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Arendal Sound’s 1961 Loudspeaker Series is Being Revived

The Arendal Sound 1961 loudspeaker line is not ready to be retired. Check out all 6 speakers and 2 subwoofers priced under $2000/pair.

Arendal 1961 Loudspeakers

Arendal Sound, makers of high-performance, precision-engineered audio equipment and speakers based in Norway, offers up two great speaker systems, the 1528 series and its flagship THX Ultra Certified 1723 series. The market, however, has convinced the Norwegian manufacturer that what it really wants is a revival of its highly-acclaimed 1961 loudspeaker series.

As a result, Arendal Sound is reintroducing its 1961 Series after a two-year hiatus. The Arendal 1961 Series offers advanced engineering, Nordic-inspired design, and the audio performance normally heard from more expensive speakers and subwoofers.

From  Arendal Sound CEO Jan Ove Lassesen: “You asked, we listened…The 1961 Series is back and offering better value than ever. Whether you’re looking for your first Arendal experience or to add to an existing system, the 1961 Series proves that great music and movie sound doesn’t have to come with trade-offs.”

Arendal 1961

The 1961 Series includes 8 models

The 1961 Series uses trickle-down technology from Arendal’s step-up 1723 series, including waveguide tweeters and custom drivers that support precise, dynamic sound reproduction. The 1961 series incorporates HDF cabinets and hand-painted matte Black and White finishes. This shared signature sound and look means 1961 models can be easily mixed and matched with other Arendal speaker set-ups as needed.

Cabinet Design

The 1961 Series’ high-density HDF cabinets are crafted for superior acoustic performance. Inside, the cabinet is braced and damped to eliminate vibrations, and improve overall clarity and deliver better dynamic response. Cabinet thickness varies from 15 to 50mm, depending on the model. 

Tweeter

Arendal 1961 Tweeter

To deliver the high frequencies, a custom premium 28mm soft dome tweeter is used to provide superior detail retrieval and wide dynamics. For added support, the tweeter is housed within a controlled directivity waveguide. This combination ensures that high frequencies are not only clear and detailed but also directed precisely to the listener.

Woofer

Arendal 1961 Woofer

The tweeter is paired with a custom 5.5-inch long-fibre pulp-cone, midrange driver that combines light and stiff materials designed to provide exceptional accuracy and dynamics while reducing distortion as low as possible. The midrange drivers in the 1961 series are designed to provide a natural sound that blends with crisp highs from the tweeter (courtesy of the crossover). As a result, music, dialogue, and associated details are more natural sounding. 

In addition, the 1961 Tower also incorporates a port that can be used open or sealed. 

Subwoofer

Arendal 1961 Subwoofer Parts

The 1S and 1V are Arendal’s 1961 Series Subwoofers. They are designed to deliver more than you might expect in their price range. Both subs incorporate an Arendal proprietary 12.2-inch driver driven by their custom 550W RMS Avalanche 550 IQ DSP amp.

For added support, the cabinet volume of both subwoofers has been increased to produce an optimally damped system with low distortion while delivering dynamic and natural deep bass. 

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The 1S is positioned as an Arendal “entry-level” subwoofer model in the 1961 series, while the 1V is the step-up model. The main differences are that the 1S has a smaller cabinet profile with a sealed design, whereas the 1V is larger and provides a port (vent) that provides additional low-frequency output support. 

Arendal 1961 Avalanche Subwoofer Front and Back White

Sustainability 

In addition to performance, just like the 1723 and 1528 speaker lines, the revived 1961 continues the commitment of Arendal Sound to sustainable practices and thoughtful design. Each speaker incorporates environmentally sourced materials, including the use of HDF for the cabinets and recyclable packaging. The speakers are not only designed to

sound great but also incorporate sleek lines, premium finishes, and minimalist styling.

