Arendal 1961 Center/Monitor Speaker Review

[No_hair_left]

The measurements performed in post #1 show -3dB around ~15 degrees off axis. This is going to stay the same regardless if tested by another, or seating distance from speaker. The 1961 series is very popular (in fact Arendal discontinued it, and have since brought it back into production).

Give consideration to the Arendal 1723S Bookshelf S THX flipped on its side as a center, if compactness and vertical placement are a challenge. Not too much bigger than a horizontally placed 1961 Monitor, -3dB is ~18 degrees either direction from acoustic centerline, measures and to my ears sounds FAR better/fuller than the horizontal 1961 Monitor (I sit 6.6 feet away, and am at 0-2.0dB across my three seats). Note you will likely want to properly treat your room to tame the relatively wide vertical dispersion in this orientation (I have a thick cloud on the ceiling which really helped with the center response, vocals are crystal clear).

I only have 7.5 inches to play with below the tv so the bookshelf is too big and seeing as I have my tv wall mounted with it sticking out 6 inches these make sense + I much prefer the aesthetics of these.

 

[Head_Unit]

built like a tank. The enclosure feels like cast metal, ala Genelec.

I just got a set and WOW this is true true true. Knuckle test says "thunk" and makes me wonder if this is wood at all.

I have to check where the studs are in the wall, this needs a solid mounting point.

Ah, anyone know the VESA pattern offhand? Recommend a mount for these that won't stick way out?

 

[No_hair_left]

I just got a set and WOW this is true true true. Knuckle test says "thunk" and makes me wonder if this is wood at all.

I have to check where the studs are in the wall, this needs a solid mounting point.

Ah, anyone know the VESA pattern offhand? Recommend a mount for these that won't stick way out?

These will be fine if you dont want to angle them, or any vesa 100 flushmount tv bracket tbh

https://share.google/UhVnwPrKjxVr1jOAu

 

[Head_Unit]

These will be fine if you dont want to angle them

Uh good point, I want to angle them to match the TV angle...I'll look for similar. The speakers aren't *that* heavy, like 15 pounds, they just seem really heavy due to so solid I guess.

 

[montyliam]

I just got a set and WOW this is true true true. Knuckle test says "thunk" and makes me wonder if this is wood at all.

I have to check where the studs are in the wall, this needs a solid mounting point.

Ah, anyone know the VESA pattern offhand? Recommend a mount for these that won't stick way out?

Arendal use HDF rather than MDF I believe which would explain the sturdiness compared to other speaker enclosures.

 

[Soulone]

Is this still a good option if speaker height is limited to 18 cm by a cabinet? also considering the couch is 3m away from the speaker.

 

[rvsixer]

Is this still a good option if speaker height is limited to 18 cm by a cabinet? also considering the couch is 3m away from the speaker.

As always, putting any speaker inside another cabinet/cavity is generally not a good choice for best sound quality (search speaker in cabinet, or read some of the audio texts i.e. Floyd's Sound Reproduction etc.). But if one must, imo this speaker design (sealed, low-resonant cabinet etc.) is about as good as it gets if you are okay with the other design choices/compromises.

 

[Soulone]

As always, putting any speaker inside another cabinet/cavity is generally not a good choice for best sound quality (search speaker in cabinet, or read some of the audio texts i.e. Floyd's Sound Reproduction etc.). But if one must, imo this speaker design (sealed, low-resonant cabinet etc.) is about as good as it gets if you are okay with the other design choices/compromises.

Thanks. I was also thinking on saving some money and go for a Kef r2c....

 

[rvsixer]

Thanks. I was also thinking on saving some money and go for a Kef r2c....

Interesting given the r2c is quite a bit different than the 1961. Probably best to find out what kind of speaker meets your needs first and go from there, and keep this threat focused on 2-way mtm's. Good luck.