Full marks to Arendal for asking you to do the review knowing it was unlikely to be positive. The pricing of subs, which are not complex beasts, has always mystified me. I buy my subs from BK electronics in the UK. Real wood veneers, class AB plate amps, good drivers. No apps, no bells and whistles but low and high level inputs, come complete with great quality cables and sound fantastic. And they are super affordable. All you need from a sub, really.
The app isn't a deal breaker for me but it frustrates me that different subwoofers get sold out so quick like the 10" RSL Speedwoofer. I signed up for notifications when I could pre order and by the time I saw the email (40 minutes) all speedwoofer pre sales had been claimed. So I now have to jump up to the massive 12" for almost double the price, or look elsewhere. HSU - the VTF2 MK5 has been sold out for a while now. Have to jump $300 for the next sub up, which is too big for my living room. So now 2 of my top picks are gone, or I have to wait another month or two for my next shot at them. Can't find them used either.
I admire that you were honest in your evaluation. I get nervous when reviewers love everything they review. Some don't want to give negative reviews. So what is a consumer to do? I guess if there are no reviews on a product, does that mean everybody hates it? I get confused. I appreciate your honesty. I trust you way more for it.
The App for the sub is really useful. SVS is great, they have the App for the entry level 1000 and 2000 lineup. Arendal unfortunately has the app only for the higher tier, and not for the 1961 lineup.
Nice review. I have the 1961s, two of them, actually. I would have liked the app. That being said, once I dialed them in, the bass hits just right music-wise and home theater-wise. All Blue Jean Cables Denon 3700.. Monolith 7 * 200.. Emotiva basx4 for atmos.... 7.2.4 Arendel 1723s LFC.. Arendal 1723s surrounds.. Arendal 1961s heights.. 2 Arendal 1961s Subwoofer.. Equals 😁😁😁
Actually this sounds great to me as I do not do HT and want music only accuracy and extension. I would not have known or considered this sub without your review. I like your reviews which give me information to make my decision even though it is not to your needs.
I've a small livingroom with 1961 bookshelves and this subwoofer. I love the clean aesthetics, the bass really hits HARD in music. For home theatre I'd indeed go for a ported subwoofer though. However for my small space, these just look so nice and they really perform well for music. For movies it still shakes my room ! But honestly, I am not really into extreme bass during movies.
Gonna say this review was simply not a fair one. I understand this is the Cheap Audio Man’s opinions but I have this sub (well 2 of them actually) and they are beasts. They def are more than capable of giving the in chest feeling, but have to be set up right. For me my denon 3800h just wasn’t able to the 1961 1s subs to sing. So I got dsp mini 2x4 HD and use that to control/calibrate them. There was a world of difference. I actually have to play them pretty low because they can definitely rock the house. Also it depends on the size of the room and placement. If use it in a larger room, one 1961 1s sub just not be enough, but 2 should be able to handle most rooms easily. I really feel this review might mislead people and stop them from buying the subs from Arendal. They are excellent subs and built like tanks, they just might need a little finessing. Lastly, the 1723 line subs all have an app like SVS to calibrate.
Very refreshing hearing someone talk about subwoofers like a normal person. 9 out of 10 people only care for size in relation to output and price. This is expensive, doesn't have a lot of output but is small. Not much for to say🤷🏻♂️
A 15" sub is a sub. Make sure it has XLR outputs and a monster class D amp. You are going to need Mini DSP for anything useful with home theater. Try Starke Sound for the best looking and value sub woofers in the business. Daisy chain XLRs!
I own this sub which I use in bedroom home theatre system in combination with the Magnepan LRS+. It can certainly shake my walls when appropriate. I’m guessing that perhaps the input level control was not set correctly so you were not getting sufficient gain even if you turned up the master level volume control. (Nemo Propaganda also reviewed this and if anything he thought it sometimes hit too hard.)
I have a sub that is a few db more capable than that 1961. I can understand where he's coming from. For music it would be fine, but for HT in medium or large room, where you want a few db headroom? It wouldn't be enough
I can only speak of my own experience- my bedroom is 15 by 13 but with 12 ft high ceilings. Walls shake and I feel the bass in my chest with seemingly low distortion. (Sub has corner placement.) Audioholics reviewed this sub and its vented counterpart with detailed measurements and capabilities.
I forgot to add that I believe the default position re input level is set for avrs. For most preamps, something like the + 7 db setting should be used.
I feel like as soon as they attach a screen to anything these days, it's not going to end well. Why spend that time and money r&d'n a button/screen interface, when you can just have a robust mobile app that can be updated at will. Furthermore, why have a screen that you have to phyiscally crawl on the floor, reach around the back, and look at it upside down to control it? WEIRD!
I'd say he has hearing issues both in top and bottom end.. Musical, fullness and good for movies does exist. Arendals does it all with their series. RSL SW MK2 disappointed me alot for music. Its Okey for movies. If your European stay away from RSL. Price is 8-850$ delivered with taxes and it is only a 450-500$ value. SVS is sold for normal prices in Europe. XTZ range of woofers back to the old 10.17 sounds way better then the RSL..
@@johnsmith-i5j7i I was REALLY torn on what to buy. I watched dozens of reviews. Adorama had them on sale under $1k. I bought 2 and to be honest, my rooms shakes just fine. I am sure there are better, but for the money I spent did okay IMHO.
Hey Randy! Thanks for the review. I've been looking at subs and noticed that the Emotiva SE8 and Emotiva SE12 in your recommendations section are "out of stock". I saw that they do have some others in stock and on a sale. Have you got your hands on the xs8 or xs10 at all?
Thanks for the interesting video! I completely understand wanting a sub that can shake the room, and I agree that's a significant weakness. However, I still would have loved to hear more details about how it performs for music and other non-room-shaking functions.
Agreed. I thought harping on that one feature and desire was a weird way to review a piece of equipment that one might NOT want to perform that way with music. Odd picadillo
I wonder if there is a target price ratio for the components of a hi-fi system. I spend $500 on bookshelf speakers, how much should my amp cost? How much should my sub cost? I bet it could be boiled down into a ratio.
You have to be VERY careful, as often, the higher the price, the more you are taken to the land of hi-fi-diminishing-returns. This is especially true of speakers as you often DON'T get what you pay for. Granted there are some shining examples of good higher priced hi-fi equipment such as the Klipsch legacy line and MacIntosh. You are probably right that there might be some ratio. On one end you do have the ultra cheap crap and yeah, you have to invest some money, but you don't have to break the bank. I would say that spending $1000 on a system, would be a significant improvement. Going up to $5000 even greater yet. But start getting higher than $10k and you enter the land of diminishing returns. Which means you start spending tons of money on something that is only marginally better in performance. So unless you have "golden ears" and really deep pockets, it is an area that few venture into. Most can't as the stuff gets too high priced. I ended up finding Randy and loved this channel and I had bought quite a few pieces based on his reviews. Sadly though, he has been getting into more expensive stuff and it does get out of the line as to what this channel is about. As I have said many times, I don't have an issue with that, just that he puts the higher priced stuff in a different channel.
I don't ALWAYS AGREE with your reviews, but I understand what you are saying. The Value on the product is is lower then the asking price! Thank you for your honesty! Great new set up...nice to see you improve! Now can you concentrate on TOWER SPEAKERS 😊
Hi Randy, what do you think between Elac DBR62 & Polk R200? I majorly listen to hip-hop, pop, rock, found Elac were sooo nice, but a tiny lay back on the treble when having audited (Idol - Yoasobe, and Unravel - Ado). Will the R200s doing better? thx!
Agreed... I am glad I am not the only one who finds the product numbers "naming" confusing. That display on the back is pointless. I am one of the few who don't care how it looks, but how it sounds, for my taste. I own old Rotel, Linn, NAD, and new Emotiva products. See if I care about how those look...
According to Randy, the display on the back is actually a disguised mirror for the Arendal folks to admire their reflection while creating their superior products.
The last time I purchased a subwoofer was, ok gonna show my age here, late 90's by a company named Velodyne from Circuit City... yep I'm old. I can't even remember how much it was. But it was a beast! 12inch sub if I remember correctly.
This is why I appreciate telling the truth, no matter if it's good or bad. With a raving review of the speakers, people may think the subwoofer must be just as good and buy it, then regret it. This way, people know maybe to purchase something else. The head scratching thing on this subwoofer is who needs an EQ on their subwoofer??
Use a standard bathroom scale. Stand on it then pick up the sub/whatever needing info and subtract the initial weight from the total. You then have it on the nose.
Btw. I've once stumbled on a company that focuses on distinctive look much more than what's inside. That is Zale Vox Hi-Fi. Crazy esthetics and many people like the sound too 😅
I own 2 of these, and after a year I am still figuring it out, but it can shake the house. At least I found it a bit loud once, but it was pretty weak in the beginning. They have some settings which I don't remember the name of now, but the power has to be set at full. And I assume anyone making a review has positioning and phase adjustments ticked off on the to-do list. I will get a REL in-house soon now for another room, so I won't say that Arendals are superduper before checking them out, but I would like to point out the fact that their prices are still almost half of what one would have to pay for in a store, so depending on the quality of all components inside I will assume it is no cheesy parts. The app part sucks yes, and I found myself a bit disappointed when I saw the fancy display, but no app functionality. They do have it though as I recall on the higher models. Anyway, just wanted to point out that it took some time before I figured it out. They even have a comment on their help guide for subs on their page with the title "sounds weak", so I guess they are aware that some might not get it at first. Oh btw, as I recall you have reviewed some speakers that I have as having a lot of bass, and I still have them, and all my speakers in the house do benefit from these subs. they are definitely capable, and also they disappear in the room when I got them tuned correctly. And it is very noticeable when I turn them off.
I'm surprised you haven't been inundated with comments letting you know there IS an app, which is quite comprehensive - very similar to the SVS app. The S subs are really aimed at 2-channel music rather than home theatre, the V subs are more for shaking the walls. I have a pair of 1723 1S subs and in Europe their price is on par with much less capable subs like the REL T9X. They sound good for movies, they can break the house down if I crank them up, but that's very much a secondary consideration for me. I play my TV through my 2-channel system. For 2-channel music I don't think there is anything comparable to the Arendal S subs for speed and clarity at their price point. In the USA though I don't think they are great value for money. The 3 subs I was choosing between at my price point was: REL T9X, Arendal 1723 1S, SVS 3000 Micro. In Europe the Arendal were my choice, but in the USA I would definitely have gone with the SVS. Also dude - you didn't check out the manual properly. There is a bit there which you would really like. (Look for how to care for your sub section.) :)
The1961 models do not have the app. As you indicated, the s models work well with Maggies due to their speed and clarity. When I first got this sub, I watched BLADE RUNNER and cranked up the gain to the point that my wife was scared as the room shook too much. But that much bass can’t help but affect perceived nuance and clarity- that’s why I keep the crossover low and still set the gain fairly high.
How do I become a patron? I know it's a stupid question, but I do not see it anywhere. Other channels I see it on the top. Please advise. I love your channel and it has really helped get me back on my hifi journey. I recently retired from the Army and you helped rekindle my passion for audio. Thanks
The 1961 towers and surrounds are fantastic and a serious steal while they are clearing them out. I am using with a REL sub and it's a great combination.
