Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It ranks #7 of 63 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $1150; the SunAudio Purified 4 ranks #8 and costs $3650, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the SunAudio Purified 4: On-axis response is essentially dead flat from 100Hz to 20kHz, staying within about ±1dB through most of the band and widening only to a gentle +1.5dB rise in the top octave. Set against that: A 4-inch woofer means real bass extension is limited - -3dB around 71Hz and -10dB around 53Hz - so a subwoofer is needed for anything below the low-100s.
On the Arendal 1961 Monitor side: 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. 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.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Monitor. It ranks higher for sound quality than the SunAudio Purified 4 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| SunAudio Purified 4 | Arendal 1961 Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,650 as tested (pair); modular kit, pricing varies by driver/finish configuration | $1150 |
| Ranked | #8 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #7 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 84Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 85.9dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | BlieSMa T25A beryllium-dome tweeter (own CNC aluminum enclosure), Purifi 4" Ultra Low Distortion Extended woofer (PP-coated paper/fiber cone) | 2 x 5.5" woofers, 28mm tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 200W long-term max (woofer) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed, separate spherical driver modules on tripod stand | sealed |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1500Hz |
| Dimensions | - | 16.6"H x 6.4"W x 5.9"D (421.6 x 162.6 x 149.9 mm) |
| Weight | - | 16 lbs / 7.25 kg each |
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The Two Speakers In Full
SunAudio Purified 4: $3,650 as tested (pair); modular kit, pricing varies by driver/finish configuration SunAudio
Pros: On-axis response is essentially dead flat from 100Hz to 20kHz, staying within about ±1dB through most of the band and widening only to a gentle +1.5dB rise in the top octave. The listening window curve tracks on-axis almost exactly, meaning off-axis output stays consistent rather than diverging. Both directivity index curves rise smoothly and monotonically from the bass straight through to 20kHz with no bumps, dips, or discontinuities - a sign of very well-integrated driver-to-driver handoff from the beryllium-dome tweeter. Early reflections and sound power both decline smoothly with frequency, with no resonant peaks anywhere in the response. The manufacturer’s own preference-score modeling comes out to 6.65 unequalized (rising to 9.36 with an ideal subwoofer) with a frequency deviation of just 0.8dB across 300Hz-5kHz - genuinely flagship-tier numbers for a 4-inch woofer design. Distinctive modular build: separate CNC-machined aluminum enclosures for the Purifi 4” woofer and BlieSMa T25A beryllium-dome tweeter, mounted on their own tripod stand, with cone-material and finish options.
Cons: A 4-inch woofer means real bass extension is limited - -3dB around 71Hz and -10dB around 53Hz - so a subwoofer is needed for anything below the low-100s. Measured sensitivity of 84.4dB is on the low side, meaning it needs more amplifier power than more efficient designs to reach the same volume. This is manufacturer self-measured data with no independent third-party review, so there’s no outside verification of distortion, unit-to-unit consistency, or how the reference crossover performs outside SunAudio’s own lab. The modular two-sphere design and tripod stand is unconventional, and pricing is steep for such a small woofer given the niche, boutique nature of the brand.
Full SunAudio Purified 4 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Drivers | BlieSMa T25A beryllium-dome tweeter (own CNC aluminum enclosure), Purifi 4" Ultra Low Distortion Extended woofer (PP-coated paper/fiber cone) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 200W long-term max (woofer) |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed, separate spherical driver modules on tripod stand |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Arendal 1961 Monitor: $1150 Arendalsound
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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