Arendal 1528 high end speakers

[Ktacos]

Gene explains it in the video...

Jay has a serious scientific background but just loves music, which is also Gene's hobby. Jay goes on to explain why he has generally avoided measurements and focuses on listening because he likes music, not the process of denigrating bad speakers.

He's done way more than just ignore measurements, he's spewed a bunch of BS in the past. His wording there just shows how dumb he is, classic criticism of those who value objective data not enjoying music as much as those who don't care. New flash, I looove music and enjoy the hell out of it, I even make it, and I have extensive experience with audio analysis. Wish these goobers didn't have a platform to spread their junk around.

 

[Chromatischism]

Perhaps. But if your speakers could do more than that and if there were additional options, then you might want, or not, to explore them.

My point is just don’t think you have explored all the ways to bass around. That is a very tall task and many ways to do it.

I am certain you are speaking of Dirac. It's an interesting concept that I'm not super interested in incorporating into my room .

 

[Chromatischism]

Has anyone at Arendal hinted at a matching line of larger subs?

If you are in the EU, that would be nice to see.

If you are in the US, I always recommend people to take advantage of the excellent options we have here from non-speaker companies.

 

[GIEGAR]

While I largely agree (due to chasing diminishing returns), it has been proven repeatedly that isolating equipment, just like deadening speaker cabinets, can improve things.

Please don't mistake this statement for wanting to go down a rabbit hole of nonsense, as I personally wouldn't purchase them or be incentivized to do so. However, there are plenty of examples where isolation has actually changed a frequency response.

Again, this is mostly just cross promotion, plus they look kind of cool.

Just like car builders love themselves a big ass radiator made from billet in the era of turbocharging (today), these items are a little unnecessary for some, but for the hardcore tinkerer and builder, are a little extra bling.

Is my point.

Your question ("Why?") was asked and answered. Yet you seem to want to box on and make various claims of your own in defence of Arendal, and signal an expectation not to be challenged on them.

Likening isolation equipment to building non-resonant speaker cabinets is making a false equivalence. These are completely different things. Where is your 'proof' that isolation equipment makes an actual, tangible improvement ("...can improve things.")?

Isolation devices can make minor changes to the frequency response (and vibrational velocities), but that's a far cry from what Arendal is unequivocally claiming in their marketing. There's a few steps in the logic pathway between a small change in measured FR and: "...enhancing clarity and expanding the soundstage like never before." in a typical listening room.

There is no evidence to indicate that isolation devices such as these make any actual, detectable difference (let alone enhancement) to the sound we hear from speakers.

Testing Loudspeaker Isolation Products

ethanwiner.com

The Puck Pro's do have some utility value (precise alignment and tilt) and look very well designed and manufactured; Arendal should have stuck to that. Whether you, I or others would purchase them is irrelevant; Arendal have resorted to subjective audiophile flimflam to describe and market these accessories. I find that disappointing, given overall they seem to embrace solid engineering principles to produce a range of very good loudspeakers. That is what I'm calling out.

 

[Looneybomber]

6. Don't feel like boxing the speakers and sending them back after 60 days if they prove not as worthy as they should, as that is a quite an exercise by itself. If they added in home installation and removal option, yeah I would be all for it.

I have heard of that service being offered to folks who buy high end speakers from local dealers, due to the high markup, but free in-home setup and removal for only $10k/pr speakers? Is that a thing?

 

[Penelinfi]

I actually think the design is really cool looking. I cannot comprehend why they weigh so much though and I will at minimum need reviews to figure that out.

HDF, thick front baffle/multilayer, lots of drivers with heavy magnets, I think the woofers all have metal trim rings?

 

[Pearljam5000]

If it was light weight I would be more worried
The heavier the better it is

 

[Andysu]

I am not sure what bass management you have sorted in your setup - must be the simple 80hz or so crossover based on your answer.

There is a whole wide world that extends beyond the THX concept and people have exploring this for years with more sophisticated bass management solutions if their system allowed it. Might be difficult to integrate but that’s where the real challenge and reward might be, based on individual room and setup.

Nowadays alternative approaches are more affordable and available then before with new AVRs and solid tower speakers that perform well below 80hz. But seems like most people get stuck in the old THX world.

that's the consumer THX , the professional is totally different ball , end game

 

[sigbergaudio]

This thread is interesting, and I must say not a great look for ASR. Why do random people feel entitled to basically claiming that a manufacturer does this and that, especially when they would probably never purchase the product either way?

 

[Pearljam5000]

This thread is interesting, and I must say not a great look for ASR. Why do random people feel entitled to basically claiming that a manufacturer does this and that, especially when they would probably never purchase the product either way?

