A cup of coffee with
Ambassador Alfred
from USA
A cup of coffee with
from USA
15x12x21, living room, mostly for music. Room is divided into two, open concept, there is another area behind sofa. Ceiling is vaulted, but the sitting area is quite good for listening to music.
My listening position is 12 feet away from the speakers, closer to the right than the left, but not by much. The tweeters are a little higher than my ears, but if I stand up, they are at ear level. The vaulted ceiling hasn’t caused reverberation, to the contrary, the sound seems full throughout the expanded room. I can go to the opposite side of the room and enjoy the music, even though it is not optimal as far as the listening position.
I have Bowers and Wilkins lcr 8s with lcr 7 center channel at my other home, I was looking for more powerful bass, without having to use a subwoofer. I enjoy live performances, like Eric Clapton’s Slowhand at 70.
I heard about Arendal on a B&W Facebook page post. I never heard of your company, then did some research and heard some reviews and decided to go to Axpona in Schaumburg, IL. I believe the 1610 floor-standing speakers were playing, and was told the 1528 Bookshelf speakers were going to be playing in the afternoon. I came back and was impressed with the powerful bass and clarity of the 1528s.
I was offered a 5% discount because of Axpona, so i took advantage of it. I knew that there is rarely a discount, and I thought the value was worth it. The reviews were positive, the 60-day trial was smart, and I wanted something that would blow my doors off.
The build quality is very impressive, the attention to detail, the weight, the quality of the crossover. I opted for the basalt color, and I feel the speakers stand out in the room. Once I removed the port plugs, the bass suddenly came alive! I contacted Arendal to see what brand amplifiers they recommend and was given a list of amplifiers to choose from. I chose Outlaw Audio 2220 monoblocks with a Wiim streamer. I have just installed them and have been quite impressed so far.
The crispness and clarity is astounding! I feel I made the right choice, it was between the 1610s and the 1528 bookshelf. As I stated earlier, I was wondering where the bass was until the port plugs were removed. The WiiM has many different listening setups, so I am just delving into them.
My B&W setup is in-wall with a subwoofer. The sub drives the bass throughout the listening area, as I am 17 feet away from the LCR8 speakers. The sound is full, and clear, but I have a little vibration sound coming from the walls, maybe a loose conduit or whatever else is in the wall. In this home, my wife told me there is no room for a subwoofer, so I wanted to find a speaker with enough bass and no “noise” coming from the space. The Arendal 1528 bookshelf 8s are solid, no vibration, nothing to hear but exceptional sound, the crisp highs, the deep bass, and excellent tonal clarity.
The sound from these speakers is full, dynamic, and clear! I enjoy listening to live concerts, like Eric Clapton’s Slowhand at 70. The sound filled my space with clarity, as if I was sitting in front of the stage! Specifically, Nathan East singing a Blind Faith song, “Can’t Find My Way Home.” The clarity of the bass’s first note just goes through my body and makes me smile! So clear, no distortion, just a simple note played for seconds, making you anticipate the song the harmony. Then the high hat plays along with the snare drum, so crisp! The tenor singer, with soprano backup singers fill the room. Let’s not forget Eric Clapton’s guitar, the highs from the tweeter sound so good! My WiiM streamer has different audio settings, and I prefer “acoustic” over flat, just so I can hear a little more treble, for a little brighter sound. And the speakers deliver!
I am pleased with the range the speakers have, their design, size, and stance. They are exactly what I was looking for, and I’m proud to display them on either side of my fireplace!
I am enjoying the placement of the speakers. I am in a wheelchair, so it is not easy to stand up to get the tweeters to ear level. I am contemplating making stands to tilt the tweeters down to my ear level, but I’m afraid that anything I make will cause vibration to the speakers, which I do not want. I am not the world’s most strict audiophile, I just enjoy high-quality sound that pleases my ear, not harsh sounds or weak demonstrations of music. My music collection consists of classic rock, some jazz, classical music like Mozart, and (very) little country.
I am also a classic car enthusiast. I have a 1968 Chevy Camaro, 1978 Pontiac Trans Am, and a 1973 Chevy Camaro. Needless to say, they need repairs from time to time. When my friends come over to help with repairs and hear my music, they always question the classical music. I just love listening to the orchestra with their full range of instruments! There’s nothing like a full room of sound. I look forward to listening to my 1528s for many years to come!
| Build year: | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Products: | 1528 Bookshelf 8 |
| Location: | USA |
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