@@aspjake123 Thinking about it, yeah the basic design of speaker technology has stayed the same. The one thing I will say though in having the Arendal is that compared to my old Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers the quality of the materials used helps to make the Arendal speakers sound better. Thanks for checking out the video!
If you're using bookshelf speakers as your fronts, an exact matching bookshelf speaker as your center channel will almost always sound better than a dedicated center channel. You'll typically pay a lot less for it as well. Even if you buy a center channel that is supposed to technically match your fronts, they don't. Cabinet sizes are different, driver layout is different and inevitably it will be vastly tonally different. Bookshelf speakers make great center channels in general and it's a great option that more people should consider. I'd go as far as to say in general a high quality bookshelf speaker will outperform a high quality dedicated center channel in many instances. Of course you want to keep them vertical which might be problematic for some spaces.
Thanks for sharing that @mikescott5440. I will say that I'm actually quite impressed at how well the 1723 S center matches my 1961 towers. I actually did a double-take when I was running room correction and it was going from the left to center to right as it felt like the sound was just moving from one end to the other but not that it was going from one speaker to another. That is of course with towers, that are much bigger, so do feel like your point of doing all bookshelf speakers, including a center, would be a better match when going that route.
Yeah, you can turn it on its side but you may need to play around with the angle of the speaker to point it more towards your listening position. The UA-camr Erin's Audio Corner does great testing on speakers that include their off-axis capabilities and when he tested the bookshelf it showed that the vertical dispersion is less than the horizontal which is why I think that you may need to adjust it.
If you are able to listen to both in your space, that would tell you for sure which is better. In my case I went with a bigger center channel because I know that a lot of sound comes from the center channel so wanted to have something that could handle it well. I've been really happy with that choice and they are a great match to my 1961 towers. As another person mentioned though, if you have bookshelf speakers as your front speakers as well, having a bigger center may sound tonally different so having a matching bookshelf for the center would sound more cohesive. That is why I mentioned that if you are able to listen to both, that would be the best way to know for sure. Best of luck with your decision.
Thanks a lot for your video matte! From my point of view the 1961 monitor doesn't worth the extra money compared to the bookshelf. From the other hand I can certainly notice the difference between the 1723s and 1961 in fullness, but when adding a sub it comes close. Which frequency did you cross the 1961 to? Maybe I will go with 1961 bookshelves all in OR I will go with 2 1723s monitors + center and keep the 1961 bookshelves for Atmos and surround. I really liked the fullness of the 1723s. I have to think about it.
I can't disagree with you, if you are considering the 1961 monitor and bookshelf the bookshelf is a better way to go, and adding the sub closes the gap between the 1723 S. Since I use ARC Genesis with the Anthem it sets the crossovers for me but for the 1961 it set it at 90hz and for the 1723 S 80hz. One thing I will say is that if you are looking for the fullness of the 1723 S for the front R and L but don't have stands the 1961 Towers are a good option. That is what I have and they sound incredibly similar to the 1723 S center. Best of luck to you though in the decision-making!
Great video, as all of yours are 👍 I have one favour to ask if you could do it… could you please measure the exact width of 1723 S center. Is it exactly 56.9cm wide??? I have space to fit 56.5cm speaker in cabinet underneath my tv and I’m hoping it could fit 😅😢 Thanks in advance 👋
Thanks! Oh man, unfortunately that measurement is correct. We have inches but it does measure 22.5 inches with my tape measure which converts to 57.15cm but it is probably the 56.95cm that Arendal says on the website. So sorry man, that hurts me to type it. Would placing on top of the cabinet be an option?
@@RandomDistractionsYT 🥲 thanks for the quick and precise response although its not good news for my case 😅 Unfortunately the goal with upgreading to arendals is to make a more visualy pleasing surround setup by replacing current floorstander speakers with small standmounts and by geting matching center than can fit in cabinet and not standing on it… part of setup upgrade is makeing it more visualy pleasing for the wife 😇😅 Anyways it will have to be 1961 for the front as it turns out, and thats not a bad compromise 😃 When replacing LCR would you say there is benefit to going for monitor/center for all three over buying 4 bookshelfs since price is practicaly the same or to stick to traditional L/R bookshelf and center? My amp is 100w in 4ohm.
I hear you. Making sure the wife is happy is always a top priority. The 1961 center should do great and based on my experience with the monitor and the bookshelf, for my setup the bookshelf did great.. You didn't mention a sub but even if you don't use one they seem to do well.
@@RandomDistractionsYT thank you for your insight 🤗 sub is Q acoustics qb12 which works great for my space and is also visualy compatibile with white Arendals 😅
Do you think the monitor s would overpower a 11x12ft small apartment? Gonna be probably be using then with the 1s. Or would the 1723 bookies do a better job? Do like a bit of weight but not so much it gets too much for the room.
That's a tough call, only because I haven't personally heard the 1723 bookshelf speakers. If I was basing it on how the 1961 monitor compared to the 1961 bookshelf I would probably say to go with the bookshelf but would hate to steer you wrong. The 1723 monitors do have a sealed and ported option so that would help if it got to be too much. The other thing too is the 1723 are a lot bigger than they seem so that may be another thing to consider in a 11x12 ft space. Whatever you choose that should be a great system for that room size.
Wow, was really surprised how versatile the Arendal 1961 bookshelf speaker is and definitely a worthy consideration for all types of applications.
Show how much we have or have not progressed in speaker technology.
@@aspjake123 Thinking about it, yeah the basic design of speaker technology has stayed the same. The one thing I will say though in having the Arendal is that compared to my old Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers the quality of the materials used helps to make the Arendal speakers sound better. Thanks for checking out the video!
