Short answer: the Arendal Sound 1961 Center. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#64 and #73 of 131 center channel speakers), and the Arendal Sound 1961 Center costs $650 against $699 for the ELAC Carina CC241.4, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
Why pick the Arendal Sound 1961 Center: A sealed two-way center with a 28mm soft dome tweeter in a waveguide between two 5.5” woofers; it is the same speaker as the Arendal 1961 Monitor, so it matches 1961 left and right speakers exactly. The catch: Bass is limited for a speaker this size, rolling off at 101Hz (-3dB) and about 72Hz (-10dB), so it depends on a subwoofer.
The case for the ELAC Carina CC241.4: The center channel of ELAC’s Carina series, using the same JET folded ribbon tweeter as the measured ELAC Carina BS243.4 bookshelf (4.85 Spinorama preference score). The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured ELAC Carina BS243.4.
Buy the Arendal Sound 1961 Center. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $49 less than the ELAC Carina CC241.4.
About the ratings: the ELAC Carina CC241.4’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.2 to 4.0, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal Sound 1961 Center | ELAC Carina CC241.4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $650 each | $699.00 each |
| Ranked | #64 of 131 in Center Channel Speakers | #73 of 131 in Center Channel Speakers Estimated |
| Drivers | 28mm soft dome tweeter with waveguide, 2x 5.5” woofers | JET folded ribbon tweeter, 5.25” aluminum midrange, 5.25” aluminum woofer |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz-20kHz anechoic (manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 30kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 87dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 6 ohms nominal, 4.8 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, bottom |
| Dimensions | 6.4”H x 16.7”W x 5.9”D (163 x 425 x 150 mm) | 8.3”H x 24.4”W x 7.8”D (212 x 620 x 198 mm) |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 101.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 72.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.32 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.56 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 100Hz, 3kHz |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Arendal Sound 1961 Center:
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- ELAC Carina CC241.4 vs Focal Theva Center
- Q Acoustics 5090 vs ELAC Carina CC241.4
- Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX vs MartinLogan Motion C10
- Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX vs Sonus Faber Lumina Center I
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM 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 Sound 1961 Center: $650 each Arendal Sound eBay
Same family: the Arendal Sound 1961 Bookshelf (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Arendal 1961 Monitor (larger bookshelf, rated 4.3/5) and the Arendal 1961 Tower (floorstanding, rated 4.4/5).
Pros: A sealed two-way center with a 28mm soft dome tweeter in a waveguide between two 5.5” woofers; it is the same speaker as the Arendal 1961 Monitor, so it matches 1961 left and right speakers exactly. Audio Science Review measured low on-axis deviation (0.46) and a listening window within 2.7dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, and the score rises to 6.56 with an ideal subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 101.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass is limited for a speaker this size, rolling off at 101Hz (-3dB) and about 72Hz (-10dB), so it depends on a subwoofer. Its preference score without one is 3.32. It is sold only direct from Arendal.
Full Arendal Sound 1961 Center review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 72.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 101.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 6.4”H x 16.7”W x 5.9”D (163 x 425 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 28mm soft dome tweeter with waveguide, 2x 5.5” woofers |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz-20kHz anechoic (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.32 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.56 |
| Weight | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
ELAC Carina CC241.4: $699.00 each Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the ELAC Carina BS243.4 (bookshelf, rated 4.2/5) and the ELAC Carina FS247.4 (floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5).
Pros: The center channel of ELAC’s Carina series, using the same JET folded ribbon tweeter as the measured ELAC Carina BS243.4 bookshelf (4.85 Spinorama preference score). It is a 3-way, with a 5.25” aluminum midrange handing off to a separate 5.25” aluminum woofer at 100Hz, and a downward-firing port so it can sit on a shelf.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured ELAC Carina BS243.4. Bass is rated to 50Hz, so a subwoofer is still needed, and the 4.8 ohm minimum impedance is a little demanding for budget receivers.
Full ELAC Carina CC241.4 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Crossover Frequency | 100Hz, 3kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3”H x 24.4”W x 7.8”D (212 x 620 x 198 mm) |
| Drivers | JET folded ribbon tweeter, 5.25” aluminum midrange, 5.25” aluminum woofer |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 30kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.8 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, bottom |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons