(February 12, 2026) Norwegian loudspeaker specialist Arendal Sound is expanding its lineup with the launch of the new 1610 Series, a speaker inspired by how people actually live with their systems. Positioned below the company’s flagship 1528 range, the 1610 Series is a direct response to customer feedback asking for the same build quality, confidence, and sonic philosophy, but in designs that better suit real rooms, real seating distances, and real-world placement challenges.
That real-world mindset defines the 1610 Series from the outset. Arendal Sound says music remains the primary reference, but movie performance is treated with equal importance, with the aim of delivering a balanced and coherent experience regardless of what’s on screen or in the playlist. The speakers are designed to remain composed in imperfect rooms, tolerate less-than-ideal placement, and still deliver consistent results across a range of listening scenarios. In other words, the series is meant for people who want to enjoy their system without constantly second-guessing whether their room or setup is holding it back.
The 1610 Series comprises four models, all sharing the same acoustic voicing, allowing systems to be built or expanded over time without altering tonal balance. The lineup includes the 1610 Tower 8, a three-way floorstander aimed at full-range performance in a wide variety of rooms, the 1610 Bookshelf 8, a compact three-way design intended to deliver surprising scale in small to medium spaces, the 1610 Slim 8, a slimline three-way speaker designed for on-wall or close-to-wall placement, and the 1610 Center 8, a dedicated three-way center channel designed to anchor dialogue and on-screen action.
All models are offered in Arendal Sound’s Basalt and Polar finishes.
Under the hood, the 1610 Series borrows heavily from Arendal's flagship concepts. Core elements include the company’s RØST Essence architecture, time-aligned design for coherent wave propagation, carefully shaped waveguides for controlled dispersion, and rigid HDF cabinet construction intended to deliver predictable acoustic behavior. To Arendal, these choices aren’t about novelty but rather consistency, ensuring stable, balanced performance in everyday listening environments.
Arendal Sound founder Jan Ove Lassesen describes the 1610 Series as a purposeful shift in perspective. Rather than scaling down a flagship and calling it a day, the company set out to redefine what high-end sound should look like for customers who care deeply about value as much as performance.
“Since we launched 1528, many of our customers have asked us for the same confidence, build quality, and sound philosophy in a more approachable system,” says Lassesen. “With 1610, we’re deliberately moving the reference point. This is high-end sound built for customers who expect real value for their money - not inflated pricing justified by marketing narratives or tradition.”
As with all Arendal Sound products, the 1610 Series is sold direct and includes a 60-day home audition, free returns in the U.S. and EU mainland, a 10-year warranty, and direct support from the Arendal Sound team. Pricing is as follows: the 1610 Tower 8 is $7,600 per pair; the 1610 Bookshelf 8 is $3,600 per pair; the 1610 Slim 8 is $2,800 per pair; and the 1610 Center 8 is $2,300 each. Orders are open now, with deliveries expected to begin in early March, though regional timing may vary slightly between Europe and the United States. Arendal notes that orders placed at launch will receive priority allocation from the first production batches.
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