"They’re incredible speakers, perfect for enjoying our favorite movies as well as for listening to music at a truly high level. A truly spectacular set, both in terms of build quality and sound performance."
Almost three years ago (wow, time flies), I had the chance to test the Arendal Sound 1961, the entry-level series in the speaker range from the now well-known Norwegian manufacturer. And as you can see in my review, I loved them. That made me wonder what the higher-end speaker series from this brand would be capable of, if the entry-level model was already spectacular. So, after waiting a reasonable amount of time, I got back in touch with Arendal to see if I could test their premium lineup, the 1723 S THX Series. And as always, they were super friendly and told me it wouldn’t be a problem.
So, I had the opportunity to spend several weeks testing the speakers from the Arendal Sound 1723 S THX series. Yes, with an S at the end. Let me explain. The 1723 THX Series comes in two “formats,” so to speak. There’s the standard 1723 THX and the 1723 S THX. The manufacturer realized that perhaps the 1723 THX series speakers were excessively large for a typical room, so they created a slightly more compact version of the series. And what better name than 1723 S THX, right? Since my space is limited, I asked them to send me the slightly more “compact” models.
It’s worth pointing out right from the start that even though this series has the “S” suffix, it actually maintains the same waveguide and tweeter, the same HDF cabinet construction, the same paint options, the same Spike kit, and the same crossover quality as the 1723 THX Series.
Just like when I tested the 1961s, the manufacturer sent me a super complete package, consisting of the 1723 Tower S THX floorstanding speakers, the 1723 Center S THX center speaker, the 1723 Surround S THX surround speakers, the 1723 Height S Atmos speakers, and the 1723 Subwoofer 1S. They also sent it with a mix of colors so I could see both the white and black finishes.
Getting the chance to test such a complete set is a real luxury, as it allows you to enjoy the same tonal character across all speakers and evaluate how the full system performs together. This is without a doubt the ideal setup for any home theater configuration, even though it’s not always feasible. So first of all, I want to thank Arendal Sound and their team for sending the product for review and for once again trusting AVPasión.
With that said, after testing this system for several weeks, I’m going to share what these 1723 S THX series speakers from Arendal Sound are like and how well they perform. Let’s begin!
Design: I Don’t Think the “S” Stands for “Small”
The story of Arendal Sound I already told you in the review of the Arendal Sound 1961, so if you don’t know the brand and you’re curious, you can take a look at that. So let’s jump straight into the design. When you see the “S” suffix in a speaker line that has a “big brother,” it’s logical to think that the S stands for Small, in other words, the smaller version. And I don’t doubt that the 1723 S THX are smaller than the 1723 THX, but small they are not. I could tell that even before taking them out of the box.
Arendal speakers ooze quality from every angle. They don’t feature an especially flashy or risky design—it’s quite classic—but the manufacturer prioritizes material quality and construction type. The cabinet is made of HDF (high-density fiberboard), and you can feel it the moment you pick up the first speaker. They are beautiful, elegant, and very robust. They’re available in matte black and matte white, both with excellent quality.
On the back of each speaker, we find binding posts made of copper, not brass or other metals with lower conductivity. These posts are then molded and polished, ensuring smooth operation and a clean look. Each post is designed to accommodate standard cable connections, including banana plugs, spade connectors, pin connectors, and bare wire. They also look spectacular in terms of quality.
Additionally, all the speakers come with custom-made grilles that use perforated metal wrapped in black fabric, with the manufacturer’s logo also magnetically placed in its designated spot. Of course, the grilles are attached using neodymium magnets, which I must say provide quite a strong hold, effectively preventing unwanted movement and vibrations during playback.
Setup: a 5.1.2 channel system
I don’t usually do this in my reviews because it’s not common for a manufacturer to lend such a complete set, but since I’ve had the chance to test all the speakers in the series, I thought it would be best to give a brief description of each one beyond the general design, which, as you’d expect, is shared by all the models.