Great video, I think you’ve answered all my questions in your series for a Arendal theater setup!
Thanks, appreciate you checking it out and glad that it helped!
If you're using bookshelf speakers as your fronts, an exact matching bookshelf speaker as your center channel will almost always sound better than a dedicated center channel. You'll typically pay a lot less for it as well. Even if you buy a center channel that is supposed to technically match your fronts, they don't. Cabinet sizes are different, driver layout is different and inevitably it will be vastly tonally different. Bookshelf speakers make great center channels in general and it's a great option that more people should consider. I'd go as far as to say in general a high quality bookshelf speaker will outperform a high quality dedicated center channel in many instances. Of course you want to keep them vertical which might be problematic for some spaces.
Thanks for sharing that @mikescott5440. I will say that I'm actually quite impressed at how well the 1723 S center matches my 1961 towers. I actually did a double-take when I was running room correction and it was going from the left to center to right as it felt like the sound was just moving from one end to the other but not that it was going from one speaker to another. That is of course with towers, that are much bigger, so do feel like your point of doing all bookshelf speakers, including a center, would be a better match when going that route.
Can the bookshelf be turned on its side? I have limited room and would fit fine if on the side.
Yeah, you can turn it on its side but you may need to play around with the angle of the speaker to point it more towards your listening position. The UA-camr Erin's Audio Corner does great testing on speakers that include their off-axis capabilities and when he tested the bookshelf it showed that the vertical dispersion is less than the horizontal which is why I think that you may need to adjust it.
does buying RP-504C II instead 3 way bookshelf speaker make movies sound better ?i watch only movies no music
thanks
If you are able to listen to both in your space, that would tell you for sure which is better. In my case I went with a bigger center channel because I know that a lot of sound comes from the center channel so wanted to have something that could handle it well. I've been really happy with that choice and they are a great match to my 1961 towers. As another person mentioned though, if you have bookshelf speakers as your front speakers as well, having a bigger center may sound tonally different so having a matching bookshelf for the center would sound more cohesive. That is why I mentioned that if you are able to listen to both, that would be the best way to know for sure. Best of luck with your decision.
Thanks a lot for your video matte! From my point of view the 1961 monitor doesn't worth the extra money compared to the bookshelf. From the other hand I can certainly notice the difference between the 1723s and 1961 in fullness, but when adding a sub it comes close. Which frequency did you cross the 1961 to? Maybe I will go with 1961 bookshelves all in OR I will go with 2 1723s monitors + center and keep the 1961 bookshelves for Atmos and surround. I really liked the fullness of the 1723s. I have to think about it.
I can't disagree with you, if you are considering the 1961 monitor and bookshelf the bookshelf is a better way to go, and adding the sub closes the gap between the 1723 S. Since I use ARC Genesis with the Anthem it sets the crossovers for me but for the 1961 it set it at 90hz and for the 1723 S 80hz. One thing I will say is that if you are looking for the fullness of the 1723 S for the front R and L but don't have stands the 1961 Towers are a good option. That is what I have and they sound incredibly similar to the 1723 S center. Best of luck to you though in the decision-making!
Great video, as all of yours are 👍 I have one favour to ask if you could do it… could you please measure the exact width of 1723 S center. Is it exactly 56.9cm wide???
I have space to fit 56.5cm speaker in cabinet underneath my tv and I’m hoping it could fit 😅😢
Thanks in advance 👋
Thanks! Oh man, unfortunately that measurement is correct. We have inches but it does measure 22.5 inches with my tape measure which converts to 57.15cm but it is probably the 56.95cm that Arendal says on the website. So sorry man, that hurts me to type it. Would placing on top of the cabinet be an option?
@@RandomDistractionsYT 🥲 thanks for the quick and precise response although its not good news for my case 😅
Unfortunately the goal with upgreading to arendals is to make a more visualy pleasing surround setup by replacing current floorstander speakers with small standmounts and by geting matching center than can fit in cabinet and not standing on it… part of setup upgrade is makeing it more visualy pleasing for the wife 😇😅
Anyways it will have to be 1961 for the front as it turns out, and thats not a bad compromise 😃
When replacing LCR would you say there is benefit to going for monitor/center for all three over buying 4 bookshelfs since price is practicaly the same or to stick to traditional L/R bookshelf and center? My amp is 100w in 4ohm.
I hear you. Making sure the wife is happy is always a top priority. The 1961 center should do great and based on my experience with the monitor and the bookshelf, for my setup the bookshelf did great.. You didn't mention a sub but even if you don't use one they seem to do well.
@@RandomDistractionsYT thank you for your insight 🤗 sub is Q acoustics qb12 which works great for my space and is also visualy compatibile with white Arendals 😅
Do you think the monitor s would overpower a 11x12ft small apartment? Gonna be probably be using then with the 1s. Or would the 1723 bookies do a better job? Do like a bit of weight but not so much it gets too much for the room.
That's a tough call, only because I haven't personally heard the 1723 bookshelf speakers. If I was basing it on how the 1961 monitor compared to the 1961 bookshelf I would probably say to go with the bookshelf but would hate to steer you wrong. The 1723 monitors do have a sealed and ported option so that would help if it got to be too much. The other thing too is the 1723 are a lot bigger than they seem so that may be another thing to consider in a 11x12 ft space. Whatever you choose that should be a great system for that room size.
@@RandomDistractionsYT yeah I was thinking bookies as well, hopefully the sub will fill in the mids.
Appreciate the advice.
no problem and good luck!