Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor if sound quality matters most, the Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit if price matters most. The Arendal 1961 Monitor ranks #8 of 168 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.3/5, at $1,150. The Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit ranks #132, rated 2.5/5, at $119.98, $1,030.02 cheaper.
The Arendal 1961 Monitor is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. 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 2.11 for the Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit. Its bass reaches about 84Hz before falling 3dB, against 98.1Hz for the Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit. The tradeoff: 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.
Why pick the Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit: Inexpensive, beginner-friendly CNC flat-pack kit with a compact 8 x 5-inch desktop footprint and only one 3.5-inch full-range driver per channel. Watch for: Despite the ‘full-range’ label, output rolls off around 120-150Hz and a subwoofer with an unusually high 100-200Hz crossover is effectively mandatory.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $119.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #132 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 69.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 98.1Hz (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) | 8”H x 5”W x 6.5”D (203 x 127 x 165 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 81dB @ 1W/1m (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner and manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter | 3.5” Dayton Audio PS95-8 full-range driver |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, bottom |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 | 2.11 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 5.35 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 120Hz-20kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 10W RMS / 20W maximum; 25W RMS with 50Hz high-pass |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 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 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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Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit: $119.98 per pair Parts Express eBay
Pros: Inexpensive, beginner-friendly CNC flat-pack kit with a compact 8 x 5-inch desktop footprint and only one 3.5-inch full-range driver per channel. The point-source layout avoids a conventional woofer/tweeter crossover and, when listened to around 20 degrees above the driver as intended, can produce precise near-field imaging. Erin measured roughly 81dB sensitivity, consistent with Parts Express’s specification. The included baffle-step network improves lower-midrange balance, while the optional series inductor reduces the driver’s rising top end; Erin recommends retaining it. Several remaining narrow peaks can be corrected with desktop software EQ. Bottom porting conserves desk space, and unfinished MDF invites custom finishing. Measured bass extension of 98.1Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 81dB.
Cons: Despite the ‘full-range’ label, output rolls off around 120-150Hz and a subwoofer with an unusually high 100-200Hz crossover is effectively mandatory. Native response has resonances near roughly 2.1kHz and 8kHz plus a broad 14-20kHz rise of 5-8dB, so it is not smooth without the supplied network and additional EQ. Distortion already exceeds 3% in places at 86dB/1m and becomes extreme at 96dB. Erin’s multitone test approached -10dB distortion (roughly 30%) full-range at the highest level, accompanied by 3-4dB compression; even a 200Hz high-pass leaves roughly 3-5% distortion and 2-3dB compression. The angled cabinet demands a specific near-field ear height, and its very low sensitivity plus 10W RMS power rating leave almost no clean-output headroom for room listening.
Full Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 69.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 98.1Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | Yes |
| Dimensions | 8”H x 5”W x 6.5”D (203 x 127 x 165 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.5” Dayton Audio PS95-8 full-range driver |
| Frequency Response | 120Hz-20kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms (manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | 10W RMS / 20W maximum; 25W RMS with 50Hz high-pass |
| Sensitivity | 81dB @ 1W/1m (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner and manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.11 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.35 (spinorama.org) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, bottom |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit vs JBL Stage A120
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