Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor for low distortion, the KEF LS50 Meta for its coaxial driver. The Arendal’s robust cabinet delivers low compression and distortion, though its bass rolls off around 70-80Hz. The LS50 Meta’s Uni-Q mounts a 1” vented aluminum dome at the center of a 5.25” aluminum cone woofer and is rated 79Hz-20kHz+, but F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 42Hz mean it does not get much below 50Hz in-room.
Buy the KEF LS50 Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $49 with the Arendal 1961 Monitor does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | KEF LS50 Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $1,199.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #4 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 68Hz (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) | 11.9”H x 7.9”W x 11”D (302 x 200 x 280.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter | 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption tweeter |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 | 5.74 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 7.88 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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