Short answer: the Amphion Argon1, if you are buying new. The Tekton Troubadour measures as well as it (#40 vs #41 of 179 bookshelf speakers, 3.8/5 vs 3.8/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Amphion Argon1 is still sold new at $1,919.
Why pick the Amphion Argon1: Compact Finnish bookshelf speakers with a titanium tweeter and aluminum woofer in a solidly built two way ported cabinet. Watch for: The independent measurement tells a rougher story than the reviews suggest: on-axis deviation of 0.896dB and on-axis smoothness of just 0.154, with a moderate -0.11dB per octave downward tilt, consistent with a deliberately voiced rather than neutral-flat tuning.
The Tekton Troubadour is the more accurate choice. American made stand mounts with a multi driver array, wide dispersion that forgives seating height, and solid bass for their size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.50 against 4.79 for the Amphion Argon1. The tradeoff: Forward, elevated upper-midrange presentation from increased off-axis energy in the 2-8 kHz range, centered around 4 kHz, that can read as hot or aggressive depending on the room and listener; a couple bands of EQ can tame it.
Buy the Amphion Argon1 new; the Tekton Troubadour is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Compact Finnish bookshelf speakers with a titanium tweeter and aluminum woofer in a solidly built two way ported cabinet.
American made stand mounts with a multi driver array, wide dispersion that forgives seating height, and solid bass for their size.
Prices on this page were last checked October 23, 2026 at 8:27 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Amphion Argon1 | Tekton Troubadour | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,919 per pair | $1,000 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #41 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #40 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way, ported | - |
| Drivers | 1” titanium dome tweeter, 5.25” aluminum woofer | 2x 5.25” mid-woofers, 3x 1” dome tweeters (offset in-phase array) |
| Dimensions | 12.4”H x 6.3”W x 10.4”D (316 x 160 x 265 mm) | 21” x 13.5” x 9” (533 x 343 x 229 mm) |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs (7 kg) each | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 86dB | 88dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 45-25,000Hz (-6dB) | - |
| Country | Finland | USA |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.79 | 5.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.01 | 7.52 |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.2Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Amphion Argon1 (measured by an independent reviewer) and Tekton Troubadour (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Tekton Troubadour: