Recommended!
By Steve Withers.
“Dunkirk’s explosions hit with a visceral LFE impact. The Subwoofer 1 attacks without overstaying its welcome”
The ethos behind the original 1723 lineup of speakers and subwoofers was, says Arendal, simple: to create well-made and great-sounding speakers at an affordable price. If you’ve heard the 1723 Series you’ll know it succeeded in this ambition. The 1723 S Series aims to offer many of the same benefits as the larger speakers but using a smaller footprint.
HDF heroes
Despite the smaller size there’s still an emphasis on build quality, with cabinets constructed from thick layers of high-density fibreboard and extensive internal bracing. The range employs the same custom waveguide and 1in tweeter as Arendal’s more expensive models, and the only major difference is the use of 6.5in pulp fibre bass drivers instead of the original 8in version. The entire package is THX Ultra certified, and features magnetic fabric-wrapped perforated metal grilles and dual binding posts made from Rhodium-plated copper. There’s a choice of matte black and white or gloss black and white finishes.
‘Valhalla, I am coming!’
The speakers are marketed as an alternative to Arendal’s larger models, but there’s nothing small-scale about the performance. As long as you give them enough amplifier power, you’ll be rewarded with a soundstage that’s incredibly dynamic and enjoyable. With Norway on my mind, I kicked things off with a blast of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song (CD). The Monitors demonstrate some excellent stereo imaging, and in combination with the active subwoofer they give that justly famous opening salvo of drums and guitars a driving urgency that’s immediately captivating. These speakers can go deep, but hand off to the subwoofer seamlessly. As soon as the vocals join this pagan party, the woofers and tweeters produce a beautifully defined mid-range and some lovely higher frequencies to accompany Robert Plant’s falsetto delivery. You can almost see the massed Viking hordes heading for Valhalla as they wield the Hammer of the Gods… Convinced the system is capable of delivering the goods in the unbridled joy department, I spun up Gravity (Blu-ray), with its highly directional 5.1 soundmix, to test its tonal balance and detail retrieval. The sound design here shuffles audio effects from speaker to speaker in conjunction with the onscreen action, and in general the Arendal system handles this in a largely seamless fashion, courtesy of those identical tweeters and woofers.
With the opening scene of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Ultra HD Blu-ray), the Arendals make light work of unearthing the smallest of sonic details. Breathing is clearly heard amongst falling rain drops, followed by the subtle sound of apes moving through trees and Michael Giacchino’s choral arrangement rising in the background. All five speakers play their part here, creating an encapsulating, realistic-feeling soundfield. It’s dynamic too. Partnered with my Arcam AVR850, this system’s ability to handle soundtrack theatrics is tested as a herd of deer are startled and the mix bursts into life. The speakers prove more responsive and nimble than I was expecting, handling the sudden transient changes with ease.
The ability of the Arendals to create scale is best exemplified by the Dunkirk scene inside the sinking destroyer. I felt the torpedo tearing through the hull, and as the ship fills with water there’s a terrifying sense of immersion. Without realising it you’ll be holding your breath.
Big(ish) and bold
There’s a degree of blunt force trauma to the overall delivery of this 1723 S 5.1 system, and I mean that in the best possible way. These speakers might use a smaller footprint compared to Arendal’s flagship range, but they still boast beefy, well-constructed cabinets and sound monstrous when driven hard. If you have the room and you can partner them with some commensurate amplification, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
“Not as small as its name suggests, this superbly-built 5.1 system can be driven hard to deliver a dynamic and enjoyable performance.”
