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.

 

[PJ 1]

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'm shopping (still) this price range. I have these on my short list. I think for the money, you're not gonna find better build quality. Similar maybe. If you look at the Mofi before their master-tuned crossover upgrade, you can see where they went price point wise. I think Arendal is really on to something by taking advantage of all the social media reviewers and providing what we seemingly want. Linear speakers with great parts for "low" prices. Don't get me wrong. These are expensive for the VAST majority of us. But all it takes is a quick trip to a legacy brick/mortar hifi shop or better yet, a trade show and see what "expensive" really is. (There's cable stands that sell for what these do.)

I have used Arendal's 60 day trial period and it's very simple and easy if you don't mind moving them out of/back into their boxes and getting them to where the shipping company can access it. If it helps, I've been shopping the Revel F228be (used), Mofi's 888, Perlisten R5t, and KEF's Reference 1 Meta (the holy grail for performance, build, and looks - TO ME but $10 Gs...?? Ouch.) I'm a sucker for white and if it helps, the Arendal's paint is other worldly for "matte" finishes. They do the INSIDE as well as out equally as good!

 

[staticV3]

I think Arendal is really on to something by taking advantage of all the social media reviewers and providing what we seemingly want. Linear speakers with great parts

Linear-ish:


Arendal go all in on compression and THD, but whenever more than one woofer + one tweeter is involved, frequency response linearity takes a backseat.

 

[PJ 1]

Linear-ish:
View attachment 465215

Arendal go all in on compression and THD, but whenever more than one woofer + one tweeter is involved, frequency response linearity takes a backseat.

"Objective data backed up my impressions: strong linearity, high SPL capability, and solid build quality" - Erin

So yeah, within the normal listening window, I'd agree based on his objective measurements and subjective listening. Stuff of life can fix most of those ceiling, floor, rear wall (etc) "reflection issues" at your listening position.

 

[David_M]

Linear-ish:
View attachment 465215

Arendal go all in on compression and THD, but whenever more than one woofer + one tweeter is involved, frequency response linearity takes a backseat.

Please explain this statement. If I understand you right, the Arendal 1528 Bookshelf 8 will have the best linearity but the Monitor8 and Tower8's with multiple woofers will suffer?

 

[staticV3]

Please explain this statement. If I understand you right, the Arendal 1528 Bookshelf 8 will have the best linearity but the Monitor8 and Tower8's with multiple woofers will suffer?

It boils down to Arendal crossing their woofers too high, using low order crossovers.

Both of these cause cancellation/interference, even in their Bookshelves:


but the multi woofer designs are most affected:


For reference, KEF is one example of multi-driver designs done well:

Minimal interference.

 

[PJ 1]

It boils down to Arendal crossing their woofers too high, using low order crossovers.

Both of these cause cancellation/interference, even in their Bookshelves:
View attachment 465378View attachment 465379

but the multi woofer designs are most affected:
View attachment 465380View attachment 465381View attachment 465382View attachment 465383View attachment 465384View attachment 465385

For reference, KEF is one example of multi-driver designs done well:
View attachment 465386View attachment 465387
Minimal interference.

In my opinion, I see these examples provided as pretty good for linearity within the average listening window. If you have multiple rows of seats, the vertical domain is more important. But I disagree that these graphs show issues with crossover points on their designs. Obviously there are compromises and perhaps we just don't agree with them but to list this as problematic is a stretch. My $.02.

 

[David_M]

It boils down to Arendal crossing their woofers too high, using low order crossovers.

Both of these cause cancellation/interference, even in their Bookshelves:
View attachment 465378View attachment 465379

but the multi woofer designs are most affected:
View attachment 465380View attachment 465381View attachment 465382View attachment 465383View attachment 465384View attachment 465385

For reference, KEF is one example of multi-driver designs done well:
View attachment 465386View attachment 465387
Minimal interference.

1. I have seen many multi-driver designs with very well-controlled responses (and also the reverse), so to say these types of designs are problematic is not correct, imho.

2. The example plots shown are from a prior Arendal generation (1600 and 1700 series). The current 1800 generation does not 'suffer' from this problem.

 

[staticV3]

1. I have seen many multi-driver designs with very well-controlled responses (and also the reverse), so to say these types of designs are problematic is not correct, imho.

I never claimed that multi-woofer designs themselves are problematic (KEF proves the opposite), merely that every multi-woofer Arendal Klippel'd to date has been so.

2. The example plots shown are from a prior Arendal generation (1600 and 1700 series). The current 1800 generation does not 'suffer' from this problem.

I've shown problematic examples from the 1528, 1723, and 1961 series.

If you could point me towards similar measurements showing a well-behaved multi-woofer design from Arendal, that'd be much appreciated.

 

[David_M]

I never claimed that multi-woofer designs themselves are problematic (KEF proves the opposite), merely that every multi-woofer Arendal Klippel'd to date has been so.


I've shown problematic examples from the 1528, 1723, and 1961 series.

If you could point me towards similar measurements showing a well-behaved multi-woofer design from Arendal, that'd be much appreciated.

Ok, thanks for limiting it to the Arendals. The original statement seemed to be a broad generalization at first blush.

 

[DMill]

Listening live in dealer's room will still be not listening live in your room. Listening through the mic and then youtube will give you much less, but agreed that some clues might be heard. Not sure what are your ear-buds, but I would rather trust to my calibrated system for that purpose.

The only speaker I bought without listening was my current center Revel 426, but given the charts, size, raving reviews, 50% discount, and 30 day return policy, I gave it a shot - and did not regret it.

There is so much chatter about listening to a speaker before buying. Unfortunately it just isn’t an option for most people. And I 100% agree that dealers room demos are mostly worthless. The reality is we now have more measurements than ever and can mostly predict how a speaker will behave in a neutral space. My reco to anyone looking for speakers is do your research, and find something with a return policy, whether that be a dealer or manufacturer, in case you don’t like them. Being able to demo/hear even 5 or 6 speakers you’re interested in is nearly impossible unless you live in a major metro and even then will tell you very little.

 

[PJ 1]

There is so much chatter about listening to a speaker before buying. Unfortunately it just isn’t an option for most people. And I 100% agree that dealers room demos are mostly worthless. The reality is we now have more measurements than ever and can mostly predict how a speaker will behave in a neutral space. My reco to anyone looking for speakers is do your research, and find something with a return policy, whether that be a dealer or manufacturer, in case you don’t like them. Being able to demo/hear even 5 or 6 speakers you’re interested in is nearly impossible unless you live in a major metro and even then will tell you very little.

Yup. Even worse is when you want to play your tracks and they give you that look of; "What's wrong with Nils Lofgren, Boz Scaggs, and Hotel California on repeat?" I have to hand it to Arendal in this regard, I spent about 20 days with their 1723s and boxed them up and sent them back. Other than piecing their boxes back together, the hardest part was getting them to the curb for pickup but my furniture dolly saved the day. (Long story short, I'm a drummer. I "needed" another bass drum and that lead to another couple of toms and cymbals cause you can't have a lopsided drum set so.... Priorities.)