It's called free speech
People are allowed to express their opinion whether they're going to buy a product or not

 

[sigbergaudio]

It's called free speech
People are allowed to express their opinion whether they're going to buy a product or not

I did not say it was illegal, just that I don't understand the idea of sitting behind a screen suggesting (I'll refrain from saying "demanding" even though that is what it sounds like in some of these posts) what a manufacturer should or shouldn't do with regards to both design and marketing.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I did not say it was illegal, just that I don't understand the idea of sitting behind a screen suggesting (I'll refrain from saying "demanding" even though that is what it sounds like in some of these posts) what a manufacturer should or shouldn't do with regards to both design and marketing.

My English is not 100% so free speech to me may not be the same as to you.
Anyways what I meant is I see this everywhere so I don't think it's something that happens only on ASR.

 

[sigbergaudio]

My English is not 100% so free speech to me may not be the same as to you.
Anyways what I meant is I see this everywhere so I don't think it's something that happens only on ASR.

I also did not say it happens only on ASR.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I also did not say it happens only on ASR.

OK

 

[Oddball]

that's the consumer THX , the professional is totally different ball , end game

View attachment 400247

Must admit, never even looked that way.

But always eager to learn (especially the easy way), so a few paragraphs on why the endgame would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Oddball]

I am certain you are speaking of Dirac. It's an interesting concept that I'm not super interested in incorporating into my room .

Well Dirac ART was quite a let down for me thus far, but have only listened to it in dealer setup (Storm+Perlisten) and in a system that is smaller than mine (5.2.4 vs 9.5.4). So could be a number of things that went wrong, including the ART settings which I could not control, nor I understand. But apparent limitation of ART from 20-150hz is a real issue, especially at the bottom end. There must be issues as after more than 2 years, ART is still not available except on Storm.

There are many many bass management solutions and I have also just scratched the surface. My reference was to Marantz bass management options with Audy MultiEQ-X software that lets you do pretty much anything you want outside of traditional crossover concept and also route LFE to your big towers. Storm and Trinnov have their own solutions, and then there is Lyngdorf, there is Genelec (although not for non-Genelec speakers), and apparently the end-game THX professional. Sure must have missed tons of others that offer their own way to bass nirvana.

 

[kharan]

Genuinely, I think some people here are expecting a little much in terms of marketing strategy from manufacturers. We should keep in mind that a manufacturer's foremost goal is to sell their products and that purely technical and measurement focused data only sells to a tiny fraction of their potential market.

What sells is the subjective opinion of influencers, technical claims that might have a grain of truth but are greatly exaggerated for the sake of sounding "audiophile", or in other words puffery.

If a manufacturer has a customer base that is sensitive to actual technical data, then good for them, and they should actually market that. But if a manufacturer has a much wider customer base, they have no choice but to market for that customer base. I still expect a manufacturer to not outright lie or make totally unsubstantiated claims, but a little puffery is probably unavoidable. In other words, if you make a claim about frequency response or distortion, I'll call it out if it's a lie, you say something about Praat, foot tapping or the airiness of treble, I'll roll my eyes and move on.

Now, I don't really have an opinion about whether the 1528 live up to their claims, and I'll wait until more rigorous measurements are done and published before saying something about whether they perform as expected.

 

[fredoamigo]

I have heard of that service being offered to folks who buy high end speakers from local dealers, due to the high markup, but free in-home setup and removal for only $10k/pr speakers? Is that a thing?

You want butter, butter money and creamer!! (French expression) Personally, I find Arendal's commercial policy exemplary. Don't forget that their warranty extends to 10 years (transferable) and 5 years for electronics. To my knowledge, only Bryston does better."

 

[Oddball]

You want butter, butter money and creamer!! (French expression) Personally, I find Arendal's commercial policy exemplary. Don't forget that their warranty extends to 10 years (transferable) and 5 years for electronics. To my knowledge, only Bryston does better."

Unboxing and re-boxing 250kg of speakers (LCR) for return brings a new perspective to the equation. I understand it is not practical for them to do better than free return policy, but then I still don't see clear benefits of these speakers being so large. Don't want to sound nasty, but is it to discourage returns?

If you damage the speakers, you will be responsible for damage Since I never had to box 80kg speakers before (did 40kg but that's child's play), this is unknown risk I am not willing to take. Imagine putting double the weight on the benchpress - will not really go well. They may at least want to take some insurance on the returns to make it look marginally better.

BTW cudos to Bryston - they do support their products with immaculate service even if 15 years old. I only had one instance in these 15 years and it has been resolved within a day with clear and "out-of-the-box" practical solution that worked and continues to work anhad did not require shipping to the factory so that can make some more money our of the issue.

 

[fredoamigo]

Unboxing and re-boxing 250kg of speakers (LCR) for return brings a new perspective to the equation. I understand it is not practical for them to do better than free return policy, but then I still don't see clear benefits of these speakers being so large. Don't want to sound nasty, but is it to discourage returns?

Imagine all these apprentice influencers and other curious people, who would pay for their 15 minutes of fame and 60 days of listening for free...