Pure Fun to Listen To
Arendal Sound continues to develop exciting products and this time takes a step down from the very impressive 1528 Bookshelf 8, saving a little here and there, yet still delivering a highly entertaining and great‑sounding new bookshelf speaker – the Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8.
At this point it is worth reminding readers that Arendal does not think quite like everyone else. This also applies to how they categorize their speakers. We can hardly recall having tested a “bookshelf” speaker that fits less well on a bookshelf than the Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf. This is such a powerful, potent, and fairly large compact speaker that it requires a very solid and well‑designed shelving system to be placed in a way that allows it to reach its full potential. This is a true stand‑mount speaker, and it should not be placed on just any stand either, but preferably on one that is heavy and stable enough to properly support this powerhouse.
Robust Construction
The integrated tweeter and midrange unit may not look particularly special at first glance, but the road from concept to finished product is long. Choosing the appropriate drivers, which in turn determine the shape of the waveguide for the tweeter and the design of the perforated grilles placed in front of each driver, results in an enormous number of possible variations. This generates a vast number of simulations and thousands of measurements of all critical parameters before a final decision can be made – an important one, as everyone will understand.
The cabinets are built with a front baffle that is a full 46 mm thick, consisting of multiple thin layers of HDF (high‑density fiberboard) to prevent resonances. The baffle is also slightly angled vertically so that it is aimed directly at the listener, giving the drivers optimal phase and transient response. The radius of the front is shaped to match a listening distance of four meters. This does not mean you must sit exactly four meters away to get a good listening experience; if you sit closer, the only effect is that the speaker behaves more like a conventional straight cabinet with a flat baffle.
The rest of the cabinet consists of 18 mm thick HDF panels with internal bracing. The bass port is located on the rear, and the port tube itself is bent inside the cabinet to fit, as it is longer than the cabinet depth.
The finish is the same as on the 1528 series and is available in Polar (white) and Basalt (dark gray), with all visible parts in matching colors.
Drivers
The tweeter is a 28 mm unit with an aluminum‑magnesium diaphragm, driven by a powerful neodymium magnet with an internal copper shorting ring to ensure high efficiency and the ability to handle substantial power while maintaining low distortion.
The 5‑inch midrange driver features a carbon fiber diaphragm that is both extremely light and stiff. This driver also uses a copper shorting ring and a powerful magnet system. There is no hiding the fact that this speaker has impressive dynamic capabilities, and it takes a great deal of power before it shows any signs of compression or audible distortion. That simply does not happen without a midrange driver capable of taking serious punishment.
As with the 1528 Bookshelf, the bass driver is a hefty 8 inches – and you can clearly hear it. This is somewhat unusual for a speaker in the bookshelf category, but it is necessary to achieve genuinely deep bass. The 1610 Bookshelf has a response down to 43 Hz at ‑3 dB and reaches as low as 34 Hz at ‑6 dB when used as a bass‑reflex design. In sealed mode, it delivers usable response down to 44 Hz (‑6 dB). With a little help from room acoustics, this speaker sounds more like a medium‑sized floorstander than a compact bookshelf model.
The bass has long excursion capability and handles very high volume levels, something that becomes obvious as soon as you turn up the volume. In a home environment, it is more than sufficient for all purposes, and with a pair of subwoofers there is little more one could wish for in a home theater setup. It is not often that relatively affordable stand‑mount speakers can play this loud without audible distortion. Part of this is due to a powerful motor system, but the internal ribs in the outer suspension also clearly contribute to a cleaner and more controlled sound.
Crossover
The crossover is set at 330 Hz between bass and midrange, and at 2300 Hz between midrange and tweeter. The crossover network, which we had the opportunity to inspect during a visit to Arendal, is surprisingly substantial and built using high‑quality components. There is extensive use of air‑core inductors, heat sinks, and polypropylene capacitors, all terminating in a pair of rhodium‑plated copper speaker terminals.
The result is a speaker with a nominal impedance of 4 ohms and a sensitivity of 85 dB/1 W. Impedance dips slightly below 4 ohms in the 100–250 Hz range. This suggests that the speaker benefits from a capable amplifier to play with control and authority. Using an Electrocompaniet ECi 6 mkII rated at 125 watts, the speakers came very much alive, although they consistently seem to ask for just a bit more. Even when connected to a Hegel H600 and played louder than usual, they still feel ready for more. While this may not be critical for all potential buyers, generous dynamic headroom is never a bad thing.
Big, Impressive Sound
Even with high expectations, I was slightly surprised by how much of the 1528 series Arendal has managed to incorporate into the 1610 Bookshelf, while successfully concealing the compromises. This model is a bit more relaxed than the 1528 Bookshelf, but also slightly less demanding and analytical. At the same time, you lose very little information and even less of the entertainment value of the more expensive series.
The dynamic capabilities deserve special mention. The speakers hit hard, fast, and precisely, and it has been a long time since I experienced such a physical presentation from a so‑called stand‑mount speaker. The impact is particularly prominent in the mid‑bass. Play a track with well‑recorded percussion – especially snare drum – and this becomes immediately apparent.
I’m playing Tower of Power’s “Souled Out,” the speakers deliver an immensely entertaining soundstage with believable vocals and exceptionally precise, highly realistic brass. The attack and dynamics of the percussion are particularly impressive, and it is always a pleasure to hear a speaker that can reproduce the syncopations of a baritone saxophone as clearly as this. Equally impressive is the ability to play Tower of Power with authority and weight without becoming fatiguing.
I also cue up “Deeper” by Pete Belasco. This track goes deep enough that most conventional bookshelf speakers trim off the lowest frequencies – but the 1610 Bookshelf is not a conventional bookshelf speaker. It follows the music impressively far down the frequency range, delivering both weight and control.
Some claim that Arendal Sound speakers are primarily intended for rhythmic music and movie soundtracks, but the 1610 Bookshelf does not entirely agree. It plays openly, detailed, and refined when I put on Magnificat: “Et misericordia.” The strings are genuinely beautiful, and when the Nidaros Cathedral Girls’ Choir enters, a wave of goosebumps is unavoidable – and very welcome – telling us just as much about the experience as all the technology involved.
To remove any remaining doubt, it delivers an irresistible rendition of Infected Mushroom’s “Heavyweight,” a highly rhythmic track filled with synthetic sounds, effects, and surprisingly heavy guitars. It is hard to imagine a tougher challenge for a “bookshelf speaker,” yet even at fairly high volume levels, the speaker seems to be asking for more.
Conclusion
Arendal Sound has truly succeeded with the 1610 Bookshelf. It sounds excellent and offers a wealth of smart and well‑engineered solutions. Most impressive, however, is its performance‑to‑price ratio.
There are many excellent speakers in the price range below NOK 70–80,000, but few in this size category offer such an irresistible combination of dynamics, precision, resolution, and the ability to draw the listener deeply into the music.
Stereo+ verdict:
The Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf delivers impressive weight and dynamics, combined with surprising musicality.