Speaker Comparison

Arendal 1961 Loudspeakers
1961 Tower1961 Monitor 1961 Bookshelf1961 Center1961 Height1961 Surround
Price/pr$1,900$1,150$850$600$850 $950
Speaker EnclosureFloorstanding Sealed/VentedMonitor/Bookshelf Sealed Bookshelf Sealed Center Channel/SealedSealedSealed
Construction MaterialHDF (High Density Fiberboard)HDF (High Density Fiberboard)HDF (High Density Fiberboard)HDF (High Density Fiberboard)HDF (High Density Fiberboard)HDF (High Density Fiberboard)
Speaker Type2.5-Way2-way2-way2-way2-wayTriAxial
Tweeter1 x 28mm1 x 28mm1 x 28mm1 x 28mm1 x 28mm1 28mm
Side DriversN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A2 x 3inches
Woofer4 x 5.5-inches2 x 5.5-inches1 x 5.5-inches2 x 5.5-inches1 x 5.5-inches1 x 5.5-inches
Ports1NoneNoneN/AN/AN/A
Baffle AngleN/AN/AN/AN/A10 degreesN/A
Crossover Frequency120Hz/1500Hz1500Hz1500Hz1500Hz1500Hz1500Hz
Side Drivers: 200Hz
Sensitivity (2.83v/1m)87dB87dB84dB87dB84dB85dB
Frequency response (+/-3dB)Sealed: 49Hz-20kHz 
Vented: 39-20KHz 
73-20kHz 75-20kHz 73-20kHz 75-20kHz 38Hz-20kHz 
Nominal Impedance4 ohms 4 ohms 4 ohms 4 ohms 4 ohms 4 ohms 
Recommended amplifier power (RMS)Up to 350W Up to 250W Up to 180W Up to 250W Up to 180W Up to 180W
Break-in for optimal performance50 hours50 hours50 hours50 hours50 hours50 hours
Dimensions (HWD)83.75 x 16.3 x 28.5 cm
32.97 x 6.42 x 11.22 inches 
42.5 x 16.3 x 15.0 cm
16.73 x 6.42 x 5.91 inches
28.7 x 16.3 x 15 cm
11.3 x 6.42 x 5.91 inches
16.3 x 42.5 x 15.0 cm
11.3 x 16.73 x 5.91 inches
28.3 x 16.3 x 14.9 cm
11.14 x 6.42 x 5.87
28.7 x 16.3 x 18.5 cm
11.3 x 6.42 x 7.28 inches
Dimensions (HWD) with Spikes Kit87.8 x 16.3 x 28.5 cm
34.57 x 6.42 x 11.22 inches
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Weight  (without puck+) 79.4 kg
175 lbs
7.25 kg
16 lbs
4.9 kg
10lbs 13 oz
7.25 kg
16 lbs
4.4 kg 
9 lbs/11oz
6 kg
13lbs/4oz
Included AccessoriesGrilles. Manual. Spikes Kit. Rubber feet. Port plugGrilles. Manual. Rubber padsGrilles. Manual. Rubber pads.Grilles. Manual. Rubber padsGrilles. Manual. Rubber padsGrilles. Manual. Rubber pads

Subwoofer Comparison

Arendal Sound 1961 Speaker Series 1S and 1V Subwoofers
1961 Subwoofer 1S1961 Subwoofer 1V
Price (Each)$1,000$1,200
Driver Size12.2-inches12.2-inches
EnclosureSealedVented
Enclosure MaterialHigh-Density Fiberboard (HDF)High-Density Fiberboard (HDF)
AmplifierAvalanche 550IQ, 550W RMSAvalanche 550IQ, 550W RMS
Power cable1.5 meters1.5 meters
Frequency Response (+/-3dB)EQ1 19-200Hz
EQ2 26-200Hz 
EQ1 16-200Hz 
EQ2 20-200Hz 
Port01
Break-in for optimal performance50 hours50 hours
Dimensions (HWD) without feet 41.5 x 31.5 x 41.5 cm
16.34 x 12.4 x 16.34
54.5 x 39.0 x 50.0 cm 
21.46 x 39.0 x 50.0 cm
Dimensions  (HWD) with rubber cones42.7 x 31.5 x 41.5 cm
16.81 x 12.4 x 16.34
55.7 x 39.0 x 50.0 cm
21.93 x 15.4 x 20 inches
Weight20.0 kg
44 lbs 2 oz
36.1 kg
79 lbs 9oz

The Bottom Line

Arendal is a speaker manufacturer that you may not be familiar with but has garnered a growing fan base of listeners and users overseas. The foundation of the Arendal speaker lines is their solid construction and incorporation of practical technical features designed to deliver optimal sound for stereo or surround sound setups. 

Although the 1723 and 1528 speaker lines have received high marks, their previous 1961 speaker line is still in demand, and although it was officially discontinued two years ago, customer demand has resulted in bringing it back better than ever. 

Price & Availability

The 1961 Series is now available to pre-order, with global delivery directly from the Arendal Sound website.

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