Short answer: the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini. It ranks #2 of 87 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $900; the Arendal 1961 Monitor ranks #8 and costs $1150, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Arendal 1961 Monitor offers: 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… 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.
What the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini offers: Gorgeous looks and finish options for the price. Watch for: Somewhat limited output capability for its size - audible woofer compression (“flopping”) around 95dB at 3 meters for a stereo pair, so keep to moderate levels or pair with a subwoofer for home theater use.
Buy the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Arendal 1961 Monitor and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | Philharmonic Ceramic Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $900 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #2 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 36Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1500Hz | 2kHz (Linkwitz-Riley 4th order) |
| Dimensions | 16.6"H x 6.4"W x 5.9"D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) | 12" x 8.5" x 11.3" (305 x 216 x 286 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms min, 15 ohms max) (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) | 82dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5" woofers, 28mm tweeter | 5.25" ceramic woofer, 1" ceramic dome tweeter |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.48 | 4.89 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.79 | 6.91 |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 20kHz (+1.5/-3dB, Manufacturer specified, ported) |
| Country | - | USA (Vienna, Virginia) |
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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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Philharmonic Ceramic Mini: $900 per pair Philharmonic Audio eBay
Pros: Gorgeous looks and finish options for the price. Very low midrange distortion for the size, well under 1% above about 400-500Hz. Excellent on-axis linearity. Mild, pleasant bass bump around 100Hz that adds welcome warmth without being excessive. Wide soundstage and dispersion (~70-80 degrees horizontally). Clean cabinet and port with no measured resonances. A great value combination of looks and performance at this price. Measured bass extension of 51Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 82dB.
Cons: Somewhat limited output capability for its size - audible woofer compression (“flopping”) around 95dB at 3 meters for a stereo pair, so keep to moderate levels or pair with a subwoofer for home theater use. A mild diffraction-related dip around 4-6kHz can cause occasional sibilance on some vocal tracks. Measured sensitivity (82.2dB average) runs a bit below the manufacturer’s claimed 84dB, so it needs more amp power than the spec alone suggests. Needs a subwoofer for real bass authority below about 40Hz.
Full Philharmonic Ceramic Mini review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country | USA (Vienna, Virginia) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2kHz (Linkwitz-Riley 4th order) |
| Dimensions | 12" x 8.5" x 11.3" (305 x 216 x 286 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25" ceramic woofer, 1" ceramic dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (+1.5/-3dB, Manufacturer specified, ported) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms min, 15 ohms max) (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.89 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.91 |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons