PreSonus Eris Accent Bluetooth Speakers

Consumer Audio Product Development Case Study

A compact Bluetooth speaker system developed to extend the PreSonus Eris product family into an accessible consumer-audio format for desktop listening, entertainment, and everyday use.

Eris Accent combined recognizable PreSonus design language, Bluetooth connectivity, compact acoustic hardware, OEM development, packaging, Amazon content, and commercial launch execution.

Role: Product Development and Product Management
Brand: PreSonus / Fender
Category: Consumer Audio Hardware
Product Type: Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
Focus: Product Definition, OEM Development, Audio Hardware, Packaging, Amazon Launch, Commercialization

Project Overview

PreSonus is recognized for professional audio products used by musicians, content creators, and recording professionals. The opportunity was to develop a compact Bluetooth speaker system that could reach a broader consumer audience while remaining credible within the Eris product family.

The product needed to support everyday desktop and home listening without losing the visual and performance cues associated with the PreSonus brand.

Eris Accent was developed as a compact, approachable audio product that connected professional-audio credibility with the convenience expected from modern consumer electronics.

The Opportunity

The consumer speaker market was crowded with lifestyle-oriented Bluetooth products, while PreSonus had strong equity in professional monitoring and music-production hardware.

The opportunity was to create a product that could:

Extend the Eris family into a broader consumer segment
Appeal to music listeners, gamers, students, and desktop users
Offer Bluetooth convenience alongside wired connectivity
Preserve recognizable PreSonus design cues
Deliver strong value within a competitive retail price point
Support Amazon and e-commerce merchandising
Expand the brand into new usage occasions without weakening its professional-audio credibility

The challenge was to create an accessible consumer product that still felt unmistakably connected to PreSonus.

My Role

I led and coordinated product development activities across product definition, competitive analysis, OEM development, design refinement, packaging, content creation, and launch readiness.

My responsibilities included:

Defining the product opportunity and intended customer use cases
Benchmarking competing Bluetooth and desktop speaker systems
Establishing target features, price positioning, and product requirements
Coordinating OEM sourcing and supplier development
Reviewing industrial design, proportions, controls, finishes, and branding
Evaluating samples for fit, finish, usability, construction, and performance
Aligning product details with the PreSonus Eris design language
Supporting packaging structure, graphics, specifications, and feature communication
Developing Amazon and e-commerce product content
Coordinating launch readiness across product, marketing, operations, sales, and supplier teams

Product Development Approach

The product needed to work for customers who wanted better sound than a laptop, monitor, or basic portable speaker, but did not need a full professional studio monitor setup.
Core use cases included:
- Desktop music listening
- Gaming and entertainment
- Home-office audio
- Content viewing
- Small-room playback
- Bluetooth streaming from phones, tablets, and computers
These use cases guided decisions around product size, controls, connectivity, placement, packaging, and price.
Eris Accent needed to feel related to PreSonus studio monitors without being mistaken for a professional reference monitor.
The product language focused on:
- Familiar Eris-inspired proportions
- Recognizable front-panel treatment
- Clear PreSonus branding
- A compact bookshelf-speaker form
- Consumer-friendly controls
- A visual balance between professional and lifestyle audio
The objective was to extend the family while preserving a clear product hierarchy.
The development process included reviewing competing Bluetooth bookshelf speakers and compact desktop-audio systems.
Benchmarking focused on:
- Speaker size and footprint
- Power and perceived output
- Connectivity
- Control layout
- Included accessories
- Materials and finishes
- Packaging
- Retail price
- Customer reviews and recurring complaints
- E-commerce presentation
This helped define where Eris Accent needed to meet category expectations and where it could differentiate.
The product requirements needed to balance customer value, brand expectations, technical feasibility, supplier capability, and cost.
Development priorities included:
- Compact desktop-friendly proportions
- Bluetooth wireless connectivity
- Practical wired-input options
- Simple, accessible controls
- Clear left/right speaker setup
- Stable tabletop placement
- Durable cabinet construction
- Consistent finish quality
- Brand-appropriate visual detailing
- Retail-ready packaging and accessories
The feature set was evaluated against cost targets and the intended market position throughout development.
The product was developed through an OEM manufacturing process that required clear communication of product requirements, brand expectations, design details, and launch timing.
Supplier coordination included:
- Product specifications
- Design and construction review
- Component and material discussions
- Sample schedules
- Cost and BOM considerations
- Finish and color review
- Control and connection layout
- Packaging requirements
- Quality expectations
- Production-readiness tracking
The OEM relationship needed to support both technical execution and the visual standards of an established audio brand.
The exterior design needed to communicate quality without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.
Design refinement focused on:
- Cabinet proportions
- Driver and grille presentation
- Front-panel hierarchy
- Control placement
- Branding scale and location
- Surface finishes
- Edge transitions
- Speaker-pair consistency
- Visual alignment with the Eris family
Small adjustments to geometry, finish, and graphic placement helped create a more cohesive and brand-appropriate product.
Development samples were evaluated across physical construction, user interaction, visual quality, and product setup.
Review areas included:
- Cabinet fit and finish
- Surface consistency
- Driver and grille alignment
- Control feel
- Input and cable access
- Bluetooth pairing experience
- Speaker stability
- Branding execution
- Included accessories
- Packaging fit and protection
- Overall perceived quality
Supplier feedback cycles were used to identify issues and improve the product before production.
Because the product was intended for strong online visibility, the value proposition needed to be clear without an in-person demonstration.
Product content focused on:
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Compact desktop placement
- Speaker configuration
- Control access
- Input options
- Use across music, gaming, and entertainment
- Product dimensions
- Included accessories
- PreSonus brand credibility
- Eris-family connection
Amazon imagery and feature content were developed to explain the product quickly and reduce purchase uncertainty.
Packaging needed to protect the speaker system while supporting the product’s retail and e-commerce positioning.
Packaging development focused on:
- Clear product naming
- Speaker configuration
- Bluetooth and connectivity callouts
- Key specifications
- Use-case imagery
- Included components
- Product protection
- Shipping durability
- Brand consistency
- Easy setup communication
Launch materials aligned product, packaging, digital content, sales information, and operational readiness.