Arendal 1528 high end speakers

[PJ 1]

New kid on the block trying to push a difficult product? And there are plenty of measurements for both brands way in excess from what we have on Arendal.

Hardly a new kid. They've been around since 2015. Just cause the American market never heard of them until recently, doesn't mean they aren't proven. Their other lines have been well reviewed by nearly everyone we consider "credible" including ASR. I just think as is typical of the current "opine on everything" world we live in, we have to get used to sorting through commenters who have no intention of buying a product but can't resist dumping on it with zero experience using it.

 

[PJ 1]

Some people have ball room-sized living rooms. That's where such a massive SPL capability make sense, because you might be listening from 10 meters away and peaks may need that extra push. Niche? Absolutely, but It exists.

For more conventional users, I agree you can do great with a lot less decibels.

And in those ballroom sized living rooms, I highly doubt anyone is placing direct-to-consumer speakers. And yes, I understand SPLs and listening positions and 115 db at any position will cause hearing loss. Again, these are anechoic measurements. Not in room. Buy a set and measure them to see if they are "loud enough for you". See you at the audiologist.

 

[sigbergaudio]

New kid on the block trying to push a difficult product? And there are plenty of measurements for both brands way in excess from what we have on Arendal.

But the Revels have been around for years and years, and even the Perlisten for a couple of years now. The Arendal has barely started to get out to customers. And why is the product difficult exactly? The Revel Fe328b as an example is over twice the price.

I'm not affiliated with Arendal in any way and not even a particular fan, but as I've said before I think these "demands" to manufacturers are strange. Perhaps because I've gotten some similar "requests". I think it's great that people voice their opinion and challenge newcomers, but I don't think it's necessarily fair to hold them to a way higher standard than most of the competition.

Suddenly you're asking for distortion / compression measurements at 110 and 115dB? I've never seen that for any speaker review ever even here on ASR. But Arendal should provide it? Makes no sense to me.

 

[Vacceo]

And in those ballroom sized living rooms, I highly doubt anyone is placing direct-to-consumer speakers. And yes, I understand SPLs and listening positions and 115 db at any position will cause hearing loss. Again, these are anechoic measurements. Not in room. Buy a set and measure them to see if they are "loud enough for you". See you at the audiologist.

Consumer distrust is up to the consumer, to be honest. On the other hand, those kinds of potential customers would not be usually very interested in reading graphs and comparing tested performance numbers.

I´m curious about the vertical directivity on the speakers out of pure curiosity. From my perspective, for me, they are way bigger than I´d be able to fit in my space, hence why I´m more curious about the monitors and bookshelves. So far, however, these look quite excellent.

 

[Descartes]

Looking forward to seeing the measurements

 

[Oddball]

https://www.avforums.com/reviews/arendal-1528-monitor-8-standmount-speaker-review.22331/

 

[Oddball]

Not that this is to argue with valued opinions of the @sigbergaudio, or the beach vibes or the others, but how else would one distinguish the mighty Arendal towers from e.g. these pretty towers that go for 3.8K Euros, and are quite old design? I just happened to stumble upon these as they seem a good value. While I am looking at these as surrounds, the question still stands.

Canton Reference 3.2 DC loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

 

[Oddball]

Then there are these Cantons for EUR 6.2K, but could not find the measurements. Instead of 2x8", they have 2x10" woofers.

Canton Reference 2.2 DC *highgloss schwarz* - elektrowelt24.de

Canton Reference 2.2 DC *highgloss schwarz*

www.elektrowelt24.eu

It is really confusing to me why to take the bite on Arendals with the view what is out there and the pricing. I can also get brand new set of Revels 328 for $1K more than Arendals, or even brand new set of Perlistens S7T for 2K more.

 

[Battlebeast]

https://www.avforums.com/reviews/arendal-1528-monitor-8-standmount-speaker-review.22331/

Don't get the reviewers issue with size. He knew going in how big they were so should've got the "bookshelf" model for his small room. Seems the reviewer just wanted something to complain about.

 

[kharan]

Not that this is to argue with valued opinions of the @sigbergaudio, or the beach vibes or the others, but how else would one distinguish the mighty Arendal towers from e.g. these pretty towers that go for 3.8K Euros, and are quite old design? I just happened to stumble upon these as they seem a good value. While I am looking at these as surrounds, the question still stands.

