Dang, somebody talk me out of the Arendal 1528 Monitors!

[Purité Audio]

A ‘transducer’ changes one form of energy into another.
Keith

 

[AVKS]

The Ascend Acoustics ELX or Philharmonic HT towers would be my choices for your scenario, unless you've said somewhere that you specifically want standmount and I missed it - better sensitivity, similar measured response, available for thousands of dollars less (factoring in the need for stands). Their aesthetics are much more to my personal liking as well, though if you prefer the Arendal look that may be enough to sway you that direction.

 

[VMAT4]

Yes, $6K is a chunk of money, but is there anything else out there at that price that will be a better option for a 50/50 mix of two channel music/5.1 movies? I was close to picking up a set of Martin Logan Motion XT F200 on sale, but after hearing the 1528's in videos, I may be sold on them.

But where to get some capable stands for these that are not as wide as the Arendal stands?

I hope you're a very strong man. Those speakers weigh 104 lbs each. And, you do want the Arendal stands as they're designed to take the weight.

 

[Penelinfi]

A ‘transducer’ changes one form of energy into another.
Keith

Indeed it does. It's also a separate device as compared to an object made up of many individual components.

 

[MarcT]

The Ascend Acoustics ELX or Philharmonic HT towers would be my choices for your scenario, unless you've said somewhere that you specifically want standpoint and I missed it - better sensitivity, similar measured response, available for thousands of dollars less (factoring in the need for stands). Their aesthetics are much more to my personal liking as well, though if you prefer the Arendal look that may be enough to sway you that direction.

Yeah, I'd prefer a floor standing speaker; I don't want to have to fool with stands in the family room where my system is. I guess glowing reviews can tend to do their job and if you're not careful, convince you that that speaker is an indispensable choice. Btw, I am in no way saying any review of the 1528's is intentionally misleading or promotional in nature. I think it's just that I sometimes want to believe there is a "holy grail" speaker out there somewhere.

 

[Shimrra Jamaane]

The takeaway is that these are damn good speakers and it’s up to you if you if they’re worth $6500 because no one can decide that for you.

 

[Oddball]

I really like what they have done, but they are quite expensive at EUR 5,900. Stands are EUR 1,400 for a pair and that brings the whole package way up to EUR 6.3K. In return you do get tower like performance and they will take less of visual space in the room.

When my 6 surrounds give up, I would gladly replace them with 6 1528 monitors, but not at EUR 19K cost. Bookshelves are EUR 4,500 so not big help and would then still rather choose the monitors at bit higher price.

 

[julbo]

In same boat, trying to decide between these beasts and the 888. WAF accounted for I’m tending towards the Arendals, the stands are tending towards an illusion of floating speakers essentially freeing up floor space. I also have teenagers at home throwing the occasional party and I’d fear more for the 888 than the Arendals. Plan to feed them to an Audiophonics HPA-S400ET Amp.

 

[cavedriver]

I'm waiting to see what price and measurements the Mofi V10's come in at. If they are 10k or share the uneven treble with the SP10's then I will probably keep looking. Not trying to get into a discussion on the merits of the V10, just saying you could maybe wait a bit. Not sure what else is on the horizon that could displace the 1528 as a tower that hasn't already been discussed.