Pulling the trigger on my first subwoofer purchase

[Deyan]

Hello, Arendal community!

I’m a new member here and likely to become an Arendal sub owner in the near future. Before making my purchase, I wanted to share some final thoughts and seek advice from the community.

Two years ago, I set up my very first home theater system with 2xDali Oberon 5 speakers, a Dali Oberon Vocal center speaker, and two surround speakers salvaged from an old Sony all-in-one home theater unit. Powering these speakers is a Denon AVR-X2700h receiver. The subwoofer was always a future addition to my setup.

During my extensive research on subwoofers, I came across the prevailing belief that “bigger is better.” This led me to reconsider my initial preference for a Dali subwoofer and contemplate options from SVS/REL instead. Although I’ve come across the name Arendal many times, I recently discovered that their products are not available through my Bulgarian AV equipment online retailer because they sell their products directly. An added advantage is that Arendal is a European manufacturer, and their 1961 1s sub is priced lower than the SVS SB-2000pro.

Considering the limited space and budget I have, I’m looking at the 1961 subs. My room is approximately 20 square meters and has limited free space, which compromises positioning options. For the 1v, there is only one available spot, while the 1s allows for two possible positions. Currently, I mainly watch series and listen to music, with fewer movie viewings. Although the 1s seems like a wiser choice given my space constraints, the 1v’s tempting price, only 100 euros more, leaves me second-guessing my decision.

Another concern of mine is whether the subwoofer will significantly enhance my music and movie experiences in my room, considering its price tag. Unfortunately, my Denon receiver does not have the improved version of Audyssey for low-frequency correction, and I lack a REW compatible microphone for personal adjustments. While I’m aware that Arendal offers a free return policy, I’d prefer to avoid that hassle. After all, this is a subwoofer we’re talking about, not a pair of shoes.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this detailed message. I appreciate any insights or advice you can offer.

[arkmann]

Deyan congratulations!  The 1723 is bigger and hopefully will fit your needs better than the 1961 sub you were looking for.  Let us know how it sounds when you’ve got it setup.

[Deyan]

Hello community, I am ready to share my initial experience with the 1723 1S subwoofer.

Unboxing and First Impressions:

This particular unit I received from the outlet was previously used for a review, which was immediately apparent from the packaging. The foam insert meant for the plate-amp, which has a large cutout, was mistakenly switched with the one for the front side. This switch was done forcefully, resulting in damage to the foam. Additionally, the buttons and input terminals left deep impressions on the foam. Fortunately, the build quality of the subwoofer itself is superb, with solid buttons and terminals that show no signs of being loose. I commend Arendal for choosing a reliable manufacturing partner in China. Another packaging mistake was that the subwoofer was supposed to be placed in the box with its feet up, but mine arrived with its feet down. This would have caused the subwoofer to land upside down if I had followed the unpacking instructions. This has left me somewhat perplexed as to whether Arendal performs any checks on returned units or simply ships them as is to the next customer. I would assume that Arendal knows how to properly package their own product, hence my confusion.

Set up and first impressions:

Following the sub manual: reference level on, gain set to -6, and LPF bypass on. I then ran Audyssey, which set the level to +1.5dB. With this I gave it a first test and was not impressed.

The following day, I purchased a new subwoofer cable, hoping that the old cheap cable may have been affecting the performance of the subwoofer. However, it turns out that cables don’t make a significant difference. On the bright side, the new cable does look aesthetically pleasing! As I continued to listen to various types of music, I delved deeper into my AVR’s settings. Ultimately, I settled on a crossover frequency of 120Hz for the front speakers, with Audyssey Dynamic EQ enabled, Dynamic Volume disabled, and the subwoofer level set to +4.5dB (even higher for movies). I also moved my couch 20cm away from the wall. With these adjustments in place, I subjected the subwoofer to a proper test by watching movies at a volume of at least -20dB and higher.

My thoughts on the 1723 1S Subwoofer:

Over time, my impressions of the 1723 1S subwoofer have shifted to a more positive stance. Initially, I’m unsure of the exact reason for my underwhelming feelings, but I might have overhyped my expectations. The sheer size and weight of the 25kg box impressed me as a novice owner of such a high-caliber subwoofer, and I anticipated a concert or cinema-like groundshaking experience.

When it comes to music, I now grasp what people mean by “tactile bass,” “improved clarity,” and “good integration.” I have no complaints about the music performance; in fact, it’s enjoyable to explore my favorite songs with the added dimension of a subwoofer. I particularly enjoy songs with strong percussion and emphasized basslines, making the listening experience even more engaging.

