
1723 THX 5.2 – Top Choice 2023 – AVS Forum
The Arendal 1723 THX speakers should be at the top of your shortlist whether you want speakers for a dedicated home theater or speakers that will outperform with every movie you watch.
Full reviewEISA (the Expert Imaging and Sound Association) is the unique worldwide association of over 60 special interest magazines and websites that test and report on hi-fi, home theatre, in-car electronics, mobile devices and photography from 29 countries.
The Arendal 1723 THX speakers should be at the top of your shortlist whether you want speakers for a dedicated home theater or speakers that will outperform with every movie you watch.
Full reviewBest Mid-Priced Bookshelf Speakers! 2021 Audioholics Product of the Year Award Winners!
Full reviewEISA (the Expert Imaging and Sound Association) is the unique worldwide association of over 60 special interest magazines and websites that test and report on hi-fi, home theatre, in-car electronics, mobile devices and photography from 29 countries.
Full reviewEISA (the Expert Imaging and Sound Association) is the unique worldwide association of over 60 special interest magazines and websites that test and report on hi-fi, home theatre, in-car electronics, mobile devices and photography from 29 countries.
Full review"This speaker is one of the most visceral punching bass monsters I have seen.”
Full reviewThe Arendal excels in transient attack, speed, neutrality, dynamic response, and versatility across music genres, showcasing impressive resolution and speed compared to the Buchardt S400 MK2, Monitor Audios Gold 100, and KEF LS50 meta.
Full reviewIt's all here in these 1961 speakers. Music, movies, games... Any good mix is reproduced in all its glory. The system is nothing short of astonishing.
Full reviewThe Arendal 1723 SUB 2V is a real "beast" and an ultimate recommendation for true home cinema enthusiasts!
Full review"I am happy to add the Arendal 1961 Center/Monitor speaker to my recommended list. It is the most perfect MTM speaker I have tested and oozes good engineering and quality execution.
Full reviewThe Arendal Sound 1723 Monitors offer superb sound quality.
Full review"By far, my first recommendation when it comes to this price range. And even above."
Full review"At their current price, the 1961 is built to a higher standard than some higher priced speakers that we've tested."
Full reviewIn light of these strong characteristics, it's no surprise that the Arendal 1723 S series has been rightfully recognized as an AVS Top Choice for 2023.
Full reviewGreat bang for your buck!
Full review"This speaker competes favorably with other premium options and in my personal opinion, flat out beat many of the well-known popular box companies on the market and provide a listening experience that is top-notch and end-game at a reasonable price."
Full review"The subwoofer is a lot of fun, especially in terms of precision and speed."
Full review"I never owned a speaker that does so many things so well and gives you this many options to tailor its sound and blend it into a reference grade, cohesive system, and that in my opinion is what makes the 1723 Tower S so special."
Full review"The speakers transported me to the performance space. It sounded like I was sitting in the best seat in a concert hall for this performance."
Full reviewIf you are looking for a fantastic all-round speaker, it's going to be exceptional for movies, and it is going to be exceptional for music. They've just done a really good job of making an exceptional all-rounder here.
Full review"What makes the 1723 great is the low cost for this level of performance. I think you will have a hard time finding an alternative that competes with it in price performance in bookshelf configuration."
Full reviewIn terms of sound, I don't even know how to describe it: It's awesome, it's fun!
Full review"The Arendal is a modern beauty which will enhance any room, whether it's for music or home theater."
Full reviewTheir sheer solidity, together with their elegant industrial design, raises them to luxury-class products.
Full reviewArendal makes extraordinary speakers and subwoofers, there's simply no other way to say it.
Full review“The speakers produce a large sound stage, great dispersion for anyone listening outside of the sweet spot. Speakers filled my room with sound that was full with great detail in the high-end and surprising amount of bass instruments…”
Full reviewWith a crystal-clear, detailed, dynamic, and amazingly deep sound, the slim Norwegians are definitely an exciting proposition – especially at their more than fair price.
Full review"My home theater has never sounded this good. Budget-friendly, high-quality, for those who are limited in space."
Full review"As long as your room’s not huge, and you can pair that thing with a good subwoofer, it’s going to sound incredible."
Full reviewThey are that good and it is just that simple. It seems that all the praises about Arendals are well deserved.
Full review"I am impressed now. Really impressed. To this veteran’s ears and eyes, the Arendal 1961 Towers are truly special, really way above the norm.
Full reviewEvery time we test Norwegian products, we are accused of being overly positive, but could it simply be that the products made here are so well thought out and proper that they deserve all the praise they get?
Full reviewVery clear with great detail reproduction, pleasantly soft, and never harsh or obtrusive. For me, they are a real insider tip.
Full reviewIs it any good? The answer is yes. A resounding yes. In fact it is the best speaker in my current setup.”
Full review“Definitely look at these towers if you have a family room, or a bedroom, a second room, a garage, and you want some nice speakers that don’t take up too much room.”
Full reviewVery well designed speakers, with a premium finish that is noticeable right out of the box. They offer a neutral and transparent sound, with magnificent dynamics and perfect integration.
Full review1723 S Towers are a superb choice. These can play very loud without strain and prove that the THX badging is more than just a trademarked logo.
Full review"Looking for speakers that are good for both music and movies? Put these on your shortlist."
Full review"The 1723 S have become my favorite home theater speakers so far and that is a BIG deal."
Full review"Best I’ve heard under a 1000$! Good clarity, good delivery, good tone, good detail, good separation as well!"
Full reviewWith the 1723 Sub 2V, Arendal Sound offers a high-performance subwoofer for a very special kind of sophisticated low-frequency spectacle. AV-Magazin tested the Norwegian bass hammer and since then the joyful smile hasn’t left its face.
Full reviewMy overall summary is that these are fantastic speakers and I do truly mean that, and I would run them personally if I lived in a smaller place.
Full reviewI just really do like the speaker. This is one of the better speakers that I’ve tested in this regard.
Full reviewIf you want serious bass performance in your room without a huge box, the 1961 subs are a great choice.
Full reviewThis is the result of years of brainstorming, development, and research, as well as listening to customers, investment in the brand, and solid acoustic engineering principles in first-class construction and finish presented at a particularly high aesthetic level.
Full review“High-end sound and more of a high-end experience.”
Full reviewIt tells me that someone at the company, most likely the owner, just cares a lot about the product.
Full review“We have been very impressed with their speakers that we reviewed, we are really impressed with this subwoofer. We think these guys make a really good speaker package, very high performance, very high value, very honest.”
Full reviewArendal continues to deliver interesting home cinema products, but they play music just as impressively. Even if the speakers in this case are very compact there is still a lot of, and cool sound to hear.
Full reviewArendal Sound has delivered another knock-out product. This is a truly extraordinary performance. The 1723 2V added a foundation that doesn’t become apparent until you remove it. The technology and sophistication are second to none in its price class.
Full reviewCongratulation to Arendal for the 1723 Monitor THX winning both the Pursuit Perfect System Best in Class Award and the serious Bang for Buck Award.
Full reviewThe Arendal 1723 THX surround system is an unqualified success from almost every standpoint I can imagine. Incredible value and highly recommended!
Full review“This is extremely high value for what you’re going to get.”
Full reviewIt’s a subwoofer that manages to sound really big and powerful but on the other hand also takes on a much more subtle role as part of the sound system.
Full reviewThe sound is the best in the test and on top of it the cabinet's shape is designed so that this large subwoofer does not take up much space.
Full reviewThe subwoofer has the nice ability to disappear completely from its physical placement and just exist in the room, due to the solidly built box and completely free from distorting sounds.
Full reviewArendal Sound has managed it again, and made their 1961 series to one of the winners in the price range. You get a lot of fun for your money!”
Full reviewArendal delivers – the price taken into consideration, an amazing value for the money with a performance and build quality, which one normally won’t see ANYWHERE NEAR this price range.
Full reviewFor any home theater enthusiast that is really passionate about great sound!
Full reviewIf you want to enjoy home cinema sound at the highest level and physically feel powerful, precise low-frequency sound, the 1723 S2 subwoofer from Arendal is ideal.
Full reviewWith the new 1961 series, Arendal now offers the proven technology and thrilling sound of the 1723 models at a remarkably fair price.
Full reviewWith the new 2V in the 1723 series, Arendal delivers sub-bass on a very high level, and all things considered for a very reasonable price.