Canton Reference 3.2 DC loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

The Canton Reference 3.2 DC in that Stereophile link were 16k a pair.

And I don't see 2x10" in the current Canton Reference range, only the Canton Reference range One and Two with 3x9" and 2x9" . Which currently have an MSRP of 20k€ and 16k€ per pair

 

[Oddball]

These are older Cantons, but still in production and available. I already provided a link to pricing, but here you go again:

Canton Reference 2.2 DC *highgloss schwarz* - elektrowelt24.de

Canton Reference 2.2 DC *highgloss schwarz*

www.elektrowelt24.eu

Canton Reference 3.2 DC *alle Farben* - elektrowelt24.de

Canton Reference 3.2 DC *alle Farben*

www.elektrowelt24.eu

Again, these are old design but current production models available for purchase to all.

 

[kharan]

These are older Cantons, but still in production and available. I already provided a link to pricing, but here you go again:

Canton Reference 2.2 DC *highgloss schwarz* - elektrowelt24.de

Canton Reference 2.2 DC *highgloss schwarz*

www.elektrowelt24.eu

Canton Reference 3.2 DC *alle Farben* - elektrowelt24.de

Canton Reference 3.2 DC *alle Farben*

www.elektrowelt24.eu

Again, these are old design but current production models available for purchase to all.

Those models don't appear on Canton's website and are almost 15 year old at this point. It looks to be a discontinued product with a retailer still having some inventory and deeply discounting it. That's not comparable to a new product in terms of pricing at all.

 

[Oddball]

Those models don't appear on Canton's website and are almost 15 year old at this point. It looks to be a discontinued product with a retailer still having some inventory and deeply discounting it. That's not comparable to a new product in terms of pricing at all.

More than welcome to disregard all the information you received. According to the vendor products are fresh which makes sense as Canton has most of its supply chain and drivers in house.

It does not seem that you grasp the term relevance in its common meaning. It means exactly what it says in the dictionary. However, not planning to argue - you made ur point I made mine and let’s part at that.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Not that this is to argue with valued opinions of the @sigbergaudio, or the beach vibes or the others, but how else would one distinguish the mighty Arendal towers from e.g. these pretty towers that go for 3.8K Euros, and are quite old design? I just happened to stumble upon these as they seem a good value. While I am looking at these as surrounds, the question still stands.

Canton Reference 3.2 DC loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

I am not sure I see your point here. Are you arguing that instead of purchasing the 1528 towers, one should buy these discontinued Cantons, because they are just as good and much cheaper? Or?

 

[Oddball]

I really find it difficult to comprehend your way of thinking in this thread or many others.

I think that my expression and command of English is sufficiently clear not to require constant and petty comments.

If you still have doubts, suggest to read again and again and actually give though to what was meant to be said.

 

[sigbergaudio]

I really find it difficult to comprehend your way of thinking in this thread or many others.

I think that my expression and command of English is sufficiently clear not to require constant and petty comments.

If you still have doubts, suggest to read again and again and actually give though to what was meant to be said.

The Canton you are referring to is currently cheap because it is old and discontinued. I truly do not understand how this is a fair comparison to a brand new product. Of course it is cheaper to purchase something that is discontinued or second hand. No new product can compete with that? Or do you somehow find this to be specific to Arendal? As @kharan points out, current, comparable models from Canton aren't any cheaper than Arendal? Or?

I am sorry you find my way of thinking hard to comprehend in this and other threads. If you can be a bit more specific, and I can try to explain my line of thinking.

 

[Oddball]

Not sure why you are against Arendal disclosing more detailed measurements including compression tests. Not common? Well let’s make it common as actually important to differentiate between the speakers.

Canton products I listed are apparently not discontinued, but truth to be told there might be limited supply. So they are not discontinued, just in limited production. From my perspective as individual user not important at all as I can get them right now instead of Arendal.

On the merit of the measurements I posted, and in absence of additional measurements, I see no reason why I would even consider 1528 100kg towers.

Direct question to you: Why do you, or do you, think that the big towers and center are actually worth $15k compared to the other offering on the market? Perhaps you have some insights that general public doesn’t have?

 

[sigbergaudio]

Not sure why you are against Arendal disclosing more detailed measurements including compression tests. Not common? Well let’s make it common as actually important to differentiate between the speakers.

