Arendal Sound has introduced a Black Edition of its 1610 Loudspeaker Series, giving buyers a third finish without increasing prices. Launched in February 2026 with Basalt and Polar finishes, the four-model lineup retains its original engineering and acoustic design. No new drivers, no mysterious sonic improvements, and thankfully, no premium for choosing black. Sometimes a new paint job really is just a new paint job.
Founded in 2015, Arendal Sound is a Norwegian loudspeaker company that designs and engineers its products in Norway, with manufacturing in China. Its direct-to-consumer business model, 60-day home audition period, and 10-year warranty help distinguish it from established competitors including Focal, DALI, Wharfedale, Monitor Audio, and KEF.
Arendal’s approach emphasizes robust construction, serious acoustic performance, and competitive pricing across both stereo and home theater applications. Rather than rely on dealer demonstrations and traditional retail distribution, the company makes its case in the one place that counts: your listening room.
The 1610 Series sits below Arendal’s flagship 1528 Series, introduced in 2024, offering four three-way loudspeaker designs for serious stereo and home theater systems. The emphasis is on controlled dispersion, dynamic capability, and much of the acoustic engineering found in the more expensive lineup.
Arendal Sound 1610 Series Pricing (U.S.)
- 1610 Tower 8: $7,600 per pair
- 1610 Bookshelf 8: $3,600 per pair
- 1610 Slim 8: $2,800 per pair
- 1610 Center 8: $2,300 each
For a closer look at the engineering, features, and differences between the four models, read our original coverage: Arendal Sound Introduces 1610 Loudspeaker Series: A More Affordable Path to Its Flagship Sound. We’ve also included a condensed overview below.
Cabinet Design
The Arendal Sound 1610 Series uses high-density fiberboard (HDF) cabinets, with panels up to 25 mm thick and a layered, curved front baffle measuring 46 mm (1.8 inches) on larger models. The baffle’s geometry helps align the drivers acoustically, while extensive internal bracing and damping minimize unwanted cabinet vibration and resonance.
The Tower 8, Bookshelf 8, and Center 8 feature tuned bass-reflex ports for extended low-frequency performance and reduced airflow noise, with sealed operation also supported. The Slim 8 uses a sealed enclosure, making it better suited to installations close to a wall.
Tweeter
The Arendal Sound 1610 Series uses a 28 mm aluminum-magnesium dome tweeter designed for extended high-frequency response, low distortion, and strong dynamic performance. A powerful neodymium magnet system and copper shorting ring help maintain clarity at higher listening levels.
The tweeter sits within Arendal’s proprietary Røst Essence waveguide, which controls dispersion and improves integration with the dedicated midrange driver. An acoustic lens positioned in front of the dome further improves off-axis response while reducing distortion between 7 and 15 kHz.
Midrange
The 1610 Series features a dedicated 5-inch dry carbon-fiber midrange driver with a lightweight, rigid cone designed to reproduce vocals and instruments with accuracy and minimal coloration. An oversized motor system and copper shorting ring help reduce distortion and dynamic compression, particularly at higher listening levels.
The driver also uses a sealed basket that isolates it from internal cabinet pressure generated by the woofers. This allows the midrange to operate independently of the bass drivers, helping preserve clarity and detail during demanding musical passages and movie soundtracks.
Røst Essence Acoustic Core
The 1610 Series incorporates Arendal’s proprietary Røst Essence Acoustic Core, which integrates the tweeter, midrange driver, and elliptical waveguide into a closely coupled assembly. By minimizing the physical distance between the drivers, the design reduces vertical lobing (uneven sound dispersion caused by interference between drivers) and improves phase coherence.
The result, according to Arendal, is more consistent sound dispersion, stable stereo imaging, and a wider listening area. The waveguide assembly is also mounted to a thick threaded steel plate for additional rigidity, providing a secure foundation for the midrange driver’s substantial motor system.
Low Frequency Drivers
The Arendal Sound 1610 Series uses 8-inch aluminum-cone woofers engineered for deep bass extension, high output, and low distortion. The rigid cones are paired with reinforced surrounds featuring internal ribbing, designed using COMSOL computer simulations to maintain controlled movement even during demanding low-frequency passages.
The woofer motor systems also incorporate multiple aluminum shorting rings to minimize variations in inductance and reduce distortion as the cones move through their operating range. The design prioritizes bass definition and dynamic impact, particularly at higher listening levels, without sacrificing clarity in the lower midrange.
