"The build quality of the 1528 loudspeakers is so exceptional that other manufacturers would easily charge double Arendal’s prices."
Audioholics has reviewed ALL of Arendal Sound’s loudspeakers and consistently found them to be excellent performers for the price. We were surprised by their foray into the high-end market with the launch of the 1528 product line—what could they do to surpass the mighty 1723 THX-certified series? With the product in hand, we found out.
The build quality of the 1528 loudspeakers is so exceptional that other manufacturers would easily charge double Arendal’s prices. Yet, delivering overbuilt quality at a reasonable price is what Arendal is known for. The 1528 Tower is astonishing: impeccable build quality, extreme dynamic range, excellent directivity, and highly linear response with deep bass extension down to the low 20Hz range. Their waveguide loaded lithium-magnesium tweeter provides the transparency of some of the best AMT tweeters to give you the full spectrum of sound from lows to highs. At $9.5k per pair, it’s expensive, but no other manufacturer offers such robust, massive loudspeakers at this price.
The corresponding center speaker also deserves recognition. While many manufacturers skimp on their center speakers, Arendal’s massive 1528 Center matches the performance of its left and right counterparts.
The 1528 Bookshelf speakers defy expectations for their category. At 66 lbs each, they weigh more than many mid-sized tower speakers. Tuned to around 22Hz, the 1528 Bookshelf 8 delivers full-range, tower-like sound in a more compact form—provided they’re paired with ample amplifier power.
The 1528 Monitors push the boundaries further, offering deeper bass and greater dynamic range than most tower speakers while remaining stand-mounted (review forthcoming).
These speakers aren’t cheap, but they offer exceptional value for their performance. The main caveats are their size, weight, and power requirements. Since they trade sensitivity for bass extension, they need plenty of amplifier power (200+ watts per channel at 4 ohms) to perform at their best. Backed by Arendal Sound’s generous 60 day trial demo period, they offer NO risk to audiophiles wanting to achieve next level audiophile performance in a cost no object speaker series. View original
