Short answer: the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX for better sound quality, the Power Sound Audio MT-110-M for the lower price. The Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX ranks #33 of 84 bookshelf speakers at $1499. The Power Sound Audio MT-110-M ranks #38 at $1350, $149 cheaper.
What the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX offers: 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.
What the Power Sound Audio MT-110-M offers: Made in the USA with a 1” polyimide compression tweeter on a cast aluminum exponential horn plus a 10” high-efficiency neodymium woofer, both BMS-made drivers. Watch for: A mid-range bump makes the tonal balance sound too thick and needs 2-3 bands of EQ to flatten out; correcting it also pulls measured sensitivity down to about 90-91dB in practice.
Buy the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Power Sound Audio MT-110-M if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX | Power Sound Audio MT-110-M | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499/pair | $1,350 |
| Ranked | #33 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #38 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | ~80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 113Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 81.6dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 92.5dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 8 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Drivers | 6.5-inch woofer; 28mm waveguided soft-dome tweeter | 1" polyimide compression tweeter with cast aluminum exponential horn, 10" high-efficiency neodymium woofer |
| Enclosure | HDF, sealed/ported | - |
| Dimensions | - | 17.5"H x 11"W x 14"D (includes grille) |
| Weight | - | 30 lbs each (unboxed) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | - | 175W |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | sealed |
| Country of Origin | - | USA |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL HDI-1600 vs Aperion Audio Verus V8B
- Ascend Acoustics Sierra-LX vs JBL HDI-1600
- Selah Audio Purezza vs JTR Noesis 210HT
- Power Sound Audio MT-110-M vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Power Sound Audio MT-110-M vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
The Two Speakers In Full
Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX: $1,499/pair Arendal Sound
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.
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 (-3dB) | ~80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Power Sound Audio MT-110-M: $1,350 Power Sound Audio
Pros: Made in the USA with a 1” polyimide compression tweeter on a cast aluminum exponential horn plus a 10” high-efficiency neodymium woofer, both BMS-made drivers. Reasonably high measured sensitivity (about 92.5dB at 2.83V/1m), so it doesn’t need much power to play loud. Excellent dynamic range - frequency response barely shifts (about 0.5dB deviation) from 76dB to 102dB output, which the reviewer calls completely acceptable headroom. Not fatiguing or bright despite the horn-loaded compression driver - the constant-directivity horn avoids the artificially flat, reflection-heavy in-room high-frequency buildup that some waveguide designs suffer from. Sealed cabinet design means placement near a wall is less of a bass-reinforcement concern than with a ported design. Solid build quality using threaded nutserts rather than screws driven directly into the cabinet wood.
Cons: A mid-range bump makes the tonal balance sound too thick and needs 2-3 bands of EQ to flatten out; correcting it also pulls measured sensitivity down to about 90-91dB in practice. F3 of 113Hz and F10 of 68Hz mean this doesn’t get low without a subwoofer - in the reviewer’s room it barely reached 70Hz with any real authority. Rising distortion in the upper mid-range, likely from woofer breakup, that lines up with anomalies seen in the impedance sweep above 500Hz - not a major concern but worth noting. The reviewer explicitly frames this as a home theater speaker rather than a stereo/music speaker.
Full Power Sound Audio MT-110-M review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 113Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Dimensions | 17.5"H x 11"W x 14"D (includes grille) |
| Drivers | 1" polyimide compression tweeter with cast aluminum exponential horn, 10" high-efficiency neodymium woofer |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Power Handling | 175W |
| Sensitivity | 92.5dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Weight | 30 lbs each (unboxed) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons