Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor, unless you sit in the sweet spot. The Moondrop M4P MTM’s dual 4” carbon-cone woofers and 1” aluminum-magnesium dome crossed at 1.8kHz demand vertical placement within about ±20° of the tweeter axis. The Arendal gives up bass below 70-80Hz without a subwoofer, but its robust build delivers low compression and low distortion without that fuss.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $230 saving on the Moondrop M4P MTM is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | Moondrop M4P MTM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $920 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #14 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 69Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1500Hz | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 16.6”H x 6.4”W x 5.9”D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) | 15”H x 6.1”W x 7.3”D (380 x 155 x 185 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter | 2x 4” (87mm) carbon cone woofer, 1” (25mm) aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 | 5.05 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 7.59 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 75W rated / 150W max |
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