The first thing we should know is that all the speakers in the 1723 S THX series are equipped with a 28 mm synthetic soft dome tweeter with a custom-matched waveguide. The soft dome is very lightweight, while the waveguide is designed to optimize the performance of an already excellent tweeter.
The 1723 Tower S THX are floorstanding speakers that, in addition to the mentioned tweeter, include four 6.5-inch woofers, based on the 8-inch driver used in the 1723 THX series models. There is one woofer at the top, followed by the tweeter, and below it, the other three woofers. They also feature two rear bass reflex ports, which can be sealed using foam plugs that are included.
It’s important to note that these are 4-ohm speakers with a sensitivity of 89 dB. According to the manufacturer’s data, the 1723 Tower S THX can handle a frequency range of 49Hz–20kHz in sealed mode, 39Hz–20kHz with one port open, and 35Hz–20kHz in vented mode (both ports open).
Beyond the technical specs, I can tell you that despite the “S” in their name, these are quite large speakers. They measure 98 cm in height, 24.5 cm in width, and have a depth of 32 cm; plus a not-insignificant weight of 31.3 kg per speaker. So, if you’re considering them for a tight space, be sure to take careful measurements before purchasing.
Also worth noting is that once the bottom stand is attached, the speaker sits slightly tilted backward—something characteristic of Arendal’s design. This angle is theoretically intended to provide better integration of the different drivers.
And if you’re taking measurements before deciding on the towers, be mindful of the center channel in the 1723 S THX system. The 1723 Center S THX is a sizable center speaker, especially in terms of height and weight. It measures 24.5 cm tall, 56.9 cm wide, and has a depth of 32 cm, with a weight of 18.7 kg. So make sure to check the dimensions of your furniture—it’s larger than it might seem.
Other than that, it’s equipped with the same tweeter and two 6.5-inch woofers identical to those used in the floorstanding speaker. And like that one, it’s a vented model, with two rear bass reflex ports. It also has an impedance of 4 ohms and a sensitivity of 88.7 dB. Additionally, it’s capable of reaching down to 46Hz in fully vented mode.
Having covered the front trio, let’s move on to the rest of the speakers. The 1723 Surround S THX are TriAxial-design speakers, which allows for a wider and more dynamic soundstage. However, this also results in a rather unique design that might not fit all spaces. Still, they come fully prepared to be wall-mounted, with special brackets that let you secure the speaker safely.
And trust me, you’ll need them. The 1723 Surround S THX are quite large and heavy, so be very careful when mounting them. Each speaker weighs 13.7 kg and measures 37.1 cm wide and 38.5 cm tall, with a depth of 17.5 cm.
Acoustically, they feature the series’ tweeter mounted on the front, with a 6.5-inch woofer right below it. Additionally, on each side they include full-range 4-inch dipole drivers, directly inherited from the original 1723 Surround models. The 1723 Surround S THX have a 4-ohm impedance, a sensitivity of 84 dB, and a frequency response of 59 Hz–20 kHz (+/-3 dB).
Next, let’s take a look at the Arendal 1723 Height S, the height speakers in the series. And I can tell you—they’re the largest height speakers I’ve ever seen. I was actually a bit shocked when I first laid eyes on them. Like the surround speakers, they come with a special mounting system, since they’re not really designed to sit on top of the towers (you can do it, but they don’t look right and weren’t made for that purpose).
They measure 36.2 x 24.5 x 28.2 cm (height x width x depth) and weigh 11.2 kg, so that also needs to be taken into account when mounting them. As is often the case, they have a slanted design so they can be mounted either on the ceiling or high up on a wall.
On the more technical side, the Arendal 1723 Height S is equipped with the same tweeter mentioned earlier and a 6.5-inch woofer. Like the rest of the series, it has an impedance of 4 ohms, a sensitivity of 84 dB, and a frequency response of 65Hz–20kHz.