Full reviewArendal Sound continues to impress, and Subwoofer 1S is not an exception. With very flexible adjustability and impressive control, this subwoofer belongs in both hi-fi setups as well as the home cinema.
Full reviewThese are serious speakers built and finished to a high standard. You will never think: “This is a bit cheap”.
Full reviewWith 1961, Arendal has a system that not only is considerably cheaper than the 1723 sisters, there are also speakers that fit perfectly in everything from really small to fairly large room
Full reviewIt takes little time at all to realise this system is pretty special. It's a revealing, full-range performance
Full reviewReal home theater speakers should also be able to satisfy picky ears when playing music. This is demanding, but Arendal delivers masterfully.
Full reviewThey may be some of the best looking speakers I've seen in a while
Full reviewThe 1723 Subwoofer 1 provides a lot of home-cinema fun because its tight and precise way to catapult bass impulses through the listening room can indeed thrill you.
Full reviewArendal 1723 Monitor S speaker systems are designed primarily for home theater systems, even highlighting THX certification.
Full reviewArendal Sounds new subwoofer 1061 1S delivers a lead-heavy, firm and controlled bass with powerful pressure. It is difficult to think that any competitor could do it much better at this price point
Full reviewThe new Arendal Sound 1961 subwoofers deliver a tight, mighty and highest-quality bass with an impressive power handling within this price range.
Full reviewArendal Sound Bookshelf S is one impressively playful, lively, competent and engaging compact speaker!
Full reviewIt’s a sub that digs deep, hits hard but retains control – and can be tailored to your room.
Full reviewThe robust and bulky subwoofer is capable of producing wall-shaking sound pressure and good sound quality.
Full reviewI haven’t had them for very long but both subwoofers impress me very much! Tight, authoritatively and heavy bass summarizes the impressions where 1V gives an even more physical experience than the small 1S.
Full reviewThe performance that the Arendal system provided in our environment and in our laboratory is not trivial and does not fall into the category of speakers below 2,000 euros.
Full reviewThe 5.1 system of Arendal delights us in our test with outstanding musicality and a highly dynamical ability despite of the compact format.
Full reviewWhen we start playing some music, I am not surprised that these speakers have some very good all-round characteristics. On the other hand, I am quite surprised of how much I enjoyed classical music on them
Full reviewIncredibly good work down there in the Southern part of Norway - it should not be easy to match the price tag, the great quality feeling and the amazing sound of the Arendal Sound 1723 Bookshelf S THX Ultra
Full reviewPurely tonal and basically with all the hifi parameters taken into consideration, for the price close to completion.
Full reviewThe 1723 Subwoofer 1 provides a lot of home-cinema fun because its tight and precise way to catapult bass impulses through the listening room can indeed thrill you.
Full reviewhe build quality and finish is nothing short of excellent for the price, and the speakers are very thoughtfully designed. When it comes to the exterior, the gloss lacquer finish is particularly handsome.
Full reviewIf you're looking for a pair of speakers that show remarkable agility both in music and movies, 1723 Tower THX is a brilliant choice.
Full reviewEven driven to reference levels which is normally too loud for my ears the 1723s never distorted or cracked under pressure. This cant be said of other popular brands that I have heard.
Full reviewArendal Sound Bookshelf S is an impressively good sounding, lifelike, competent and engaging compact speaker.
Full review1723 Monitor S scores the most points in combination with movies and music, but it is a hifi-speaker that stands out really well in the price range.
Full reviewArendal Sound has put together a system that for the time being is the most impressive you can experience in this price range.
Full reviewArendal has delivered another Highlight for home cinema enthusiasts with its 1723 Monitor S THX system. Being only marginally less dynamical than the bigger “sister models”, the Monitor S system plays with extreme precision and can also show off with a THX license.
Full reviewSubwoofer 3 sounds breathtaking and violent and with surplus in heaps, and it plays movies and music equally well. You decide. Subwoofer 3 delivers.
Full reviewThe brand Arendal already caused quite a furore with the 1723 system back in summer 2017. Now they raise the stakes presenting the 1723 Monitor S, an equally powerful speaker set including THX certificate, but in a more compact package.
Full reviewWe can honestly say that Arendal's 1723 S truly is one of the most convincing home theater speaker systems in its price class.
Full reviewNorwegian Arendal is a newcomer goes from clarity to clarity. 1723 in the latest variant is a serious loudspeaker system in relatively compact form, that even has THX certification and sounds exceptionally good!
Full reviewWith a price well below 1.000 EUR and despite the manageable size of this 1723 Subwoofer 1, Arendal is offering a remarkably powerful deep-bass performer that can easily take on larger competitors.
Full reviewThe brand Arendal already caused quite a furore with the 1723 system back in summer 2017. Now they raise the stakes presenting the 1723 Monitor S, an equally powerful speaker set including THX certificate, but in a more compact package.
Full reviewWhen we are talking about clean and effortless deep bass, we have hardly heard it better than this “doomsday machine” from arendal.
Full reviewAn open, energetic and entertaining speaker that is impressive in combination between movies and music.
Full reviewI would rate this first Arendal Sound surround set as a big entrance. Essentially conceived for the sound reproduction in home cinemas, this set delivers more than enough arguments to stand up to a fierce competition
Full reviewWhat nevertheless impresses is the calm, relaxed and undaunted way it plays music, and that it still manages to render each and every hit of the drums and every single blow with palms and fingers.
Full reviewArendal Sound has managed to shrink the loudspeaker a lot without losing dynamics, sound signature and the great soundstage. An impressive loudspeaker!
Full reviewWe found out that the Norwegian loudspeakers are really exciting. The Arendal 1723 display a big and mighty appearance and then show a really superior sound, capable of handling any situation.
Full reviewWith a big and mighty visual appearance, the Arendal 1723 Tower displays a superior musical performance that can cope with any listening situation.
Full reviewOne of the most compelling speakers in this price range. Especially for the one who wants to mix SPL and finesse.
Full reviewWith the 1723 system, Arendal has delivered a real highlight for home-cinema fans. The extreme dynamics, the effortless precision and the flawless finish make the Arendal system a real recommendation for ambitious movie fans.
Full reviewArendal Sound’s smallest subwoofer is externally quite bald but no-nonsense, and rationally constructed. Its’ frequency range reaches low and is tuneful.
Full reviewListening to this system brought a smile to our face and reminded us of how good a 5.1 system can sound when done correctly.
Full reviewArendal has with the 1723 created a glorious masterpiece, a very good all-rounder, which is easy to control, easy to operate, easy to live with.
Full reviewIt puts a smile on our face, this is really good! No matter what system we are currently using the sub with, and regardless of the eq and closed / ported box, the sub base is seamlessly integrated in a rarely heard way.
Full reviewWith 1723 Monitor Arendal Sound has created a speaker that impresses grand as music renderer in stereo. It also is an outstanding home theater speaker you can take as a pure bonus!
Full reviewExtremely dynamic and detailed in a way that makes the experience even more intense, it will surely give Arendal many fans, especially people who come from car stereo or live audio.
Full reviewThere are a lot of speakers made and some are better than others for use in a home theater. It’s the case with Arendal Sound that it is very good on music and totally amazing at home theater.
Full review1723 Monitor’s sound matches well the image conveyed by its’ looks: big and dynamic. Colorations are delightfully minimal, and the speaker seems like quite a universal sound reproducer.
Full reviewAfter we reviewed the larger Tower, we were so impressed that it was not particularly fun to test cheaper floorstanding speakers. Now it’s time for the smaller "bookshelf speakers"; The Monitor. They simply make a mockery of everything else that is designed for stands or shelf placement similarly priced.
Full reviewIt's not often we hear so insanely tough home cinema like this. Arendal Sound takes the soundstage and just thrusts it into the room. The subwoofer especially hammers and shakes the whole body loose, without even trying.
Full reviewI am impressed with what Arendal's achievements with Subwoofer 1. It is flexible, very versatile and easy to integrate. In the price class it challenges absolute everything else on the market, and even our reference similarly priced under ten thousand.
Full reviewFor such a big speaker it shows a lot of refinement and ability for details, however it also has a mid bass and a deep bass that you nearly can’t find any other place in this price region.
Full reviewA Norwegian made subwoofer that makes life exceptionally hard for many foreign competitors. A lot of fun and entertainment for the price!
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