Agreed 100%. For $800-900, I too would get a pair of RSL SpeedWoofer 10S MKII (or the 12S like you said). Way better bang for the buck. I have one 10S MKII on the way and will probably get the second later this year. $50 adds the wireless transmitter to the builtin receivers they come with.
Arendal have same sub as vented. Try that vs your SVS vented sub.. adding this is the low end version from Arendal sub series. Weird how a review entirely focuses on the thing the sealed sub isn't good at 😂. Anyhow you do you and all that, but this was just weird to watch.
I have a non-subwoofer question. An honest question. I can't seem to come up with a good answer myself. My single, 8ohm, 30 watt, 12-inch guitar speaker pushes full range sound at high volume, powered by a 60 watt tube amp. It can scream high frequencies or gently sing some sweet chime-y ones. And it can growl and slam low frequencies into your chest and rattle your teeth. How can one guitar speaker do that while I need 2 or three specialized speakers to reproduce music? Like I said, don't understand it. But I want to.
"dialed" in, in the looses sense. 99.9% of you have no idea how to dial in a sub properly. P.S., I'd buy the Arendal over the RSL because the RSL is too big and ugly af. You can get sealed subs shaking your walls too, you just need to know how to dial it in properly.
I agree with Randy’s point on their website. It sucks. It would have been nice to hear his thoughts on what this sub sounds like on musics paired to some small bookshelves like his 5020s. Seems like a missed opportunity.
I have a pair of Adrenal 1961 bookshelf speakers (discontinued now, I guess). They are amazing *little* beasts! But I opted to supplement them with a Rythmik L12 sealed subwoofer. I don't recall if you ever reviewed Rythmik subwoofers before. They are pretty awesome subs (well, at least the one I got...and the price was right).
Wow, someone is not reviewing Arendal anymore. I get that a sealed sub is not ideal for movies (also from svs or other brands) but I was interested in how it performs with music, which is completely missing from your review... Looks are subjective as you eluded and some people do pay a premium for that (or the brand or both), but why not focus on how it compares sonically as a sealed sub to other sealed subs with music? I don't mind honest review but what you have showed is a rather poor character because you didn't want to review it in the first place, so you acted out like a kid that has to do his homework. Did you do it? Yes. Is it any good? 🤷♂
I have the SVS SB1000 PRO added to a pair of The Nines and it sounds awesome. I like that it's sealed and has a paper woofer like The Nines. It's much more accurate than any ported unit I've heard. I also like the SVS app.
@somejerk1520 I have two SVS SB-2000 subs paired with the JBL100 classics. Haven't been disappointed. The only gripe is I should have got the pro series to get the SVS App.
Haha, I had a pair of ESS AMT3b Studio Monitors back in the day. Don't know the exact weight of each although shipping weight was 103 pounds each. I feel for ya
Sounds of the day - Greenleaf - In The Caverns Below. If you like to rock! Thanks Randy! I have a Klipsch 12 and a 15 and they rattle my house and the guest house. I agree, for $1K it better pump. I hear the $150K OMA 21" subs suck as well.
Hail greenleaf !!! There's a lot of good stoner bands from Sweden I was friends with their guitarist on Facebook I think he was in Dozer too. I also like Greenlung from Sweden a little bit more on the occult side of things but definitely a good band.
Why do all these things need to have computerised contorls and screens and whatnot. What do you need in a sub-woofer? Phase, crossover, master volume and maybe line and speaker level inputs. My Wharfedales have that with just basic controls, and I think they could reduce the price, or put better effort into the build quaility, by not spending the money on electronics to control the device. Just do what is needed. Don't need the extra stuff
So, how does it sound? How it behaves with music? What speakers did you pair it with? I've seen Eq settings? What are those? This was a low effort video and it's... well, kinda bad. And unprofessional. Also, as someone has pointed out, it does have an app.
@@cheapaudioman true, it's unconventional, but I get their logic - easier to manage static and dynamic content. There are much worse sites out there too, not to name names
Dude, awhile back i saw this picture of the arendal guys dressed in matching white shirts surrounding a speaker or sub, it creeped me out and i dont know why, but i think your observation of them liking themselves too much is kind of the feeling i had.
It does have a continuous phase control 0-180 degrees, and that is important. But I take your word, that it doesn't perform well enough to justify its price. If the screen and digital control also had an app that also controlled it - maybe?
This is a bad review in my opinion. Sounds like the room you used isn't conducive for a sealed subwoofer. This would be like reviewing a rear ported bookshelf speaker but placing it next to the wall then smashing it because the bass was really bloated. Sealed subs are a terrible value in general as generally you need 2-3x as expensive sealed to be equal to a ported subwoofer in terms of output. I guarantee you if you find a smaller room with longest dimension of 12-14ft with a door this would have impressed you more but it will never compete with a good ported subwoofer. Generally when recommending sealed subwoofers to people you need to look at cea2010 output see where it starts to lose output which is where you need to start with room gain. Then calculate the longest dimension to get room gain close to where that is. Then if someone is like i have open concept room you tell them to cry a little and buy the most expensive thing they can afford or a ported subwoofer as ported subwoofers don't need room gain to sound good.
You should have sent it back without reviewing it. Sealed subs are certainly not just for music. I'm assuming you didn't set it up properly. Had you done that, you would likely have felt the impact you felt it was lacking.
Aesthetics matter. Especially when you're trying to get your wife to cosign a purchase. We've got a MCM decorated house my wife took a lot of time finding vintage pieces and tailoring to look like a magazine. An SVS or RSL looks like something you'd see in a college dorm room, or in those 2000s rattling car subs. REL or B&W or B&O are much better looking and sounds great. That's the price of keeping your spouse happy. If it was for HT and you could stick it behind a mesh acoustically transparent screen you never see in the dark then you can go with an ugly sub.
