John A

HOW IS YOUR ROOM SET UP?

My setup is in my living room. The dimensions are challenging for ultimate presentation, but the use of space allows a very satisfying presentation. The room is rectangular; length is 4.2m and 3.16m width with 2.4m ceiling height; there’s an alcove to the right of my main seating that allows for media storage. My listening position is central to the layout. I enjoy 4K movies and CD music.

WHAT WAS YOUR GOAL WHEN LOOKING FOR NEW SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFERS?

My ” home cinema ” journey began in 2000. This was a bedroom set up that evolved from hobby equipment to some more established brands. When I moved I was determined to upgrade my possibilities. I’d always been compromised on space. I could now concentrate on what I actually wanted from my system. Sound quality and expansive, controlled dynamic sound for my movies was my goal; deep bass with the ability to extract every nuance from my music collection.

WHERE DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US?

I think I came across Arendal speakers on YouTube and Instagram. Audioholics and VillaMan and your proprietary site. I was intrigued by the ability to match my listening requirements so completely. They looked purposeful and contemporary; ready for a big sound.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ARENDAL SOUND?

I had been a B&W user, until I found Arendal speakers. I found I was able to complete my 5.1 requirements with dedicated speakers; no compromise, position specific speakers. My theme was white, so the ability to specify matte white speakers was a real game changer.

YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE PRODUCTS?

The sound is so broad; no colouration or brightness that I was getting from my B&W’s. The front Soundstage is incredible, so much power and weight but capable of bringing out every nuance from my CD’s. The build is solid and workmanlike. Recently added 1723 Height S speaker’s for a 5.2.4 arrangement. The immersion is incredible.

What surprised me the most was literally how heavy the speakers are; the cabinets are totally inert. With 4 8″ drivers I was initially expecting a possibility of overtly heavy bass. This was so far from reality, there is a real midrange with exquisite definition and a warm exacting high frequency responses. The hardware is fantastic quality, binding posts are solid and easy to use.

WHAT ELSE DOES YOUR SYSTEM CONSIST OF?

Processor / AVR: Denon AVC-A1H
Source devices: Panasonic UB9000 mk2 (HDMI for 4K movies, XLR cables for music)
Subwoofer: Twin REL 1205’s (single REL T/5 previously)
Other: QED Silver Anniversary XT25 speaker cable; QED HDMI, subwoofer, ethernet, and XLR cables; IsoAcoustics stand under center speaker for decoupling
Display: 77″ Sony A8 OLED
Future upgrades: 1610 floor-level speakers (7.1 with added surround backs), Marantz AMP10 processor and amplification; subwoofer replacement possible.

HOW HAPPY ARE YOU WITH ARENDAL SOUND PRODUCTS?

I love my system. It’s almost perfect; it sounds amazing and for just this price point I don’t know what could sound better. The only real downside is I am always looking to the upgrade; you haven’t let me down. The 1610 range looks to be exactly what I am aspiring towards.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?

I love that you are a brand focused on providing dedicated product’s for the consumer wanting to experience their best system for a realistic capital outlay. There is no need to compromise with Arendal speaker’s, the right one is already there.