Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It ranks #8 of 168 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,150. The Fluance Signature HFS ranks #151, rated 2.1/5, at $199.99, $950.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Arendal 1961 Monitor is the better-sounding option. 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. Watch for: 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.
What the Fluance Signature HFS does well: Front-facing port and pre-installed wall-mount brackets make it flexible for bookshelf or surround/height duty. The catch: CEA2034 spinorama shows serious flaws in the midrange: both the direct sound and the directivity are compromised, a combination the reviewer flagged as poor for controlled listening tests.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $950.01 with the Fluance Signature HFS does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | Fluance Signature HFS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $199.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #151 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1500Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 16.6”H x 6.4”W x 5.9”D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) | 12.8H x 7.87W x 8.22D in |
| 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) | 86dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter | 1” neodymium silk dome tweeter (ferrofluid cooled), 5” glass-fiber-treated woofer (butyl rubber surround) |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 | 2.92 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 5.53 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 30-120W recommended |
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- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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 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 →
| Released | Jul 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
- Links
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Fluance Signature HFS: $199.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Fluance Signature HFF (floorstanding, estimated 2.4/5) and the Fluance Signature HFC (center, estimated 2.1/5).
Pros: Front-facing port and pre-installed wall-mount brackets make it flexible for bookshelf or surround/height duty. Distortion in the low end is well controlled per the measurements, and the glossy front baffle adds a touch of style well beyond the budget price. Measured bass extension of 78Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows serious flaws in the midrange: both the direct sound and the directivity are compromised, a combination the reviewer flagged as poor for controlled listening tests. Multiple attempted EQ fixes “could not rescue” the sound, and the reviewer said the result was “close” to the lowest possible rating. Online reviews seeded by the company were positive; the reviewer’s measured and subjective experience was not.
Full Fluance Signature HFS review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12.8H x 7.87W x 8.22D in |
| Drivers | 1” neodymium silk dome tweeter (ferrofluid cooled), 5” glass-fiber-treated woofer (butyl rubber surround) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 30-120W recommended |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.92 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.53 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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