[I.Greyhound Fan]

Well, I bought a pair of Arendal 1528 Bookshelf speakers.  They are delayed until September but I got lucky.  I searched their outlet store and they had a pair of the speakers that were returned in perfect shape with the full warranty and return policy.  I bought those instead at a $450.00 savings.  I should get them soon and I will write a review.

[mresseguie]

Larry,

I look forward to your impressions.

I quickly scanned their website, and have a question. What material is the tweeter - fabric, aluminum, Be, other?

Enjoy!

[jmc207]

Michael,

I found this in their Handbook:

"The 1528 Bookshelf 8 is a powerful speaker designed to deliver high-end sound in a smaller form factor. Featuring a
28mm lithium-magnesium tweeter, 5” carbon-graphene midrange, and an 8” aluminum bass driver, it offers exceptional
clarity, deep bass extension, and low distortion."

I assume the lithium is added to lessen audionervosa.

John

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Larry,

I look forward to your impressions.

I quickly scanned their website, and have a question. What material is the tweeter - fabric, aluminum, Be, other?

Enjoy!

It is made of lithium and magnesium.  It is truly a unique tweeter that is extended and very detailed but totally non fatiguing and in fact, 2 reviewers said that it can make poor recordings sound decent.  There are several excellent pro reviews that all say the same thing and gush about it.  These are beasts of a bookshelf.  They weigh 66 pounds each and are large speakers.  The front baffle is 3" think.  Bass has been recorded to go as low as 19hz with that 8" woofer and large cabinet.  I got them in the polar white.  I love the modern look.

The purchase was a no brainer as they have a 60 day return policy and they pay return shipping.

I am looking to pair them with a Black Ice F35 Tube integrated amp with cap and resistor upgrades using the KT-170 tubes giving 95 wpc. 

[newzooreview]

I assume the lithium is added to lessen audionervosa.

Or due to material science:

"Role of Lithium in a Lithium-Magnesium Tweeter:

1. Driver mass: Lithium is one of the lightest metals (atomic number 3), which reduces the mass of the tweeter diaphragm. A lighter diaphragm can respond more quickly to electrical signals, improving transient response and enabling the tweeter to handle high frequencies (typically 2 kHz to 20 kHz or higher) with precision.

2. Stiffness and Rigidity: When alloyed with magnesium, lithium contributes to a material that balances stiffness and low density. Magnesium is already lightweight and strong, but adding lithium enhances the alloy’s rigidity-to-weight ratio. This minimizes unwanted flexing or resonance in the diaphragm, ensuring cleaner sound reproduction and reducing distortion.

3. Damping: The lithium-magnesium alloy can provide good internal damping, which helps control vibrations and prevent unwanted resonances that could color the sound. This results in clearer, more accurate high-frequency output.

4. Propagation Velocity: lithium-magnesium alloy has a high speed of sound propagation due to its low density and high stiffness. This property is critical for tweeters, as it allows the diaphragm to efficiently transmit vibrational energy, producing crisp and detailed high frequencies.

5. Thermal and Electrical Stability: Lithium’s inclusion in the alloy can improve the material’s stability under the thermal and electrical stresses of high-frequency operation, ensuring durability and consistent performance over time."

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Speakers are due to arrive tomorrow

[Carlman]

As someone who seriously considered the 1723, I'm super excited for you.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts after a week or so.
 

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Got my 1528's in 2 days.  My initial impressions are a huge WOW!  Just fabulous.  Sound stage is huge, tall, wide and deep.  Bass shakes the room. Top end is oh so smooth without grain or fatigue.  The air and transparency is great but the midrange is tonally rich, not thin.  The sweet spot is big.  They are very dynamic.  I am listening to Anouar Brahem "The Astounding Eyes or Rita" and ECM recording and it is so holographic. 

I am running them with the Marantz PM-KI Ruby Integrated amp.  I was going to sell it and get a tube amp like the Black Ice F35v2 or the Galion 120se, but now I am not so sure I want to sell it.  I will have to see how they sound with my Pass amp and BAT preamp and I will report back.

Piano has natural tone and sounds real with excellent decay.

The speakers are very clean with no edginess.  They have a hint of darkness and warmth which could be due to the Marantz.  Nothing bright about these speakers.

It fills my 17x17x9 room up and it is very holographic sounding.  It is uncanny.

These may be a keeper.  They are huge and  bigger in person.  I think the Fed Ex guy got a hernia lifting them.  I watched him unload them.  My wife hasn't seen them yet so if I decide to keep them, I have to get her approval.

Guys, I have not heard a speaker at this price range give this kind of sound.  These can easily sell for $12K if sold in stores.  They actually sound like  tower speakers.  I really wanted the 1528 Monitor 8's which are mid towers but there is no need for them in my size room.  It would be overkill.

I am open for questions and will  try and answer them.

