Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor on measured sound quality, the Klipsch RP-500M II on price. The Arendal 1961 Monitor ranks #8 of 87 bookshelf speakers at $1150. The Klipsch RP-500M II ranks #18 at $389.99, $760.01 cheaper.
The case for the Arendal 1961 Monitor: A physically robust build the reviewer calls “a little bit of a tank,” delivering low compression, low distortion. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off around 70-80Hz, so it cannot be used as full-range mains for music without a subwoofer.
What the Klipsch RP-500M II gets right: Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response. The catch: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Klipsch RP-500M II if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | Klipsch RP-500M II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $389.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1500Hz | 1530Hz |
| Dimensions | 16.6"H x 6.4"W x 5.9"D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) | 13.6"H x 6.8"W x 10.6"D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| 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" Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1" LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.48 | 4.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.79 | 6.96 |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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 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. 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 |
| 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 | 2.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.79 |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Klipsch RP-500M II: $389.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response, giving a noticeably more resolved, detailed midrange. More neutral and linear overall than its sibling RP-600M II, which carries about 2-3dB more high-frequency energy and a touch more bass but less overall balance. Very precise soundstage imaging and instrument placement. Distortion through the midrange is cleaner than the previous generation. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement; on an anechoic basis it measures closer to about 85dB, in line with typical bookshelf speakers this size, so it isn’t the outlier in efficiency the spec sheet implies. Horizontal dispersion of about ±40-50° is narrower and more directive than the reviewer’s preference for a wider, more enveloping soundstage. Toeing the speaker out to widen the soundstage or soften on-axis brightness comes at some cost to imaging precision. Slightly less clean in the tweeter region than the midrange, likely tied to crossover placement, though not considered a dealbreaker. Low-frequency output is limited - measured around 95dB at 4 meters for the pair before the woofers started to unload, so a subwoofer is recommended for anyone wanting real bass rather than stepping up to a larger model.
Full Klipsch RP-500M II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1530Hz |
| Dimensions | 13.6"H x 6.8"W x 10.6"D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25" Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1" LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.96 |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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