Short answer: the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX on measured sound quality, the ELAC DBR62 on price. The Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX ranks #51 of 203 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.2/5, at $1,499. The ELAC DBR62 ranks #77, rated 4.0/5, at $678.97, $820.03 cheaper.
Why pick the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX: Exceptionally controlled radiation for a conventional two-way: Erin found the early-reflections directivity index smooth enough for broad-band EQ, while horizontal coverage remains orderly through the 1.5kHz crossover. Watch for: Erin measured only 81.6dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity, so substantial amplifier voltage is required.
The ELAC DBR62 is the deeper-bass option. Two-way design with a 6.5” woofer and 1” dome tweeter in a shallow waveguide, with the tweeter positioned close to the woofer for near-point-source coherence: giving more vertical listening leeway than typical two-ways. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 3dB, against 80Hz for the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX. Watch for: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison.
Buy the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the ELAC DBR62 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX | ELAC DBR62 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499 per pair | $678.97 per pair |
| Ranked | #51 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #77 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | ~80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44.6Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 81.6dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5-inch woofer; 28mm waveguided soft-dome tweeter | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Enclosure | HDF, sealed/ported | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.89 | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.68 | 7.27 |
| Dimensions | 15.2”H x 9.6”W x 12.6”D (385 x 245 x 320 mm) | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) |
| Weight | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, front |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 PM 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX: $1,499 per pair Arendal Sound eBay
Same family: the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 4.1/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 4.2/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Tower S THX (smaller floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX (larger floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX (smaller center, estimated 3.7/5) and the Arendal Sound 1723 Center THX (larger center, estimated 3.8/5).
Pros: Exceptionally controlled radiation for a conventional two-way: Erin found the early-reflections directivity index smooth enough for broad-band EQ, while horizontal coverage remains orderly through the 1.5kHz crossover. Midbass attack around 120-160Hz is strong, the response is mostly neutral below the treble shelf, and dynamic compression remains under roughly 1dB even near 102dB/1m above the bass. The waveguided 28mm dome and heavy HDF enclosure support clean, cinema-capable output, and sealed/ported flexibility eases subwoofer integration. Measured bass extension of ~80Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 81.6dB.
Cons: Erin measured only 81.6dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity, so substantial amplifier voltage is required. Anechoic output rolls off around 80Hz and 3% THD is crossed near 80Hz at 96dB, making an 80Hz subwoofer crossover effectively mandatory. The treble sits a couple dB high on-axis and can sound bright; Erin preferred roughly 20° toe-out or a ~2dB high shelf. A vertical cancellation appears above the tweeter axis, so multi-row installations need careful height/aiming.
Full Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44.6Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | ~80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.2”H x 9.6”W x 12.6”D (385 x 245 x 320 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5-inch woofer; 28mm waveguided soft-dome tweeter |
| Enclosure | HDF, sealed/ported |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 81.6dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.89 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.68 |
| Weight | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63
- Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX vs JBL HDI-1600
- Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
- Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX vs Power Sound Audio MT-110-M
- Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX vs Wharfedale Super Linton
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ELAC DBR62: $678.97 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the ELAC Debut Reference DFR52 (floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5) and the ELAC Debut Reference DCR52 (center, estimated 3.4/5).
Pros: Two-way design with a 6.5” woofer and 1” dome tweeter in a shallow waveguide, with the tweeter positioned close to the woofer for near-point-source coherence: giving more vertical listening leeway than typical two-ways. Notably forgiving of placement and aiming: sounds good from directly on-axis all the way to 30° of toe-out (parallel with the rear wall), making it more room-independent than many speakers this price. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70° until the tweeter starts beaming, right in the reviewer’s preferred sweet spot. A mild, wide-Q bass bump centered around 100Hz adds a bit of extra punch that the reviewer personally likes. On-axis linearity within about ±2.5dB, with a strong measured preference score of 5.3. Distortion stays below 3% at both 86dB and 96dB until around 50Hz. Vertical sweet spot of about ±10-20° works well for multi-row home theater seating. The reviewer calls it “the epitome of a good speaker” for its price, with no reservations recommending it. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.3dB.
Cons: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison. A mild hot spot around 4-5kHz can read as slight sibilance when pointed directly on-axis. Low-to-mid sensitivity (about 84.3dB) combined with a current draw that behaves like roughly 2.4 ohms between 100-200Hz means it’s best driven by a dedicated 4-ohm-capable amplifier rather than an AVR. A diffraction dip from the baffle edge is visible in measurements: typical of any standard rectangular-baffle speaker and not correctable without a much more expensive curved-baffle design. Multitone distortion testing suggests some potential midrange distortion could be audible on certain material, though the reviewer didn’t personally notice it. Minor resonances appear around 700Hz and 1-1.5kHz, possibly tied to the enclosure, port, or cone/surround edge termination, though their audible impact appears minimal. F3 of 53Hz means a subwoofer is still needed for real bass extension below about 40Hz.
Full ELAC DBR62 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Top 3 Things You Need to Know About ELAC DBR62 Before You Buy More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Elac DBR62
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top Picks of 2023: Must-Haves Under $3000
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
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