Short answer: the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8. It ranks #23 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.4/5); the Mission LX-3 MKII ranks #138 (rated 3.6/5).
The Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. A big three way monitor with dual 8 inch woofers, bass deep enough to skip a subwoofer, and extremely low distortion at high volume. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.59 against 4.17 for the Mission LX-3 MKII. Its bass reaches about 41Hz before falling 3dB, against 67.4Hz for the Mission LX-3 MKII. Watch for: A dip in the midbase around 100Hz noticeably reduces the “chestiness” of male vocals compared to the reviewer’s reference speaker.
The case for the Mission LX-3 MKII: Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity. The catch: On-axis smoothness of 0.217 and predicted in-room smoothness of 0.344 reveal clear response unevenness, with a -0.46dB-per-octave downward tilt.
Buy the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Mission LX-3 MKII.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A big three way monitor with dual 8 inch woofers, bass deep enough to skip a subwoofer, and extremely low distortion at high volume.
Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 | Mission LX-3 MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6000 per pair | £249 per pair |
| Ranked | #23 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #138 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42.5Hz (derived from ASR on-axis curve, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67.4Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 31.8”H x 11.4”W x 17.6”D (807.7 x 289.6 x 447 mm) | 13.6H x 8.9W x 12.1D in |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum |
| Drivers | Dual 8” woofers, 5” midrange, 28mm tweeter | 1” microfiber-dome tweeter, 6.5” composite-fiber woofer |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88dB |
| Weight | 103.6 lbs (47 kg) each | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.59 | 4.17 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.04 | 6.42 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, bass-reflex |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (design) |
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