Arendal Sound 1723 S THX 7.1.2 Package Review
Table of contents
Arendal Sound may not immediately ring a bell for many, given the wide array of brands in the speaker industry. However, inquire from any audiophile about top-notch speaker recommendations, and the name Arendal consistently emerges.
From the moment I first tried Arendal's 1723 THX series, its performance left an enduring impact on me. I found it so impressive that it fueled my eagerness to further explore their other speaker collections, particularly the 1723 S THX Line.
The most recent models remain true to the 1723 series' legacy, embracing similar design values and technology, albeit in a more streamlined size. The 1723 S THX range presents a more petite and lighter version of the standard 1723 THX speakers, yet maintains the fundamental design elements.
In this review, our focus is on a 7.1.2 setup, comprising of a set of 1723 Monitor S THX speakers, a Center S THX speaker, a pair of Surround S THX Tripole speakers, another pair of 1723 Height S speakers, and the Subwoofer 2S.
Unboxing
Before diving into the heart of this review, I thought it would be fitting to address the unboxing experience, which proves to be superior to many other speaker products. Each speaker box arrived carefully wrapped in black plastic for environmental protection. The packaging itself is remarkably robust, featuring triple-walled boxes—an uncommon find.
Once you open the box, you'll find distinct corner protectors and the longest side of the box is fortified with cardboard slats to resist compressive forces. Thick, resilient foam encompasses the top and bottom, reaching up to 2.5 inches in thickness in some areas. Each speaker is encased in a soft drawstring bag.
Within the packaging, white gloves are provided to prevent smudging the speaker finish during handling. Speaker grills have their own separate cloth pouch, positioned away from the main unit and securely nestled within specific foam cutouts. The package also contains the owner's manual which is a very well-crafted booklet.
Specifications
The 1723 S THX speakers have been engineered to align with the tonality of their larger counterparts in the 1723 THX series. Both these lines hold the THX Ultra certification, implying that they’ve undergone rigorous testing protocols and successfully passed an extensive set of evaluations.
Priced at $1,999 for the pair, the Monitor S THX is essentially a scaled-down variant of the 1723 THX Monitor, boasting a custom-made 2-way assortment of mid-bass drivers and a waveguide tweeter. The main distinction lies in a more compact housing featuring 6.5” drivers, compared to the 8” versions found in the 1723 lineup.
At the rear, the speaker houses two bass ports, which can be plugged with the included foam stoppers. The Monitor S THX measures 22.4-inches tall, 9.6-inches wide, 12.5-inches deep, and weighs 41.2 lbs. These speakers also have a sensitivity of 88.7 dB.
The Center S THX, priced at $999, is a smaller version of the 1723 THX Center, with the main difference being a more compact housing equipped with 6.5” drivers. The Center S is similar to the Monitor S in design but features a relocated grille badge and binding posts for visual appeal. The dimensions of the Center S THX are 9.6-inches in height, 22.4-inches in width, and 12.5-inches in depth, and weighs the same as the Monitor S THX at 41.2 lbs. Its sensitivity rating is also identical at 88.7db.
As you may have anticipated, the Surround S THX is also a smaller version of the 1723 Surround and is priced at $1,599 for the pair. The variation lies in its smaller housing and 6.5” drivers, replacing the 8” drivers in the original design. Utilizing the same drivers and waveguide tweeters as other models in the 1723 S THX series ensures better tonal consistency.
Arendal has mounted two 4-inch dipolar drivers to the angled side baffles of what the company calls a TriAxial speaker. It measures 15.1-inches tall, 14.6-inches wide, and 6.8-inches deep, with a weight of 30.2 lbs. So, it's crucial to either mount this speaker on a stud or employ drywall screws for wall hanging.
Lastly, the 1723 Height S Speakers mirror the 1723 Bookshelf S THX, incorporating a 6.5" woofer and a 28mm synthetic soft dome tweeter with a corresponding waveguide. The front baffle is angled ideally for wall mounting. The Height S is tailored for ceiling positioning to ensure the most precise Atmos configurations. It also comes with a full VESA 100 kit for easy installation. The speaker stands 14.2-inches tall, is 9.6-inches wide, and extends 11.1-inches deep, weighing in at 24.6 lbs. These speakers, which are sold as a pair, have an MSRP of $1,599.
The Subwoofer 2S, which comes in at a price of $2,399, is equipped with two of Arendal's exclusive 13.8" drivers, powered by the intelligent 1200W RMS Avalanche 1200 IQ amplifier, providing flexibility for any setup. It features a sealed cabinet made of High-Density Fiberboard (HDF), accompanied by magnetic grilles, which are rarely seen in subwoofers.
The rear display allows for the selection of six preset EQ settings, low pass filters, slopes, and a seven-band parametric EQ. It also includes a unique feature that allows for flipping the screen's orientation, which comes in handy when trying to change settings without needing to move the subwoofer or twist your body uncomfortably.
Arendal Sound App
The Arendal Sound App offers the capability to control the Subwoofer 2S and conveniently tweak your PEQ bands to suit your room's acoustics. It also features a handy grouping option, allowing you to form various groups with several subwoofers. Through the course of my evaluation, I found this app to be exceptionally helpful, especially when compared to the alternative of having to access the receiver's rear to make any adjustments.
Design
The speakers boast a high-quality finish, available in matte black and matte or glossy white, although the glossy finish will soon be discontinued. These speakers don't rely on extravagant designs but focus on the caliber of materials and the precision of assembly, which is evident as soon as you start unboxing them.
