition, it can be operated intuitively and unerringly in Bluetooth mode thanks to the haptic buttons (+/- and On/Off) with double assignment.
The built-in microphone is also quite suitable for conversations.
It can be worn comfortably and the pads (not changeable) rest pleasantly above or rather next to the ear.
Thus, the PRESONUS ERIS HD10BT doesn't leave much to be desired in terms of workmanship and can make its mark here.
The Bluetooth connection works without problems and the range is in the average range. However, it is a different story in terms of sound.
Sound
I would have preferred to review the ERIS wired, but that contradicts the basic principle of a Bluetooth headphone review and so I will briefly go into the topic below. This much can be said: the ERIS HD10BT sounds better via cable than wirelessly and thus also somewhat contradicts the general rule, which rather represents the opposite in the BT area.
Bass
Dry with emphasis on the mid and upper bass describes the low range quite well. However, this is not a successful tuning in this case, because it lacks punch, firmness and details. The bass besieges the mids and colors them a lot, since they also lack presence in the upper range.
The bass can also be strongly influenced by the ANC, but it becomes much more undefined and bloated when the function is activated.
Mids
Tonally, I have some problems with the mids.
At times, they sound a bit dull and not really authentic. In the lower and mid-range they have more presence than in the upper range, which fits well with the term "boxy".
They still lack substance, though, as the bass (without ANC) can't give them the body they need. A bit confusing the whole thing, but there are bright spots as well and on balance you get used to this "earthy" presentation and start to concentrate on the music again. For me they are too tiring in the long run (garish/shrill/dull) and not musical enough.
Highs
Unlike the mids, or the bass, the highs can't be accused of inconsistency to the same degree. Still, they lack resolution and also brilliance, but they seem the most authentic and play solidly without suppressing too much information. Unfortunately, they can't save much and so the mids dominate with their slightly slanted dominance and warmth from the upper bass.
Stage
The stage has a decent extension in the panorama, but just height and depth are not necessarily the hobbyhorse of the ERIS. Still, it's good for a closed headphone, but not worthy of major praise.
Imaging
Here I can't attest to any special features of the ERIS. The 3D image is okay, although voices are a bit too prominent (male) and the image still seems rather two-dimensional.
Good average. The separation suffers somewhat due to the prominence of the voices, and the lack of resolution also means that the picture lacks a bit of clarity. ANC Hands off the ANC, at least with music. This adds considerably more bass to the ERIS, but makes for a dull sound and makes things worse than they help. You get used to it, but it still lacks clarity without ANC and especially resolution and tonality.
On a positive note, ANC can be used in both Bluetooth and with a cable. Likewise, the ERIS does not have to be on to activate ANC if you want to enjoy silence without music at all. Silence is quite a big word here, though, because ANC doesn't suppress much and so the function is "nice to have", but not really useful. Cable In cable mode, the ERIS sounds unexpectedly better than via BT. Usually this is the other way around, since a lot of tuning is also realized via the digital converter in BT and can be fine-tuned, whereas in cable the signal is looped through 1 to 1. Here, however, exactly this is the better solution for my taste and so you get more clarity and also a bit more dynamics with a cable. The ERIS HD10BT also has a fresher and livelier sound. Although the basic tonality remains approximately the same, but technically more is to get out of it.
Outro
The PRESONUS ERIS HD10BT sets itself a very high claim, which it cannot necessarily confirm. "Studio sound for on the go" is what the advertising text says, and even though one cannot deny the ERIS a reasonably settled basic attitude, it lacks an authentic tonality that seems rather dull, as well as lacks dynamics and can cause irritation. That should not be the basis for a "studio" headphone.
You get used to the sound and the ERIS is quite usable in total, but a switch to Bluetooth headphones like the Valco VMK20, quickly reveal the tonal weaknesses again. I don't even want to start with real studio headphones.
Some may even celebrate the ERIS for its "warm" signature with earthy sound, but I would also like to see more musicality and above all resolution and precision in the studio.
In addition, the ERIS is better used wired, as the sound quality benefits. Here, the ERIS would also have earned a slightly higher rating.