I am not personally against it, they are free to do exactly as they please. What I have commented is that you and others are suggesting it is weird that it is not presented. That doesn't compute when almost no one else does either. It's not weird or unusual. On the contrary, it's very normal. You may think it is a mistake on their part, and you are free to think and voice that of course.

Canton products I listed are apparently not discontinued, but truth to be told there might be limited supply. So they are not discontinued, just in limited production. From my perspective as individual user not important at all as I can get them right now instead of Arendal.

The Canton Reference 2.2 DC were originally more expensive than the Arendals, and is now half price. It is not present on the official Canton page expect on a page called "archived products." On the same page we also find 3.2 DC. How is this not discontinued?

I do however completely agree that for you as an individual user this is not important, and if you or someone else thinks the Cantons is a good deal, they should of course purchase them. This is however still not relevant to a discussion on whether the Arendal 1528 as a brand new product is good value or not. And being a significantly smaller speaker with only half the number of bass drivers, I am not sure how you even find it to be a comparable product.

On the merit of the measurements I posted, and in absence of additional measurements, I see no reason why I would even consider 1528 100kg towers.

I see no reason why you should either, as I know very little about you and your requirements and preferences. Only you can be the judge of that.

But it seems like you are judging the speakers based on YOUR needs, and concluding that they are also not a good fit for anyone else (who may have completely different requirements and needs). That doesn't make sense.

Direct question to you: Why do you, or do you, think that the big towers and center are actually worth $15k compared to the other offering on the market? Perhaps you have some insights that general public doesn’t have?

First of all I am a manufacturer myself, so I need to thread a bit lightly when it comes to commenting on other manufacturers, even though we're not really competing for the same customers.

I have never heard the 1528s, so it is a bit hard to judge the quality. I would also not be in the market for speakers as big as this, and/or I would solve the problem differently (ref my own offerings). But based on what I see, I personally find 10,000USD per pair for such massive speakers to be quite a bargain, if that is what one are looking for. I have yet to see anyone present a current and comparable product that is cheaper in this thread (feel free to correct me if I am wrong). Note that I don't have enough data to compare the quality to alternative products.

 

[Oddball]

Honestly, can’t disagree more with you in just about any aspect of your response.

Obviously we are at opposite wavelength and you are quite hard to catch as seems you always seem to be telling the opposite story. What does not make sense are your comments. I do require a world from a tower costing as much as this one and it does not make any sense to me that you would be thinking of that as nonsense. On the contrary - I think that your are completely in the wrong.

So for the record, my view thus far is:

As of now, and regardless of what nonsense people are throwing in here (not to limit just to @sigbergaudio) Arendal 1528 big towers and center have nothing to distinguish them from more established offerings on the market, that BTW seem to have smaller form factor or lower price. Similarly, trade in value of Arendal is zero so one has to think of who would ever want to buy these bulky speakers and for what price.

If anyone can point to the different view based on measurements and science, pls be my guest. But really tired of the voodoo masters and alike telling me I am wrong.

 

[kharan]

Honestly, can’t disagree more with you in just about any aspect of your response.

Obviously we are at opposite wavelength and you are quite hard to catch as seems you always seem to be telling the opposite story. What does not make sense are your comments. I do require a world from a tower costing as much as this one and it does not make any sense to me that you would be thinking of that as nonsense. On the contrary - I think that your are completely in the wrong.

So for the record, my view thus far is:

As of now, and regardless of what nonsense people are throwing in here (not to limit just to @sigbergaudio) Arendal 1528 big towers and center have nothing to distinguish them from more established offerings on the market, that BTW seem to have smaller form factor or lower price. Similarly, trade in value of Arendal is zero so one has to think of who would ever want to buy these bulky speakers and for what price.

If anyone can point to the different view based on measurements and science, pls be my guest. But really tired of the voodoo masters and alike telling me I am wrong.

You're arguing that there is no compelling reason for you (or any data driven buyer) to buy the Arendal 1528s over another model. We can all understand that.

But then you're making a reasoning leap implying that because of the previously mentioned argument that there is no market for the 1528s. This leap isn't logical, plenty of speakers sell well based on marketing fluff without rigorous measurements. The market success or failure of a speaker isn't dictated by whether they make sense to you, it's determined by how well they are reaching their target customer base and whether they are hitting the right vibe with them.