Arendal is retiring the 1961 series, they are on sale (at least the full range speakers are) Randy the cheap webdesign advice man! Dunno if they will be replaced and when, will they still be called 1961 or 1962 or Julie Andrews? I dunno. The 1961v (for vented) is the ported one and much bigger that will go deeper for teeth rattling I guess. It's 1200 and Arendal recommends to use it up to 375 square feet. The 1S is recommended up to 270 square feet so may be too small for your space. The top range is called 1723, not 1973. I guess you were trying to prove how confusing their branding is ;). I also found out what the numbers mean. 1723 The town of Arendal was given market city privileges in 1723. in 1961 the City was connected to the mainland with a big suspension bridge called the Tromøy Bridge. So I guess the next series won't be called 1962 or Julie Andrews :p. To nerd on a little more potential names for speaker line ups: 1641 (Arendal was founded by King Christian IV of Denmark (and Norway the Norwegians say). 1735 (Arendal was granted a full town charter).
@@SMDSunDevils Yep, that's why I said they are. Next time read the comment that you're responding to a little more carefully before you unzip your pants, tough guy.
Good stuff Randy, I’m already an SVS fanboy so I wouldn’t have bought this anyway but it’s nice to know what’s up so thx as always. Side note, I’ve added the meze 99’s and the WiiM amp to my collection this last week, partly thx to the cheap audio man, let’s say 8.8% 😂 keep up the great work!!!
Nope! Will not buy it and 3:40 is the reason why. I have a $350 Klipsch 12" subwoofer and the thing blows me away and it's bigger than that. I don't need to spend $1000 on a sub. If I were to, then it would be an M&K DUAL 12" subwoofer, or a Velodyne. This Arendal sub definitely should be an entry on the "Money Is No Object Audio Man" channel.
lol.... i had the sb3000 and the 1961 1s i have now is much nicer for music and for movies same output. 96db 20hz. you must have something setup wrong. you clearly dont have a clue what you are talking about.
The attitude in this vid... I know, but still, cmoon. Were u that angry that u had to make yourself look like a worse reviewer for it... Sad, the random comparison with the 100lbs giga 12s(that i own) is just laughable... Terrible job Randy, do better please, we know u can
If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. I know they’re one of your channel sponsors. And I know why you wouldn’t say anything bad about a channel sponsor. I get it. But an honest review has to be honest. Otherwise it doesn’t work. Should have asked them for a ported one! See if you like a ported variant. Maybe.
@@cheapaudioman really?!? I swear they had an advertisement on Facebook with your NIL posted all over it. I just assumed they were a sponsor. In any case, I appreciate your honesty!
I see Arendal as a "Lifestyle" brand, where aesthetics are the primary reason to buy them. If you live in a well designed modern living space and drive a Mercedes then you would be buying this not RSL or a Monolith.
Full marks to Arendal for asking you to do the review knowing it was unlikely to be positive. The pricing of subs, which are not complex beasts, has always mystified me. I buy my subs from BK electronics in the UK. Real wood veneers, class AB plate amps, good drivers. No apps, no bells and whistles but low and high level inputs, come complete with great quality cables and sound fantastic.
And they are super affordable. All you need from a sub, really.
The app isn't a deal breaker for me but it frustrates me that different subwoofers get sold out so quick like the 10" RSL Speedwoofer. I signed up for notifications when I could pre order and by the time I saw the email (40 minutes) all speedwoofer pre sales had been claimed. So I now have to jump up to the massive 12" for almost double the price, or look elsewhere. HSU - the VTF2 MK5 has been sold out for a while now. Have to jump $300 for the next sub up, which is too big for my living room. So now 2 of my top picks are gone, or I have to wait another month or two for my next shot at them. Can't find them used either.
Appreciate the honest non biased review! Also hats off to any manufacturer that ask for a honest review. It can only help them if they listen though
???😂
I admire that you were honest in your evaluation. I get nervous when reviewers love everything they review. Some don't want to give negative reviews. So what is a consumer to do? I guess if there are no reviews on a product, does that mean everybody hates it? I get confused. I appreciate your honesty. I trust you way more for it.
The App for the sub is really useful.
SVS is great, they have the App for the entry level 1000 and 2000 lineup.
Arendal unfortunately has the app only for the higher tier, and not for the 1961 lineup.
Arendal is one of the best products for the money, i would spend extra to get 1723 1s instead its mindblowing good😍
Nice review. I have the 1961s, two of them, actually. I would have liked the app. That being said, once I dialed them in, the bass hits just right music-wise and home theater-wise.
All Blue Jean Cables
Denon 3700.. Monolith 7 * 200.. Emotiva basx4 for atmos.... 7.2.4 Arendel 1723s LFC.. Arendal 1723s surrounds.. Arendal 1961s heights.. 2 Arendal 1961s Subwoofer.. Equals 😁😁😁
Actually this sounds great to me as I do not do HT and want music only accuracy and extension. I would not have known or considered this sub without your review. I like your reviews which give me information to make my decision even though it is not to your needs.
I've a small livingroom with 1961 bookshelves and this subwoofer. I love the clean aesthetics, the bass really hits HARD in music. For home theatre I'd indeed go for a ported subwoofer though. However for my small space, these just look so nice and they really perform well for music. For movies it still shakes my room ! But honestly, I am not really into extreme bass during movies.
gotta love that RSL 12s, if size is not a concern good lord are you in for a treat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your camera and lens looks amazing 🤤
Should not be comparing a sealed sub to your ported RSLs. The 1961 1V would have been a better comparison.
I can only compare what I have.
@@cheapaudioman ...and that is where the problem is!
Huge fan of sealed subwoofers. Way better for music than ported. Bass can be much tighter. I have a REL T5/X that I absolutely love.
um no, that’s a myth.
Gonna say this review was simply not a fair one. I understand this is the Cheap Audio Man’s opinions but I have this sub (well 2 of them actually) and they are beasts. They def are more than capable of giving the in chest feeling, but have to be set up right.
For me my denon 3800h just wasn’t able to the 1961 1s subs to sing. So I got dsp mini 2x4 HD and use that to control/calibrate them. There was a world of difference. I actually have to play them pretty low because they can definitely rock the house.
Also it depends on the size of the room and placement. If use it in a larger room, one 1961 1s sub just not be enough, but 2 should be able to handle most rooms easily.
I really feel this review might mislead people and stop them from buying the subs from Arendal. They are excellent subs and built like tanks, they just might need a little finessing.
Lastly, the 1723 line subs all have an app like SVS to calibrate.
Very refreshing hearing someone talk about subwoofers like a normal person. 9 out of 10 people only care for size in relation to output and price. This is expensive, doesn't have a lot of output but is small. Not much for to say🤷🏻♂️
I like that the company wants honest reviews.
A 15" sub is a sub. Make sure it has XLR outputs and a monster class D amp. You are going to need Mini DSP for anything useful with home theater. Try Starke Sound for the best looking and value sub woofers in the business. Daisy chain XLRs!
I don't think Arendal has anything to worry about. They'll probably sell a few subs from that sweet b-roll footage alone.
I own this sub which I use in bedroom home theatre system in combination with the Magnepan LRS+.
It can certainly shake my walls when appropriate.
I’m guessing that perhaps the input level control was not set correctly so you were not getting sufficient gain even if you turned up the master level volume control.
(Nemo Propaganda also reviewed this and if anything he thought it sometimes hit too hard.)
I have a sub that is a few db more capable than that 1961. I can understand where he's coming from. For music it would be fine, but for HT in medium or large room, where you want a few db headroom? It wouldn't be enough
I can only speak of my own experience- my bedroom is 15 by 13 but with 12 ft high ceilings. Walls shake and I feel the bass in my chest with seemingly low distortion. (Sub has corner placement.)
Audioholics reviewed this sub and its vented counterpart with detailed measurements and capabilities.
I forgot to add that I believe the default position re input level is set for avrs. For most preamps, something like the + 7 db setting should be used.
room gain is probably helping you.
@@stuartboros7693 try a big ported sub 12" or 15" for movies and you'll be surprised.
I feel like as soon as they attach a screen to anything these days, it's not going to end well. Why spend that time and money r&d'n a button/screen interface, when you can just have a robust mobile app that can be updated at will. Furthermore, why have a screen that you have to phyiscally crawl on the floor, reach around the back, and look at it upside down to control it? WEIRD!
Thank you Randy!
Sweet jebus I thought that was a mini washing machine when you picked it up !
Liking almost any Klipsch sub, says all one needs to know about his subwoofer likes....
He likes boomy and one noted?
I'd say it means he likes a ported sub and a lotta bang for the buck.
I'd say he has hearing issues both in top and bottom end.. Musical, fullness and good for movies does exist. Arendals does it all with their series. RSL SW MK2 disappointed me alot for music. Its Okey for movies. If your European stay away from RSL. Price is 8-850$ delivered with taxes and it is only a 450-500$ value. SVS is sold for normal prices in Europe. XTZ range of woofers back to the old 10.17 sounds way better then the RSL..
I am Rel kind of guy I bought to Rel 1508 Predators, super fast and do home theater and music just fine
Not that impressive subs, they have quite poor low end performance, output drops like a stone,
@@johnsmith-i5j7i I was REALLY torn on what to buy. I watched dozens of reviews. Adorama had them on sale under $1k. I bought 2 and to be honest, my rooms shakes just fine. I am sure there are better, but for the money I spent did okay IMHO.
Hey Randy! Thanks for the review. I've been looking at subs and noticed that the Emotiva SE8 and Emotiva SE12 in your recommendations section are "out of stock". I saw that they do have some others in stock and on a sale. Have you got your hands on the xs8 or xs10 at all?
Thanks for the interesting video! I completely understand wanting a sub that can shake the room, and I agree that's a significant weakness. However, I still would have loved to hear more details about how it performs for music and other non-room-shaking functions.
Agreed. I thought harping on that one feature and desire was a weird way to review a piece of equipment that one might NOT want to perform that way with music. Odd picadillo
As always I admire your honesty.
I wonder if there is a target price ratio for the components of a hi-fi system. I spend $500 on bookshelf speakers, how much should my amp cost? How much should my sub cost? I bet it could be boiled down into a ratio.
You have to be VERY careful, as often, the higher the price, the more you are taken to the land of hi-fi-diminishing-returns. This is especially true of speakers as you often DON'T get what you pay for. Granted there are some shining examples of good higher priced hi-fi equipment such as the Klipsch legacy line and MacIntosh. You are probably right that there might be some ratio. On one end you do have the ultra cheap crap and yeah, you have to invest some money, but you don't have to break the bank. I would say that spending $1000 on a system, would be a significant improvement. Going up to $5000 even greater yet. But start getting higher than $10k and you enter the land of diminishing returns. Which means you start spending tons of money on something that is only marginally better in performance. So unless you have "golden ears" and really deep pockets, it is an area that few venture into. Most can't as the stuff gets too high priced. I ended up finding Randy and loved this channel and I had bought quite a few pieces based on his reviews. Sadly though, he has been getting into more expensive stuff and it does get out of the line as to what this channel is about. As I have said many times, I don't have an issue with that, just that he puts the higher priced stuff in a different channel.
The Vented Model is what you needed, I like the Sealed for Music like KLH?
This!!! Chose wrong one to review.. also that RSL is ENORMOUS!!! No thanks.
I don't ALWAYS AGREE with your reviews, but I understand what you are saying. The Value on the product is is lower then the asking price! Thank you for your honesty! Great new set up...nice to see you improve!
Now can you concentrate on TOWER SPEAKERS 😊
Hi Randy, what do you think between Elac DBR62 & Polk R200? I majorly listen to hip-hop, pop, rock, found Elac were sooo nice, but a tiny lay back on the treble when having audited (Idol - Yoasobe, and Unravel - Ado). Will the R200s doing better? thx!
Agreed... I am glad I am not the only one who finds the product numbers "naming" confusing. That display on the back is pointless.
I am one of the few who don't care how it looks, but how it sounds, for my taste. I own old Rotel, Linn, NAD, and new Emotiva products. See if I care about how those look...
According to Randy, the display on the back is actually a disguised mirror for the Arendal folks to admire their reflection while creating their superior products.
The display would be ok if you can flip it
The last time I purchased a subwoofer was, ok gonna show my age here, late 90's by a company named Velodyne from Circuit City... yep I'm old. I can't even remember how much it was. But it was a beast! 12inch sub if I remember correctly.
This is why I appreciate telling the truth, no matter if it's good or bad. With a raving review of the speakers, people may think the subwoofer must be just as good and buy it, then regret it. This way, people know maybe to purchase something else.
The head scratching thing on this subwoofer is who needs an EQ on their subwoofer??
Use a standard bathroom scale. Stand on it then pick up the sub/whatever needing info and subtract the initial weight from the total. You then have it on the nose.
Btw. I've once stumbled on a company that focuses on distinctive look much more than what's inside. That is Zale Vox Hi-Fi. Crazy esthetics and many people like the sound too 😅
I own 2 of these, and after a year I am still figuring it out, but it can shake the house. At least I found it a bit loud once, but it was pretty weak in the beginning. They have some settings which I don't remember the name of now, but the power has to be set at full. And I assume anyone making a review has positioning and phase adjustments ticked off on the to-do list. I will get a REL in-house soon now for another room, so I won't say that Arendals are superduper before checking them out, but I would like to point out the fact that their prices are still almost half of what one would have to pay for in a store, so depending on the quality of all components inside I will assume it is no cheesy parts. The app part sucks yes, and I found myself a bit disappointed when I saw the fancy display, but no app functionality. They do have it though as I recall on the higher models.
Anyway, just wanted to point out that it took some time before I figured it out. They even have a comment on their help guide for subs on their page with the title "sounds weak", so I guess they are aware that some might not get it at first.
Oh btw, as I recall you have reviewed some speakers that I have as having a lot of bass, and I still have them, and all my speakers in the house do benefit from these subs. they are definitely capable, and also they disappear in the room when I got them tuned correctly. And it is very noticeable when I turn them off.
Would love to see a review of the new klipsch RP subs! Especially compared to RSL and SVS offerings.
I'm surprised you haven't been inundated with comments letting you know there IS an app, which is quite comprehensive - very similar to the SVS app.
The S subs are really aimed at 2-channel music rather than home theatre, the V subs are more for shaking the walls. I have a pair of 1723 1S subs and in Europe their price is on par with much less capable subs like the REL T9X.
They sound good for movies, they can break the house down if I crank them up, but that's very much a secondary consideration for me. I play my TV through my 2-channel system.
For 2-channel music I don't think there is anything comparable to the Arendal S subs for speed and clarity at their price point.
In the USA though I don't think they are great value for money. The 3 subs I was choosing between at my price point was: REL T9X, Arendal 1723 1S, SVS 3000 Micro. In Europe the Arendal were my choice, but in the USA I would definitely have gone with the SVS.
Also dude - you didn't check out the manual properly. There is a bit there which you would really like. (Look for how to care for your sub section.) :)
The1961 models do not have the app.
As you indicated, the s models work well with Maggies due to their speed and clarity.
When I first got this sub, I watched BLADE RUNNER and cranked up the gain to the point that my wife was scared as the room shook too much. But that much bass can’t help but affect perceived nuance and clarity- that’s why I keep the crossover low and still set the gain fairly high.
How do I become a patron? I know it's a stupid question, but I do not see it anywhere. Other channels I see it on the top. Please advise. I love your channel and it has really helped get me back on my hifi journey. I recently retired from the Army and you helped rekindle my passion for audio. Thanks
The 1961 towers and surrounds are fantastic and a serious steal while they are clearing them out. I am using with a REL sub and it's a great combination.
Agreed 100%. For $800-900, I too would get a pair of RSL SpeedWoofer 10S MKII (or the 12S like you said). Way better bang for the buck. I have one 10S MKII on the way and will probably get the second later this year. $50 adds the wireless transmitter to the builtin receivers they come with.
$1000 buys a pair of SVS SB1000 PROs as well, and they are controlled via an app.
Arendal have same sub as vented. Try that vs your SVS vented sub.. adding this is the low end version from Arendal sub series. Weird how a review entirely focuses on the thing the sealed sub isn't good at 😂. Anyhow you do you and all that, but this was just weird to watch.
What does everyone think about super tweeters?
I have a few Monoprice subs, and they blow me away. Value prop is crazy.
Hi. I have 1961 1s and I love it. I have had subs from other brands too. But my room is smaller.
I have a non-subwoofer question. An honest question. I can't seem to come up with a good answer myself.
My single, 8ohm, 30 watt, 12-inch guitar speaker pushes full range sound at high volume, powered by a 60 watt tube amp. It can scream high frequencies or gently sing some sweet chime-y ones. And it can growl and slam low frequencies into your chest and rattle your teeth.
How can one guitar speaker do that while I need 2 or three specialized speakers to reproduce music? Like I said, don't understand it. But I want to.
"dialed" in, in the looses sense. 99.9% of you have no idea how to dial in a sub properly.
P.S., I'd buy the Arendal over the RSL because the RSL is too big and ugly af. You can get sealed subs shaking your walls too, you just need to know how to dial it in properly.
i really wish you would review some of those subs ie. Velodyne aluminim ? paper vs poly ? etc
I agree with Randy’s point on their website. It sucks. It would have been nice to hear his thoughts on what this sub sounds like on musics paired to some small bookshelves like his 5020s. Seems like a missed opportunity.
Your RSL link is the same as your Emotiva
I have a pair of Adrenal 1961 bookshelf speakers (discontinued now, I guess). They are amazing *little* beasts! But I opted to supplement them with a Rythmik L12 sealed subwoofer. I don't recall if you ever reviewed Rythmik subwoofers before. They are pretty awesome subs (well, at least the one I got...and the price was right).
Interesting video. I appreciate the honesty my friend. Thx.
Arendal logo reminds me of the head of Wile E. Coyote from roadrunner cartoon
Thanks now I can't stop seeing it. 😡
Appreciate your thoughts and observations as always. Many choices at that price point.
Wow, someone is not reviewing Arendal anymore. I get that a sealed sub is not ideal for movies (also from svs or other brands) but I was interested in how it performs with music, which is completely missing from your review... Looks are subjective as you eluded and some people do pay a premium for that (or the brand or both), but why not focus on how it compares sonically as a sealed sub to other sealed subs with music? I don't mind honest review but what you have showed is a rather poor character because you didn't want to review it in the first place, so you acted out like a kid that has to do his homework. Did you do it? Yes. Is it any good? 🤷♂
You don't HAVE to watch this channel eh?
Is this rally from 1961? Looks new
😂😂😂😂 nice. Homework analogy was perfect 😅
Hes just an advertiser give him some slack.
Perhaps he's a fan like me and is just disappointed@@HenrikBecker84
It got a good boom boom :)
Much better options from SVS and RSL.
I have the SVS SB1000 PRO added to a pair of The Nines and it sounds awesome. I like that it's sealed and has a paper woofer like The Nines. It's much more accurate than any ported unit I've heard. I also like the SVS app.
@somejerk1520 I have two SVS SB-2000 subs paired with the JBL100 classics. Haven't been disappointed. The only gripe is I should have got the pro series to get the SVS App.
@@bobtowncarguy82
Dang...two SB2000s...you must be crackin' drywall!
@somejerk1520 Things definitely vibrate with gain up on the subs. Sounds really , no distortion.
depend on what you like. some are more = better, others `correct` = better
Vintage rocks 💪🏽😭
User error.
Kudos to Arendal and having you share your thoughts to us even though you wanted to send it back without a review.
Harrison! Glad you’re back, brother. I missed you.
Man. Really wish you did both v and s like everyone else... Id like to know how it compares.
I wonder what you’d think of a Rel T series.
are you cheating on me?
If every subwoofer came with controls like that combined with AVR room correction, Mini DSP would be out of business. Provided a person had REW.
Haha, I had a pair of ESS AMT3b Studio Monitors back in the day. Don't know the exact weight of each although shipping weight was 103 pounds each. I feel for ya
Sounds of the day - Greenleaf - In The Caverns Below. If you like to rock!
Thanks Randy! I have a Klipsch 12 and a 15 and they rattle my house and the guest house.
I agree, for $1K it better pump. I hear the $150K OMA 21" subs suck as well.
Hail greenleaf !!! There's a lot of good stoner bands from Sweden I was friends with their guitarist on Facebook I think he was in Dozer too. I also like Greenlung from Sweden a little bit more on the occult side of things but definitely a good band.
Love greanleaf
@@BostonMike68 Dozer? You bet - crazy good band.
Thank you, Randy, for your honesty. Great video, that's why I've been following you for over two years.
i like my amp plate on the back. loose the lcd and lower the price. >:)
Why do all these things need to have computerised contorls and screens and whatnot. What do you need in a sub-woofer? Phase, crossover, master volume and maybe line and speaker level inputs. My Wharfedales have that with just basic controls, and I think they could reduce the price, or put better effort into the build quaility, by not spending the money on electronics to control the device.
Just do what is needed. Don't need the extra stuff
So, how does it sound? How it behaves with music? What speakers did you pair it with? I've seen Eq settings? What are those? This was a low effort video and it's... well, kinda bad. And unprofessional. Also, as someone has pointed out, it does have an app.
Not the nicest review. Delivery of your message could have been better IMHO.
I actually think their web site is designed well, easy to find the data. Not a big fan of the model naming though.
I don’t like that they have a product page and then another page to click on to find the price.
@@cheapaudioman true, it's unconventional, but I get their logic - easier to manage static and dynamic content. There are much worse sites out there too, not to name names
Dude, awhile back i saw this picture of the arendal guys dressed in matching white shirts surrounding a speaker or sub, it creeped me out and i dont know why, but i think your observation of them liking themselves too much is kind of the feeling i had.
It does have a continuous phase control 0-180 degrees, and that is important. But I take your word, that it doesn't perform well enough to justify its price. If the screen and digital control also had an app that also controlled it - maybe?
This is a bad review in my opinion. Sounds like the room you used isn't conducive for a sealed subwoofer. This would be like reviewing a rear ported bookshelf speaker but placing it next to the wall then smashing it because the bass was really bloated.