Comparison
| 1610 Tower 8 | 1610 Bookshelf 8 | 1610 Slim 8 | 1610 Center 8 | |
| Price | $7,600/pair | $3,600/pair | $2,800/pair | $2,300/each |
| Finishes | Black (New), Basalt, Polar | Black (New), Basalt, Polar | Black (New), Basalt, Polar | Black (New), Basalt, Polar |
| Speaker Enclosure | Floorstanding Sealed/Vented | Bookshelf Sealed / Vented | Bookshelf Sealed | Center Sealed/ Vented |
| Construction Material | HDF (High-Density Fiberboard) | HDF (High-Density Fiberboard) | HDF (High-Density Fiberboard) | HDF (High-Density Fiberboard) |
| Speaker Type | 3-way | 3-way | 3-way | 3-way |
| Tweeter | 1 x 28mm | 1 x 28mm | 1 x 28mm | 1 x 28mm |
| Midrange | 1 x 5 inches | 1 x 5 inches | 1 x 5 inches | 1 x 5 inches |
| Woofer | 3 x 8 inches | 1 x 8 inches | 1 x 8 inches | 2 x 8 inches |
| Ports (inner diameter) | 103.5mm | 71.5mm | – | 71.5mm |
| Crossover Frequency | 380Hz/2800Hz | 330Hz / 2300Hz | 340Hz / 2700Hz | 470Hz / 2900Hz |
| Sensitivity (2.83v/1m) | 89.5 dB | 85dB | 84.5 dB | 88.6dB |
| Frequency response (-6dB) | 42Hz-20kHz | 34Hz-20kHz | 56Hz-20kHz | 40Hz-20kHz |
| Typical In-Room Bass Response | 18Hz | 22Hz | 38Hz | 24Hz |
| Frequency Linearity | 40Hz-11kHz +-2.5dB F3 – 39Hz F6 – 28Hz F10 – 24Hz | 47Hz-20kHz +-2.5dB F3 – 43Hz F6 – 34Hz F10 – 27Hz | 70Hz-20kHz +-2.5dB F3 – 68Hz F6 – 56Hz F10 – 45Hz | 52Hz-20kHz +-2.6dB F3 – 51Hz F6 – 40Hz F10 – 31Hz |
| Nominal Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Recommended amplifier power (RMS) | Up to 800W | Up to 400W | Up to 300W | Up to 500W |
| Break-in for optimal performance | 50 hours | 50 hours | 50 hours | 50 hours |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 115.0 x 26.5 x 45.0 cm 43.3 x 10.5 x 21.6 in | 47.7 x 26.5 x 30.0 cm 18.8 x 10.5 x 11.8 in | 47.7 x 26.5 x 16.5 cm 18.8 x 10.5 x 6.5 in | 26.5 x 71.0 x 30.0 cm 10.4 x 28.0 x 11.9 in |
| Weight (without puck+) | 45.37 kg (100 lbs) | 16.2 kg (35.8 lbs) | 13.1 kg (28.9 lbs) | 24.2 kg (53.4 lbs) |
| Included Accessories | Magnetic Grille Port Plug | Magnetic Grille Port Plug Rubber Pads | Magnetic Grille Rubber Pads VESA 100 Wall Mount | Magnetic Grille Port Plug Rubber Pads |
The Bottom Line
The Arendal Sound 1610 Black Edition isn’t a new loudspeaker series, and Arendal isn’t pretending otherwise. The only change is the finish, with no increase in price. What makes the 1610 lineup worth considering is its combination of genuine three-way engineering, substantial cabinet construction, controlled dispersion, and a consistent acoustic design across all four models. Add Arendal’s direct-to-consumer pricing, 60-day home audition, and 10-year warranty, and there’s a compelling alternative to the usual European suspects.
There is one omission worth pointing out. Arendal still doesn’t offer a dedicated 1610 Series subwoofer, although its existing 1961 Subwoofer 1S ($1,050) and 1723 Subwoofer 1S ($1,900) can handle that responsibility. Neither is inexpensive, particularly if you’re building a multichannel system with two subwoofers. Then again, serious home theater bass has never been a particularly charitable hobby.
Pricing & Availability
The Arendal Sound 1610 Black Edition is available to order directly from Arendal Sound.
- 1610 Tower 8: $7,600/pair
- 1610 Bookshelf 8: $3,600/pair
- 1610 Slim 8: $2,800/pair
- 1610 Center 8: $2,300/each
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Trey
October 9, 2026 at 12:22 pm
I think Arendal has really nice stuff and I hope they do well in general. When I was shopping for new speakers this time last year, it came down to a set of their floor standers and one of their competitors as I narrowed my list down to two choices. In the end I went with the MoFi V10 Master Editions.
Soon I’ll be looking for some Bluetooth towers, so maybe I’ll see if they have any offerings along those lines when I’m ready, as I’d really like to show my support for them, as well.