Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. Both are rated 4.4/5 for sound quality (#24 and #23 of 223 bookshelf speakers), and the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 costs $798 against $6,000 for the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Why pick the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2: A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off early for the cabinet size, measuring 77.6Hz at -3dB, 64.5Hz at -6dB, and 48.3Hz at -12dB; the preference score without a subwoofer is only 5.33.
The Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 is the deeper-bass option. A big three way monitor with dual 8 inch woofers, bass deep enough to skip a subwoofer, and extremely low distortion at high volume. Its bass reaches about 41Hz before falling 3dB, against 77.6Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. The catch: A dip in the midbase around 100Hz noticeably reduces the “chestiness” of male vocals compared to the reviewer’s reference speaker.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $5,202 less than the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8.
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A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price.
A big three way monitor with dual 8 inch woofers, bass deep enough to skip a subwoofer, and extremely low distortion at high volume.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 | Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $798 per pair | $6000 per pair |
| Ranked | #24 of 223 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 223 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 53Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 27mm soft-dome tweeter | Dual 8” woofers, 5” midrange, 28mm tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 92dB at 2.83V/1m anechoic | 84.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 240W continuous; 400W short-term peak | - |
| Dimensions | 21 x 7.5 x 10.5 in each | 31.8”H x 11.4”W x 17.6”D (807.7 x 289.6 x 447 mm) |
| Weight | 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) each | 103.6 lbs (47 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.33 | 5.59 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.99 | 7.04 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 (measured by the manufacturer) and Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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