Short answer: the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 for better sound quality, the XTZ Spirit 4 for the lower price. The Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 ranks #23 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.4/5, at $6,000. The XTZ Spirit 4 ranks #159, rated 3.4/5, at $477, $5,523 cheaper.
Why pick the XTZ Spirit 4: Stand-mount speakers with a waveguide tweeter, adjustable treble and port tuning, wide coverage and fairly deep bass. The tradeoff: The third-party measurement is low confidence.
The Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 is the more accurate, 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 measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.59 against 4.18 for the XTZ Spirit 4. Its bass reaches about 26Hz before falling 10dB, against 40Hz for the XTZ Spirit 4. The tradeoff: A dip in the midbase around 100Hz noticeably reduces the “chestiness” of male vocals compared to the reviewer’s reference speaker.
Buy the XTZ Spirit 4 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Stand-mount speakers with a waveguide tweeter, adjustable treble and port tuning, wide coverage and fairly deep bass.
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
| XTZ Spirit 4 | Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $477 per pair | $6000 per pair |
| Ranked | #159 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 40.0Hz (measured, Spinorama data) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Enclosure | 2-way passive, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1” dome tweeter, 6.5” woofer | Dual 8” woofers, 5” midrange, 28mm tweeter |
| Dimensions | 13.8H x 7.5W x 10.6D in | 31.8”H x 11.4”W x 17.6”D (807.7 x 289.6 x 447 mm) |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 103.6 lbs (47 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 86dB | 84.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.18 | 5.59 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.30 | 7.04 |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (manufacturer specified) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
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