[JakeJ]

Anouar Brahem is a favorite artist for me as well although I don't have "The Astounding Eyes of Rita"

Along the same vein: Simon Shaheen & Qantara "Blue Flame".  Amazon and sample tracks on last.fm

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Anouar Brahem is a favorite artist for me as well although I don't have "The Astounding Eyes of Rita"

Along the same vein: Simon Shaheen & Qantara "Blue Flame".  Amazon and sample tracks on last.fm

Jake, check out the Astounding Eyes of Rita.  It is my go to when I want to show off my system.   I never heard a better digital recording.

[JakeJ]

I did!  Sampled most of "The Astounding Eyes of Rita" on last.fm.  That's why I suggested Simon Shaheen.

I have a good sampling of ECM works along with many others.  It seems our musical tastes align a bit.

Are you familiar with Jesse Cook's work?  Another excellent test track is the song Double Dutch from "Beyond Borders", although the entire album is quite tasty.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

No I am not familiar with J. Cook but I will look him up.  Right now I am listening to Bob James and Earl Klugh LP "One on One".

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Guys, I have to tell you that the 1528 speakers a something special.  They are musical, very dynamic, have uncanny clarity, detail and resolution.  Vocals sound like they are in the room with you.  And the bass, oh the bass.  They sound like they have 2 10" subwoofers built in.  They go down very low.  We measured 25 hz and below.  They pressurise a room for sure.  I can't imagine the bass from the monitor 8 mini towers or the huge towers.    The bass is just fabulous but does not overpower the speakers.  And these speakers sound great at loud volumes, they do not break up.

I am using the Marantz PM-KI Ruby integrated that I just bought.  I was not sure that I was going to keep it but it is a match made in heaven with these speakers.  Does it have the resolution and detail of my Pass amp and BAT pre, no it does not.  But what is does have is a tonality that I have never heard in a piece of audio gear.  The emotion it conveys is fabulous and it is so non fatiguing that you could listen to it for hours on end.  I teared up listening to some music earlier today and I have never done that before.  The midrange is tonally rich and has great texture

I am going to sell my Pass X250 amp and probably the BAT VK51se preamp unless I put it to use with TV as the Marantz has a preamp in.  The downsizing begins.  I have no need for my dual subs as well.  I will probably sell those off.  I must be crazy. 

I will miss my Maggies and the Pass for sure.

[mresseguie]

Don’t hold back; go ahead and tell us about the negative impressions…😉  seriously though, you’ve been a Magnepan enthusiast for as long as I can remember. The 1528 speakers must present in a different way than you are accustomed to - yet (based on your description), they not only hold their own, but even exceed your expectations, yes?

I’m interested in more of your impressions over a longer period of time. Experiment with more music and try something difficult to challenge them. There’s an excellent chance my wife and I will move back to Taiwan this winter or next spring to help care for her parents. I hope to ship my Daedalus Apollos there, but it’ll be expensive and I will worry about their safe delivery. I may decide it’s better to buy different speakers for Taiwan - dunno for sure.

[Carlman]

Congratulations!  I know how it is to roll the dice and hope for the best.  So it's nice to hear it worked out.   It'd be nice to see photos of them in your room.  I've seen 1 photo of someone's setup with these and they do look quite large.
Some questions...
What kind of stands are you using?

Has there been any significant changes while breaking in?  Are you playing them non-stop?

How do poor recordings sound? (stuff like "Queen Bitch" by David Bowie)  Or really well recorded acoustic music?

I think it'd be worth comparing amps to see what you notice. (or maybe you did? - I wasn't sure I understood)  But a match is a match so the energy to swap things dissappears when you find that 'just right' sound.

Really happy for you. 

[mr_bill]

Larry, thanks for the review info!
Did you get the black (basalt) color?

Are you still thinking about the new GR Research New Record Day speakers?

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Larry, thanks for the review info!
Did you get the black (basalt) color?

Are you still thinking about the new GR Research New Record Day speakers?

I got the polar white and love it.

The 1528's are my last speaker, they are that good.  With the NRD speakers I would need to use subs.  With the 1528's, no sub is needed.  I seriously doubt that the NRD speakers could hold a candle to the 1528's, but you never know until you hear them.  The technology, good X-over parts, and fabulous drivers are probably better with the 1528's.  I mean, bass has been measured down to 19hz in room.  I am not sure how they can sell this speaker for $4500.  It should sell for $10K.  The binding posts and jumpers are all Rhodium Plated Copper.  It has jumpers in the back are made of the same material and you can adjust the Tweeter and Midrange separately +/- 2db and it makes a noticeable difference.  The cabinets are inert. The front baffle is 3" thick.  The speakers weigh 66lbs.  They really are not bookshelfs.  They are closer to large stand mount speakers but put out the scale of sound like my Magnepan 1.6's.

If anyone is located in the Twin Cities area, they are welcome to come over for a listen. 

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I will take photos when I get some stands.  Right now they are sitting on chairs which just happen to be the same height as the stands I am going to buy.
The stands will come sometime in June.

[mr_bill]

Great comments - thanks!  Did you order the matching stands from Arendal?
Larry has a lot of experience and is very credible.  I always look forward to his review comments,

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I did not buy the Arendal stands,  too expensive.  I want to buy a new MC cartridge with the $1400 that the stands cost.  I found some really nice metal stands that are black but I will have them powder coated a darker Grey.