Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It ranks #8 of 179 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.3/5) at $1,150 and is still sold new; the Tekton Troubadour ranks #40 (rated 3.8/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Arendal 1961 Monitor is the better-sounding pick. A tank built sealed monitor with two 5.5 inch woofers, neutral sound and low distortion, great as home theater mains or surrounds. 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.
The Tekton Troubadour is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. American made stand mounts with a multi driver array, wide dispersion that forgives seating height, and solid bass for their size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.50 against 3.38 for the Arendal 1961 Monitor. Its bass reaches about 51Hz before falling 3dB, against 84Hz for the Arendal 1961 Monitor. Watch for: Forward, elevated upper-midrange presentation from increased off-axis energy in the 2-8 kHz range, centered around 4 kHz, that can read as hot or aggressive depending on the room and listener; a couple bands of EQ can tame it.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Tekton Troubadour is no longer sold new.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Tekton Troubadour reaches 39 Hz (10 dB down) against 60 Hz for the Arendal 1961 Monitor, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Tekton Troubadour scores 7.5 against 6.7 for the Arendal 1961 Monitor on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Efficiency: the Tekton Troubadour is rated at 88 dB sensitivity against 85.9 dB for the Arendal 1961 Monitor, so it plays as loud with roughly two thirds of the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Monitor | Tekton Troubadour | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1150 per pair | $1,000 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #8 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #40 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 51Hz (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) | 21” x 13.5” x 9” (533 x 343 x 229 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter | 2x 5.25” mid-woofers, 3x 1” dome tweeters (offset in-phase array) |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.38 | 5.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 | 7.52 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Country | - | USA |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Arendal 1961 Monitor: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and Audio Science Review.
- Tekton Troubadour: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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