Short answer: the Audio First Fidelia. It ranks #1 of 179 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.8/5); the Arendal 1961 Monitor ranks #8 (rated 4.3/5).
The Audio First Fidelia is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. An excellent medium bookshelf speaker, a compact kit with remarkably accurate sound and good bass for its size at a great value. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.45 against 3.38 for the Arendal 1961 Monitor. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 3dB, against 84Hz for the Arendal 1961 Monitor. The catch: Kit assembly required; lower sensitivity (~83-85 dB vs. typical 85 dB average) demands adequate amplifier power.
What the Arendal 1961 Monitor does well: A tank built sealed monitor with two 5.5 inch woofers, neutral sound and low distortion, great as home theater mains or surrounds. 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.
Buy the Audio First Fidelia. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Arendal 1961 Monitor.
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Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Audio First Fidelia reaches 38 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 Audio First Fidelia scores 8.5 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Audio First Fidelia | Arendal 1961 Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £950 per pair for the flatpack kit (assembly required) | $1150 per pair |
| Ranked | #1 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #8 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1560Hz | 1500Hz |
| Dimensions | 11.8”H x 7.1”W x 11.7”D (300 x 180 x 297.6 mm) | 16.6”H x 6.4”W x 5.9”D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5” ceramic-aluminum cone woofer, 1” ceramic-aluminum tweeter | 2 x 5.5” woofers, 28mm tweeter |
| Weight | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each | 16 lbs (7.25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | sealed |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.45 | 3.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.46 | 6.69 |
| DIY Kit | Yes | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Where the Ratings Come From
- Audio First Fidelia: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Arendal 1961 Monitor: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and Audio Science Review.
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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