“If it’s built for explosions, it must be bad for violins — right?”

This myth has echoed through audiophile circles for years. We get it. Home theater systems have often been seen as too aggressive, too boomy, or just too much when it comes to music. For many, the assumption is that cinematic performance and musical nuance live in separate worlds.

But here’s the truth: great engineering serves both.

Why This Myth Exists

Many movie-focused speakers were once designed with raw power in mind — emphasizing loudness and cinematic impact over finesse. That left some music lovers unimpressed when they tried playing their favorite albums through a system meant for Hollywood blockbusters.

It’s not hard to understand why. When people think of cinematic speakers, they often picture thundering bass, over-the-top dynamics, and little subtlety. And yes — if a system is poorly voiced or unbalanced, it can absolutely ruin a good piece of music.

But that’s not a fault of the purpose. It’s a fault of the execution.

Good Speaker Design Doesn’t Pick Sides

A truly well-designed speaker doesn’t care whether it’s playing Brahms or Blade Runner. It reproduces sound with honesty, precision, and balance — delivering what the artist or director intended, without coloration or compromise.

That’s exactly what the 1723 Series is built for.

These speakers are engineered with a balanced frequency response, natural tonal character, powerful dynamics, and controlled dispersion. That’s a combination that reveals subtle textures in music and delivers the spine-tingling punch of action scenes — without switching systems.

THX Certification = More Than Just Home Theater

Let’s bust another myth: that THX certification is only for home theater enthusiasts.

To achieve THX status, speakers must demonstrate exceptional performance in imaging, off-axis consistency, and dynamic capability. These are not just movie-centric traits — they’re critical to musical integrity, too.

• Wide, consistent dispersion means a wider sweet spot and better imaging.
• High dynamic range brings life to orchestral swells, jazz snare pops, or intimate acoustic performances.
• Low distortion and flat frequency response preserve the realism of vocals, strings, and everything in between.

In short, what makes the 1723 Series thrilling for cinema is exactly what makes it exceptional for music.

One System. No Compromise.

You shouldn’t have to choose between music and movies. You shouldn’t need separate systems or settle for gear that only does half the job.

With the right speaker – the right engineering, you can have both.

Whether you’re watching a Christopher Nolan masterpiece or spinning your favorite vinyl, the 1723 Series delivers the same core qualities: clarity, balance, power, and emotional impact.

Real Performance, Real System

Andrew’s room is an open-plan great room that combines the living and dining area — open and inviting, but not a dedicated theater.

Speakers – Arendal 1723 S Series in Satin White

• Front: 1723 S Towers
• Center: 1723 S Center
• Overhead: 1723 S Heights
• Surrounds: 1723 S Surrounds
• Subwoofers: Two 1723 1V Subwoofers

Electronics & Sources

• Marantz Cinema 50 with a Panasonic UB-9000 for movies
• 77” LG G3

“This is my first mid- to high-end system, and the performance — for both movies and music — has blown me away. I’m more than satisfied with what feels like a forever system.”