Jan Ove Lassesen is the founder of the Norwegian HiFi distributor and retailer Lsound, and it is now more than ten years since our first contact in connection with Lsound`s planned import of SVS. The world is a slightly different Place since then, and Lsound has evolved into a significant Norwegian HiFi player, with a wide range of products in its range.
We just received a press release from Lassesen saying they have started the production of a brand new speaker brand. This is the second new initiative in this sector we are witnessing this year, after this year`s Horten HiFi introduced a breath of fresh air in the form of the giant speakers Thesis, from a few enthusiasts on the other side of the Oslofjord.
Arendal Sound has obviously invested heavily into this Project, and have already from the start a complete speaker series with a total of 7 models, in addition to a distinctive stand for rack model. We are talking about Speaker Series 1723, which is named after the year in which Arendal was granted city status.
The speaker series is developed and based on a total of 4 different speaker drivers, including the 13.8-inch large woofers that sits in the three subwoofer models. And a 4-inch full-range element used in a dipole construction in the model 1723 Surround.
The tweeter is a 28mm synthetic soft dome, where the soft dome is produced by Dr. Kurt Mueller in Germany. Around this tweeter Arendal Sound have constructed a Waweguide, whose mission is to optimize the spread in the upper octaves. Treble element is Highpassed as low as 1500 Hz, which is assumed to be an advantage in a two-way design that uses partners measuring eight inches in diameter.
Arendal Sound claims to have placed high emphasis on quality at all levels, not least in the cabinets, where it is used extra dimension of HDF panels in the front baffle. Cabinet fronts also have a tilt of 2.5 degrees, which in addition to being a characteristic design element also is assumed to be tuned in relation to elements mutually phace linearity.
Tuning in bass range is also devoted special attention, since it is up to 3 bass ports (in the tower), but also the option to plug one or more (all) of those. Arendal Sound emphasizes that the most natural bass response maay be achieved with closed cabinet. This provides a higher rounding off on paper, but will still be able to provide better response in the very deep area, since rounding is much more gentle than with open ports. Adaptation to space and location are also important parameters.
All full rank models have apparently elaborate biwiringterminaler, where we apreciate the fact that it is stated separately impedance for treble and bass input. Useful information if you should woish to go biamping, a move that other manufacturers could learn from.
The enclosures are available in four different finishes - black and white, in matt or high gloss finish.
1723 Tower.
This is the floor model in the series, and is a 2½-way construction. In addition to their tweeters we find 4 pcs. of 8-inches, where the top two play in the upper bass and midrange register, from 120 to 1500 Hz. The two elements at the bottom take over below 120Hz. These speakers are no leightweeights - weight per speaker is 46 kg!
The sensitivity of the 1723 Tower is high, claimed to be 92dB. The frequency response within + - 3dB is provided to 55-20000 Hz with closed cabinet, while rounding at -3dB lowered to 34 Hz with 2 ports and 38 Hz with Three ports open.
Price on 1723 Tower is from NOK 25.000, - pr. couple.
1723 Monitor.
1723 Monitors are standmount models, but thois is not Your average Bookshelf monitor. The thoughts ase headed towards the elderly, often British standmount models, with a cabinet volume likely to surpass the smallest floor speakers of today. A match weight of 23 kg is then also very untypical forstandmount speakers, and is this high both due to its size, but also because of a very rigid cabinet.
Monitor 1723 is a pure two-way Construction, where the midrange / woofers are placed symmetrically on either side of the tweeter element. Sensitivity is here typically reduced to 89 dB, while the bass response is respectively 58Hz as closed speaker, and 34Hz with two gates open.
An interesting feature with stand model is that Arendal Sound has developed a specially designed stand for this model - 1723 Stand. There is a cabinet that can be easily confused with a speaker cabinet, and which can be filled with sand to provide extra weight, stability and resonance damping. The cabinet has the same angle of 2.5 degrees as the speaker has, and together these will emerge as a kind guvlhøyttaler with an elegance that perhaps surpasses 1723 Tower.
Price on 1723 Monitor are from NOK 15.000, - for the pair, depending on the finish. 1723 Stand costs from 6.000, - pr. pair.
1723 Center
This center speaker is obviously a modified version of the 1723 Monitor, and the modifications also seem to be cosmetic and practical by nature. The only differences we have been registering is the logo in the front and the text on the back plate being rotated. Perhaps insignificant details, but important to underpin the premium feeling Arendal Sound obviously intends to fulfill.
1723 Center costs from NOK. 8000, depending on the finish.
1723 Surround.
This is the model that differs most from the other models. Partly because of the fact that they here introduced a different element in addition to the 28mm tweeter and eight inch. For this dipole structure has Arendal Sound chosen to use a 4-inch full-range element on each side of the inclined side walls.
The speaker is otherwise obviously primarily intended for a wall-mounted position. Or ceiling mounted, for in our time also ceiling loudspeakers are an actual topic in conjunction with Dolby Atmos, DTS: X and Auro-3D.
1723 Surround costs from NOK 12.000, - pr. couple.
Subwoofers.
Although many use subwoofers also in stereo setup, it is not possible to reject that it is primarily in home theaters subwoofers have the greatest prevalence. So when Arendal Sound already from say one have designed 3 different models, it is very reasonable to assume that the home theater has been at the forefront of consciousness. But that does not mean that these models can`t function excellent in a HighEnd stereo setup.
The three models all use the same 13.8 inch woofer. These are being driven by class-D modules, built around DSPs from Texas Instruments.
1723 Subwoofer 1 has an amplifier at 500W, and has stated frequency response down to 20 Hz using tuning from Equalizer, and down to 34 Hz in natural form.
1723 Subwoofer 1 costs from NOK 8.000, -.
1723 Subfoofer 2 has the dual effect compared to its kid brother. Here we are rounding at 32Hz, if no Equalizer is beiong used.
The price of 1723 Subwoofer 2 are from NOK 14.000, -.
1723 Subwoofer 3 is the flagship model, and here Arendal Sound has been decided to introduce a port, with the associated potential for increased frequency response at the bottom. Without equalizer it stretches down to respectively 25 and 28 Hz with or without open port. With equalizer activated the same numbers are down to respectively 17 and 20Hz. Honoring we move under what is defined as audible area with open bass port!
1723 Sobwoofer 3 cost from NOK 17.000,-.
Read more about 1723 series at Arendal Sound