Lastly, to complete the 1723 S THX system, the brand also sent me the 1723 Subwoofer 1S. The 1723 series includes four different subwoofer models: 1S, 1V, 2S, and 2V. So, as you might guess, the 1S is the smallest of them all. Even so, we’re talking about a subwoofer that features a 13.8-inch driver. It’s also equipped with the smart Avalanche 800 IQ amplifier, which easily delivers 800 watts of power without distortion.
It has a sealed design, with the woofer located on one side. The 1723 Subwoofer 1S measures 48 x 33.5 x 45 cm (height x width x depth) and weighs 24.5 kg. Despite being sealed, the manufacturer assures us that the 1S is capable of going down to 18 Hz when using EQ1 (it has two other EQ settings available).
And speaking of configurations, one of the standout features of the Subwoofer 1S is its rear control panel with a 1.8-inch screen that replaces the usual adjustment dials. But beyond that, the subwoofer is also compatible with Arendal’s new app, which allows you to adjust most settings conveniently from your phone.
When I reviewed the 1961 series, I mentioned that the only thing I didn’t like about the subwoofer’s screen system was that once the speaker was in place, the screen ended up at the back, making it inconvenient to access. This also happens with the 1723 1S, but it’s not as much of an issue thanks to the app-based control. So it’s really not a problem.
Sound quality: high-flying home theater
During the time I had the Arendal Sound 1723 S THX, I tested them with two AV receivers: the Marantz CINEMA 30 and the NAD T778. I didn’t have any trouble powering the speakers with either of them, even though they’re not particularly easy to drive. That said, the “little ones” of the 1723 family deliver truly spectacular sound. The mids are excellent, and the high frequencies are well defined, thanks to Arendal’s outstanding tweeter.
Being able to test the full set allowed me to confirm that they offer superb tonal balance, which helps create a cohesive sound field and allows effects to flow smoothly across the room. The center channel, despite not being a 3-way design, delivers clear dialogue and integrates perfectly with the two floorstanding speakers. Additionally, the surround speakers—with their unique TriAxial setup—enhance the surround effect and create a much more immersive sound without losing focus when needed.
As for the subwoofer, despite being the smallest in the series, it delivers excellent quality. With its sealed design and large driver, it offers outstanding responsiveness, managing to reproduce even the ultra-low frequency from the opening scene of Edge of Tomorrow (I’m sure you know what I mean), without any noise or distortion, always maintaining control.
This 1723 S THX speaker system is capable of capturing every small detail and conveying it with precision and realism. It also offers an exceptional dynamic range, effortlessly transitioning from the softest whisper to the most explosive action with incredible smoothness, precision, and speed. The transition is so fluid that it feels like an organic evolution of the scene rather than a sudden shift in intensity, which clearly highlights the outstanding dynamics of these speakers.
Lastly, even though this system is primarily designed for home theater enjoyment, the 1723 Tower S THX are equally impressive when it comes to music playback. They produce sound with spectacular clarity and can create a very wide and detailed soundstage. Every detail of the instruments and vocals is reproduced with the highest fidelity. An absolute pleasure to listen to.
Conclusions and price
I won’t go on much longer because I think it’s pretty clear that I absolutely loved the Arendal Sound 1723 S THX. They’re incredible speakers, perfect for enjoying our favorite movies as well as for listening to music at a truly high level. A truly spectacular set, both in terms of build quality and sound performance.
Do they have any weaknesses? Well, that depends on your space and your budget. As I mentioned, despite the “S” in their name, these are not small speakers. In fact, they are quite large and especially heavy, so be careful—particularly when it comes to mounting the surround and Atmos speakers. On the other hand, they’re also not budget-friendly speakers, as you might have already guessed.
A quick calculation shows that to assemble the full 1723 S THX system I tested, you’d need to spend 9,050 euros. It’s a high price that not many home theater enthusiasts will be able to afford, but if you’re willing to make the investment, you can be sure you’re getting a top-tier setup. In fact, it’s likely superior to what other brands offer at a similar price point.
For all these reasons, the Arendal Sound 1723 S THX earned our award for Best Home Theater Speakers of 2024 (we cheated a bit since we had already been testing them for a few weeks).
