Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It ranks #8 of 160 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,150. The JBL Control 1 Pro ranks #145, rated 2.0/5, at $240, $910 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Arendal 1961 Monitor is the more accurate choice. 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. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.38 against 2.87 for the JBL Control 1 Pro. 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.
The case for the JBL Control 1 Pro: Magnetically shielded transducers and a rugged molded enclosure make it a durable choice for wall-mount or install use, with SonicGuard overload protection built into the crossover. The catch: Sound power and predicted in-room response measurements are badly uneven compared to the JBL 305P Mark II tested alongside it, with no waveguide to control directivity as the woofer beams before handing off to the tweeter.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $910 with the JBL Control 1 Pro 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 | JBL Control 1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $240 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #145 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (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) | 9.3H x 6.3W x 5.6D in |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter | 5.25” low frequency driver, 0.75” polycarbonate dome tweeter |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | sealed |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 | 2.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 6.37 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 80Hz - 20kHz -10dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 150W |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 PM 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 →
| 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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JBL Control 1 Pro: $240 per pair Parts Express eBay
Pros: Magnetically shielded transducers and a rugged molded enclosure make it a durable choice for wall-mount or install use, with SonicGuard overload protection built into the crossover. Feels solidly built despite the low price, and the professional crossover network uses steep slopes. Measured bass extension of 78Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: Sound power and predicted in-room response measurements are badly uneven compared to the JBL 305P Mark II tested alongside it, with no waveguide to control directivity as the woofer beams before handing off to the tweeter. The reviewer performed no distortion or dedicated listening test on this unit and concluded he didn’t “think there is a reason to purchase it” over a proper studio monitor at a similar price.
Full JBL Control 1 Pro review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 9.3H x 6.3W x 5.6D in |
| Drivers | 5.25” low frequency driver, 0.75” polycarbonate dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz -10dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 150W |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.37 |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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