As for movies, considering its size and weight, I had expected a massive rumble, but this expectation wasn’t fully met. Don’t get me wrong; upgrading to 5.1 from 5.0 was indeed a game-changer, allowing me to appreciate action movies much more than before. However, I did make comparisons with my towers while the subwoofer was turned off, and I felt that my towers could produce a similar level of bass, albeit of lower quality – somewhat muddy and unrefined. I also noticed that without the subwoofer, my towers sounded a bit high-pitched and annoying at higher volume levels, which might have contributed to my reluctance to watch movies too loud in the past.

In conclusion, the purchase of the subwoofer was the right move. I listen to music and movies at higher volumes than before, and I’ve come to appreciate the subwoofer’s impact on both, but I have a doubt that maybe the vented sub would give me something “more” in movies.

Measurements:

To clear my doubts and fully utilize the subwoofer’s EQ feature, I invested in an UMIK-1 microphone.

The sub has been placed in the corner from the beginning and I couldn’t be bothered with moving it to different locations, partially out of fear of nicking it. Those 25kg didn’t sound like much to me on paper, but combine that with its size and it turns out to be a real bitch moving this thing.

I conducted measurements at a volume level of -20dB, testing four different listening positions with Audyssey turned on and off for comparison. Notably, with Audyssey ON, the frequencies under 100Hz (crossover) are louder than the rest, particularly below 40Hz. This is a combination of me adjusting the sub level from +1.5 to +5 and accounting for some room gain. It appears that the subwoofer’s levels are adequate and the sub is indeed capable. But I wonder how different it would be with a vented subwoofer.

From the measurements, it’s evident that the subwoofer’s performance varies across listening positions, and it’s definitely audible. Personally, I find that it sounds best at position 4, which is my bed, where I often listen to music. However, for movies, I typically sit at position 1. I haven’t yet experimented with the sub EQ, but I intend to do so and report back. My aim is to correct the dip at 50Hz and focus on smoothing out one listening position.

Final thoughts:

I’m still grappling with my doubts about whether to opt for a vented subwoofer. Ideally, I’d love to test both options, and fortunately, with Arendal’s flexibility, I have that possibility. However, I confess that I’m somewhat lazy to go through the process of testing and comparing. Also, the space constraints and budget limitations rule out the 1723 1V and higher models and the features that come with them – better plate amp and bigger driver.

Despite these lingering uncertainties, I’m grateful for the journey so far, as the 1723 1S subwoofer has enhanced my appreciation for high-quality audio in both music and movies.Now, I kindly request your input, particularly from those who have experience with both sealed and ported subwoofers.

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[arkmann]

Deyan thanks for the feedback.  It looks like you made the right choice for your room setup enjoy!

[Lukas]

@Deyan

Try setting the Input gain to 0dB or +6dB and adjust the volume accordingly.
This is the best setting for Denon/Marantz AVRs.

Dips can only be fixed by moving the subwoofer to a different location. You cannot fix it by bumping up an EQ.
Only attenuate frequencies!

[chris-lukowski]

You COULD buy a 1V and do an A/B test before deciding which one to send back, or are you too far outside the return window for the 1S?

[arkmann]

Agree the A/B test is the way to go if you’re in the return time window.  Listening in your room is the only way to be sure.  One thing I’ve read, heard and learned from all my listening is to trust your ears.  Please let us know what you decide to do.

[Deyan]

Return window is very narrow at this point, so I am sticking with it. When Arendal release a new line of subs then I will buy a ported one ;)

[arkmann]

Makes sense.  Then you can audition the ported one and listen if it sounds better to you.  Enjoy!

[neil-h]

Lukas is exactly correct on sub placement. You said you basically have 3 locations you can put a subwoofer. You can’t assume the sub will produce proper bass or much of any at your listening position if you are restricted as to these locations. If your lucky, one or more of your locations may work. If not, and your not willing to move away from one of those locations then it wouldn’t make sense to buy a sub, decide first if your willing to compromise. If the sub is in a bad location, it’s size is really not going to help you. My sub is pulled out into my room EVERY time I listen to music for it is the best location for it. When I’m finished, it gets pushed back out of the way. As far as I’m concerned it’s a small price to pay for great bass. If you add a sub in the proper location, it will make a massive difference in sound, especially when using for home theatre.