Sealed subs are a terrible value in general as generally you need 2-3x as expensive sealed to be equal to a ported subwoofer in terms of output. I guarantee you if you find a smaller room with longest dimension of 12-14ft with a door this would have impressed you more but it will never compete with a good ported subwoofer. Generally when recommending sealed subwoofers to people you need to look at cea2010 output see where it starts to lose output which is where you need to start with room gain. Then calculate the longest dimension to get room gain close to where that is. Then if someone is like i have open concept room you tell them to cry a little and buy the most expensive thing they can afford or a ported subwoofer as ported subwoofers don't need room gain to sound good.
I've had both and the 1961 1v is on the same level as the Rsl 12s
You should have sent it back without reviewing it. Sealed subs are certainly not just for music. I'm assuming you didn't set it up properly. Had you done that, you would likely have felt the impact you felt it was lacking.
Aesthetics matter. Especially when you're trying to get your wife to cosign a purchase. We've got a MCM decorated house my wife took a lot of time finding vintage pieces and tailoring to look like a magazine. An SVS or RSL looks like something you'd see in a college dorm room, or in those 2000s rattling car subs. REL or B&W or B&O are much better looking and sounds great. That's the price of keeping your spouse happy. If it was for HT and you could stick it behind a mesh acoustically transparent screen you never see in the dark then you can go with an ugly sub.
The reason why this Arendal Sub missed the mark? It should have been labeled as 1962 !
I was going to buy their 1723 towers but everytime I saved up the cash the price went up so I bought something else.
The weight comes in at 43.9lbs.
Arendal is retiring the 1961 series, they are on sale (at least the full range speakers are) Randy the cheap webdesign advice man! Dunno if they will be replaced and when, will they still be called 1961 or 1962 or Julie Andrews? I dunno. The 1961v (for vented) is the ported one and much bigger that will go deeper for teeth rattling I guess. It's 1200 and Arendal recommends to use it up to 375 square feet. The 1S is recommended up to 270 square feet so may be too small for your space. The top range is called 1723, not 1973. I guess you were trying to prove how confusing their branding is ;). I also found out what the numbers mean. 1723 The town of Arendal was given market city privileges in 1723. in 1961 the City was connected to the mainland with a big suspension bridge called the Tromøy Bridge. So I guess the next series won't be called 1962 or Julie Andrews :p. To nerd on a little more potential names for speaker line ups: 1641 (Arendal was founded by King Christian IV of Denmark (and Norway the Norwegians say). 1735 (Arendal was granted a full town charter).
Vinyl and steak!
No speaker level connections. That’s a no-no for hi-fi
Doesn't matter whether you use low level or high level, also high level is going through extra electronics.
Try a ToneWinner d4000.. should shake your teeth real good
The product names are *ridiculous*. There's a 1723, a 1723 Monitor, and a 1723 Monitor S, and they're all completely different speakers.
yes they are, that's why they have 3 different names
@@SMDSunDevils Yep, that's why I said they are. Next time read the comment that you're responding to a little more carefully before you unzip your pants, tough guy.
Wow. Amazing controls. A subwoofer with control issues. Not sure I need that in my life, but interesting.
It's 20.0 kg.
Thought it was a washing machine on the thumbnail
Good stuff Randy, I’m already an SVS fanboy so I wouldn’t have bought this anyway but it’s nice to know what’s up so thx as always. Side note, I’ve added the meze 99’s and the WiiM amp to my collection this last week, partly thx to the cheap audio man, let’s say 8.8% 😂 keep up the great work!!!
I had a pair of the ported ones of these and I returned them. They were not worth the price and didn't get the hart pounding at all.
Your guess of weight was close. On the product page under specs - design, it says:
Weight
20 kg
(43.9 lbs)
Not that heavy tbh. I have a 10" ported sub that weighs 33kg.
Nope! Will not buy it and 3:40 is the reason why. I have a $350 Klipsch 12" subwoofer and the thing blows me away and it's bigger than that. I don't need to spend $1000 on a sub. If I were to, then it would be an M&K DUAL 12" subwoofer, or a Velodyne. This Arendal sub definitely should be an entry on the "Money Is No Object Audio Man" channel.
Tell it like it is randy i respect that. If they dont too bad.
lol.... i had the sb3000 and the 1961 1s i have now is much nicer for music and for movies same output. 96db 20hz. you must have something setup wrong. you clearly dont have a clue what you are talking about.
Surprised that the LCD screen didn’t make you scroll through more shameless self-promotion before getting to the actual menu, lol
The attitude in this vid... I know, but still, cmoon. Were u that angry that u had to make yourself look like a worse reviewer for it... Sad, the random comparison with the 100lbs giga 12s(that i own) is just laughable... Terrible job Randy, do better please, we know u can
appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment
@@cheapaudioman uve just shown one of the reasons why I'm a fan of yours
Just build your own
43 lbs ? My raw driver for my diy weights 40 lbs that's just the driver no amp or cabinet just the driver.
If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. I know they’re one of your channel sponsors. And I know why you wouldn’t say anything bad about a channel sponsor.
I get it.
But an honest review has to be honest. Otherwise it doesn’t work.
Should have asked them for a ported one! See if you like a ported variant. Maybe.
They’re not a channel sponsor.
I don’t even have an affiliate relationship with them.
@@cheapaudioman really?!? I swear they had an advertisement on Facebook with your NIL posted all over it. I just assumed they were a sponsor.
In any case, I appreciate your honesty!
I see Arendal as a "Lifestyle" brand, where aesthetics are the primary reason to buy them. If you live in a well designed modern living space and drive a Mercedes then you would be buying this not RSL or a Monolith.
arendal sound better then those though. probably easier to notice with music
Just google it, the weight is 25.4kg or 56 pounds.
44 pounds and 50 hour break in according to web site!