Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor for better sound quality, the Jamo C 93 II for the lower price. The Arendal 1961 Monitor ranks #8 of 87 bookshelf speakers at $1150. The Jamo C 93 II ranks #83 at $299, $851 cheaper.
What the Arendal 1961 Monitor offers: 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. 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. 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.
What the Jamo C 93 II offers: Attractive cabinet and finish for the price. The mild midbass rise can add subjectively enjoyable punch at modest playback levels, and the speaker is reasonably compact. Erin measured about 84dB sensitivity through the midrange. Harmonic distortion at moderate output is not the central problem; the much larger limitations are frequency-response accuracy, directivity and compression. Watch for: Extremely non-linear tonal balance: Erin measured treble averaging roughly 5dB above the midrange, with local swings from near the midrange level to +6dB by about 12kHz. The result is hollow midrange, exaggerated apparent detail and a bright, fatiguing balance. Multiple diffraction discontinuities around the crossover and waveguide prevent reliable EQ correction; turning the speakers 30 degrees outward does not fix the irregularity. Midwoofer directivity narrows before the tweeter abruptly widens, indicating poor crossover/directivity matching. Vertical listening position should remain near tweeter axis. Output behavior is exceptionally poor: Erin found compression running off the plotted scale at high level and multitone distortion crossing -20dB (10%) across roughly 200Hz-1.2kHz, which produces audible grain. The grille makes response still less linear. Erin judged the cheaper Emotiva B1+ better in accuracy, soundstage and output.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Jamo C 93 II if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Jamo C 93 II. It ranks near the bottom of the 87 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | Jamo C 93 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #8 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #83 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53.2Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 68.8Hz (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) | 13.8"H x 7.9"W x 10.2"D (350 x 200 x 260 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5" woofers, 28mm tweeter | 6" HCCC cone woofer, 1" silk-dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Weight | 16 lbs / 7.25 kg each | 14.1 lbs / 6.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, rear |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 25, 2026 at 6:19 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 Arendalsound eBay
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.
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 |
| 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) |
| Weight | 16 lbs / 7.25 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Arendal 1961 Monitor More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Arendal 1961 Monitor More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: I Tested 250 Speakers So You Don’t Have To!
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Arendal 1961 Monitor Review
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Jamo C 93 II: $299.00 eBay
Pros: Attractive cabinet and finish for the price. The mild midbass rise can add subjectively enjoyable punch at modest playback levels, and the speaker is reasonably compact. Erin measured about 84dB sensitivity through the midrange. Harmonic distortion at moderate output is not the central problem; the much larger limitations are frequency-response accuracy, directivity and compression.
Cons: Extremely non-linear tonal balance: Erin measured treble averaging roughly 5dB above the midrange, with local swings from near the midrange level to +6dB by about 12kHz. The result is hollow midrange, exaggerated apparent detail and a bright, fatiguing balance. Multiple diffraction discontinuities around the crossover and waveguide prevent reliable EQ correction; turning the speakers 30 degrees outward does not fix the irregularity. Midwoofer directivity narrows before the tweeter abruptly widens, indicating poor crossover/directivity matching. Vertical listening position should remain near tweeter axis. Output behavior is exceptionally poor: Erin found compression running off the plotted scale at high level and multitone distortion crossing -20dB (10%) across roughly 200Hz-1.2kHz, which produces audible grain. The grille makes response still less linear. Erin judged the cheaper Emotiva B1+ better in accuracy, soundstage and output.
Full Jamo C 93 II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68.8Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.8"H x 7.9"W x 10.2"D (350 x 200 x 260 mm) |
| Drivers | 6" HCCC cone woofer, 1" silk-dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs / 6.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons