Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor for better sound quality, the ELAC BS U5 for the lower price. The Arendal 1961 Monitor ranks #8 of 71 bookshelf speakers at $1150. The ELAC BS U5 ranks #44 at $856, $294 cheaper.
What the ELAC BS U5 offers: This slim three-way coaxial design (an Andrew Jones creation) shows a fairly even on-axis response up to 3kHz, with off-axis behavior notably smoother than the on-axis curve. Predicted in-room response looks like it should give good tonality. Vertical directivity is better than average, a benefit of the coaxial layout. Watch for: Distortion is very high right at both crossover points - around 270Hz (mid-range) and 2700Hz (tweeter) - at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m, exceeding 3% at the mid-range crossover. Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a possible resonance around 500Hz visible in the impedance/phase curve.
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 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. 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. 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.
Buy the ELAC BS U5 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC BS U5 | Arendal 1961 Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $856 Discontinued | $1150 |
| Ranked | #44 of 71 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #8 of 71 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 5.25" woofer | 2 x 5.5" woofers, 28mm tweeter |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 6 kg | 16 lbs / 7.25 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.4 ohms minimum) | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.4"H x 7"W x 11.5"D (339.1 x 178.0 x 293.1 mm) | 16.6"H x 6.4"W x 5.9"D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | sealed |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1500Hz |
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC BS U5: $856 Discontinued eBay
Pros: This slim three-way coaxial design (an Andrew Jones creation) shows a fairly even on-axis response up to 3kHz, with off-axis behavior notably smoother than the on-axis curve. Predicted in-room response looks like it should give good tonality. Vertical directivity is better than average, a benefit of the coaxial layout.
Cons: Distortion is very high right at both crossover points - around 270Hz (mid-range) and 2700Hz (tweeter) - at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m, exceeding 3% at the mid-range crossover. Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a possible resonance around 500Hz visible in the impedance/phase curve. Discontinued.
Full ELAC BS U5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.4"H x 7"W x 11.5"D (339.1 x 178.0 x 293.1 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 5.25" woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.4 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 6 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- ELAC BS U5 vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- ELAC BS U5 vs Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2
- ELAC BS U5 vs Dynaudio X14
- ELAC BS U5 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- ELAC BS U5 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL L52 Classic
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- See all 26 comparisons
Arendal 1961 Monitor: $1150 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.
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) |
| Weight | 16 lbs / 7.25 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Arendal 1961 Monitor More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Arendal 1961 Monitor More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: I Tested 250 Speakers So You Don’t Have To!
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Arendal 1961 Monitor Review
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