Short answer: the AsciLab C6B by a nose. It rolls off around 50Hz in-room (F3 54Hz, F10 35Hz), deeper than the Arendal 1961 Monitor’s 70-80Hz rolloff, so it needs a subwoofer less urgently. The Arendal’s edge is a heavy, solidly built cabinet, with low compression and low distortion, and the two are within $5 of each other.
Buy the AsciLab C6B. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Arendal 1961 Monitor and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | AsciLab C6B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $1145 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #6 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1500Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 16.6”H x 6.4”W x 5.9”D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) | 15.7”H x 8”W x 10.4”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 264.2 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 2.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter | 6” Aluminium Ceramic Cone with cast Aluminium Chassis woofer, 1” Aluminium Ceramic Dome tweeter |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | passive radiator |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 | 6.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 8.28 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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