Short answer: the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8. It ranks #23 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.4/5) at $6,000 and is still sold new; the Philharmonic BMR (v1) ranks #40 (rated 4.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Philharmonic BMR (v1)’s replacement, the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, is rated 3.6/5 at $2,200.
The Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 is the more accurate, deeper-bass 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. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.59 against 4.86 for the Philharmonic BMR (v1). Its bass reaches about 41Hz before falling 3dB, against 62Hz for the Philharmonic BMR (v1). The tradeoff: A dip in the midbase around 100Hz noticeably reduces the “chestiness” of male vocals compared to the reviewer’s reference speaker.
Why pick the Philharmonic BMR (v1): A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange. The catch: The measured 83dB sensitivity and roughly 4-ohm load demand meaningful external amplification.
Buy the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Philharmonic BMR (v1) is discontinued, so it is only available used.
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.
A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 | Philharmonic BMR (v1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6000 per pair | $2,395 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #23 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #40 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner website) |
| Dimensions | 31.8”H x 11.4”W x 17.6”D (807.7 x 289.6 x 447 mm) | 22H x 9W x 13.5D in |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Dual 8” woofers, 5” midrange, 28mm tweeter | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5” BMR midrange; 7” Scan-Speak woofer |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 103.6 lbs (47 kg) each | 37.9 lbs (17.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.59 | 4.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.04 | 7.17 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Port Tuning | - | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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