Constructed with HDF (High-Density Fibreboard), the speakers are designed to provide a more acoustically inert cabinet. Internal braces are strategically positioned to enhance cabinet strength and suppress unnecessary panel vibrations that might lead to audible distortion.
At the rear, you'll find binding posts made of copper, not brass or other metals with lower conductivity. These posts are then shaped and polished, ensuring smooth operation and neat aesthetics. Each post is designed to accommodate standard wire connections, including banana plugs, spade connectors, pin connectors, and bare wires.
Performance
In my home theater, which measures 21-feet by 16-feet, I arranged the speakers with a few feet of clearance from both the rear and side walls and ensured an equal distance from the speakers to my listening spot. I tinkered with varying toe-in angles and ultimately settled on a mild inward tilt for the speakers, although they weren't directly facing my seating position.
The speakers were set approximately 10 feet from my listening spot. For testing purposes, I utilized a Trinnov Altitude16 and Amplitude16, supplying 200w to each speaker, and alternated between having the optimization switched on and off, as depicted in the following charts.
Movies
While watching "Top Gun: Maverick," the performance of these speakers is truly impressive, particularly during the scene where Maverick demonstrates to the students that the course can indeed be completed within the time limit. The sound imaging from each speaker is great, creating a compelling sense of reality. The audio seamlessly transitions between speakers, allowing for a smooth tracking of the fighter jets' movements. Each roar of the engines, the piercing whine of the jet turbines, and the subtle nuances in the cockpit chatter are rendered with crisp detail.
The Subwoofer 2S adds a significant depth to the experience, delivering a powerful, room-filling rumble with each throttle up and flyby, enhancing the thrill of the high-speed aerobatics. The experience is immersive, placing you right into the heart of the intense aerial maneuvers.
During the climactic end battle of "Guardians of the Galaxy 3," the performance of these speakers truly shines. As the Beastie Boys' iconic track "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" underscores the action, the precision and clarity of the sound are extraordinary. Every thumping bass line, electrifying guitar riff, and distinctive rap vocals reverberate with stunning accuracy, giving the battle a rhythmic undertone that heightens the exhilaration.
The speakers' dynamic range is particularly evident earlier in the movie during transitions from dialogue to action scenes. The quiet, intimate moments of character interaction are portrayed with nuanced clarity and emotional depth. But when the action picks up, the speakers seamlessly shift gears. The sudden sonic explosions, blaster fires, and spacecraft engines are rendered with heart-pounding intensity, without sacrificing detail or clarity. The transition is so smooth that it feels like an organic evolution of the scene rather than a shift in gear, illustrating the fantastic dynamics of these speakers.
Music
Having experienced how these speakers handle movie soundtracks with remarkable fidelity, I'm keen to delve into their music performance. When listening to Paul Simon's "Graceland," the speakers create a truly expansive and immersive soundstage. The clarity is exceptional, allowing each instrument's unique timbre and tonality to shine individually, while also contributing harmoniously to the overall composition. From the rich, resonating bass, the crisp beat of the drum, to the gentle strumming of the guitar, each sound is reproduced with remarkable precision.
What's even more satisfying is the precise localization of instruments across the soundstage. It's as if you could close your eyes and pinpoint exactly where each musician is positioned. The intricate interplay between instruments is captured and projected with such precision, making it easy to pick apart individual lines within the rich tapestry of sound.
Staying on the topic of imaging and localization, "Homeless" from the same Graceland album provides a remarkable auditory experience when listened to by these speakers. This track is one I routinely use to test the imaging capabilities of speakers, and in this case, the results were exceptional.
Listening to the song with my eyes closed, it becomes possible to mentally map out the positions of the entire group of singers within the recording studio. The precision of the Arendal speakers allows for a vivid, almost tangible, soundscape that spatially places each vocal within your listening space. The clarity is such that you can not only discern individual voices but also position them within the auditory landscape.
Conclusion
I approached this review with high expectations, considering my previous encounter with the original 1723 THX lineup earlier this year. These expectations were not only met but exceeded by the 1723 S models.
While it's clear that these speakers have been scaled down in terms of physical size, they have not been downscaled in terms of performance. The compact 1723 S speakers offer almost identical sound quality to their larger counterparts, proving that big things can indeed come in smaller packages.
Each speaker in the series retains the exceptional build quality, design, and high-end technology that Arendal has become renowned for. Whether you're immersing yourself in a blockbuster film or being swept away by a beautiful piece of music, the 1723 S speakers consistently deliver an outstanding performance. They deftly capture the dynamics, the nuances, and the energy of the sound, all within a more compact form factor.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Great sound quality | Premium pricing |
Versatile setup options | Surrounds can be a bit heavy to hang on walls |
Excellent build quality |
FAQ
What is the difference between Arendal 1723 and 1723 S?
The 1723 S lineup is essentially a scaled-down variant of the original 1723 series, featuring 6.5" woofers instead of the 8" ones and housed in more compact cabinets. However, the sonic qualities remain very similar, perhaps with a slight warmth and potentially more accommodating in the upper midrange.
What is the difference between Arendal 1723 monitor and tower?
The primary distinction between these speakers lies in their depth of sound and their capacity to deliver bass. If your arrangement doesn't include a subwoofer, the larger Tower speaker would be the optimal choice as the Monitor might lack some punch, particularly when it comes to bass, for movie watching.
What is the return policy for Arendal speakers?
Arendal Sound extends a 60-day home audition phase where customers have the opportunity to return the speaker for a full refund if they're not satisfied.
