Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It ranks #8 of 168 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.3/5) at $1,150 and is still sold new; the Emotiva B1+ ranks #23 (rated 4.1/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Emotiva B1+’s replacement, the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, is rated 4.2/5.
Why pick the Arendal 1961 Monitor: A physically robust build the reviewer calls “a little bit of a tank,” delivering low compression, low distortion, and overall really good neutrality: one of the reviewer’s top 10 picks under $1,500 across roughly 250 speakers tested. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off around 70-80Hz, so it cannot be used as full-range mains for music without a subwoofer, and a sub is recommended for home theater use as well.
The Emotiva B1+ is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. Its form factor and driver layout make it a sensible match for a properly chosen amplifier and room. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.34 against 3.38 for the Arendal 1961 Monitor. Its bass reaches about 70Hz before falling 3dB, against 84Hz for the Arendal 1961 Monitor. Watch for: It needs an external amplifier and thoughtful placement.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Emotiva B1+ is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | Emotiva B1+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $250 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #8 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (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) | 10.8”H x 7.1”W x 8.3”D (274 x 181 x 210 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter | 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 8.8 lbs (4.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 | 5.34 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 7.86 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Arendal 1961 Monitor: $1150 per pair Arendal Sound eBay
Same family: the Arendal Sound 1961 Bookshelf (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 4.2/5), the Arendal 1961 Tower (floorstanding, rated 4.4/5) and the Arendal Sound 1961 Center (center, rated 3.6/5).
Pros: A physically robust build the reviewer calls “a little bit of a tank,” delivering low compression, low distortion, and overall really good neutrality: one of the reviewer’s top 10 picks under $1,500 across roughly 250 speakers tested. Works well both as home theater mains and as surrounds. Independent ASR Klippel measurements corroborate the low-distortion finding: THD at 86dB SPL/1m stays well below the reviewer’s audibility threshold, and even at 96dB SPL/1m it stays “far better than most bookshelves” thanks to the built-in high-pass filter that protects the woofers. Measured bass extension of 84Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.9dB.
Cons: Bass rolls off around 70-80Hz, so it cannot be used as full-range mains for music without a subwoofer, and a sub is recommended for home theater use as well. Vertical radiation window is narrow, typical of MTM (mid-tweeter-mid) layouts (tighter than a standard two-way’s roughly ±20°) so a second home theater row sitting above or below the tweeter axis will hear a noticeably different tonal balance. ASR’s CEA2034 measurements show the response is elevated above 2kHz with resonant peaks around 3kHz and 9kHz, leading the reviewer to predict it will “likely sound bright.” Those same resonances show up as lingering ridges in the cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) at 96dB SPL/1m.
Full Arendal 1961 Monitor review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1500Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.6”H x 6.4”W x 5.9”D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
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Emotiva B1+: $250 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, rated 4.2/5.
Same family: the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ (center, rated 3.4/5).
Pros: Emotiva B1+ uses 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter in a conventional wired-speaker design. Its form factor and driver layout make it a sensible match for a properly chosen amplifier and room. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: It needs an external amplifier and thoughtful placement. Speaker performance will depend heavily on the partnering electronics and room acoustics. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva B1+ review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 10.8”H x 7.1”W x 8.3”D (274 x 181 x 210 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.34 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.86 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 8.8 lbs (4.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons