Norwegian speaker specialist Arendal Sound is reintroducing its award-winning 1961 Series after a two-year hiatus due to growing global demand for the versatile eight-model range.
The 1961 Series – 1961 Tower, 1961 Monitor, 1961 Center, 1961 Bookshelf, 1961 Height, 1961 Surround, 1961 Subwoofer 1V, and Subwoofer 1S – offers advanced engineering, Nordic-inspired design and the audio performance you’d expect from much larger and more expensive products says the maker.
“You asked, we listened,” says Arendal Sound CEO Jan Ove Lassesen. “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 don’t have to come with trade-offs.”
The 1961 Series uses trickle-down technology from Arendal’s step-up 1723 Series, including waveguide tweeters and custom drivers, with the aim to deliver precise, dynamic sound reproduction. It also offers the high-quality HDF cabinets and hand-painted matte Black and White finishes the Nordic brand is known for. This shared signature sound and look mean 1961 models can be mixed and matched with other Arendal speaker set-ups as needed.
The 1961 Series is available to pre-order now, with global delivery direct from the Arendal Sound website. Each speaker comes with a 60-day risk-free trial, a 10-year warranty (five years for subwoofer electronics), and access to the brand’s range of support resources, including the community-run Arendal Sound Club.
1961 Series in more detail
1961 Tower
£1,600/$1,900/€1,900 per pair • 2.5-way floor-standing design • 28mm soft dome waveguide tweeter • Custom 5.5in long-fibre pulp-cone drivers • Sealable bass port • Magnetic grilles • Comes with a spike kit, which enables precise tilt adjustments to optimise the listening angle and minimises vibrations • Available in Black and White finishes.
1961 Monitor
£1,000/$1,150/€1,150 per pair • 2-way standmount design • Can be wall-mounted; VESA100 mount compatible • 28mm soft dome waveguide tweeter • Custom 5.5in long-fibre pulp-cone drivers • Magnetic grilles • Available in Black and White finishes.
1961 Bookshelf
£730/$850/€850 per pair • Compact, 2-way speaker • Can be wall-mounted; VESA100 mount compatible • 28mm soft dome waveguide tweeter • Custom 5.5in long-fibre pulp-cone driver • Magnetic grilles • Available in Black and White finishes.
1961 Center
£530/$600/€600 single speaker • Compact, 2-way centre speaker for home theatre systems • Can be wall-mounted; VESA100 mount compatible • 28mm soft dome waveguide tweeter • Custom 5.5in long-fibre pulp-cone drivers • Magnetic grilles • Available in Black and White finishes.
1961 Height
£730/$850/€850 per pair • Angled, 2-way design for spatial audio set-ups, e.g. Dolby Atmos • Can be placed on top of the 1961 Tower or wall/ceiling mounted; VESA mount compatible • 28mm soft dome waveguide tweeter • Custom 5.5in long-fibre pulp-cone driver • Magnetic grilles • Available in Black and White finishes.
1961 Surround
£830/$950/€950 per pair • Triaxial design for immersive multichannel sound • Two dipole full-range drivers work in harmony with a front-firing, two-way mid/bass and tweeter system • Can be wall-mounted; VESA mount compatible • 28mm soft dome waveguide tweeter • Custom 5.5in long-fibre pulp-cone driver • Magnetic grilles • Available in Black and White finishes.
1961 Subwoofer
1V £1,050/$1,200/€1,200 • Vented design maximises low-frequency response. Option to seal bass port to adjust for room acoustics and a more precise music performance • Avalanche 550 iQ amplifier offers 550W RMS output and intelligent DSP • Customisation options include 3-band parametric EQ, low-pass filters, and subsonic filters • Custom 12.2in glass-fibre reinforced driver with airflow venting technology ensures smooth performance at all dynamic levels • 1.8in LCD display • Anti-vibration puck feet • Magnetic grilles • Available in Black and White finishes.
1961 Subwoofer 1S
£900/$1,000/€1,000 • Compact, sealed subwoofer design • Ideal for music systems or smaller home theatre set-ups • Avalanche 550 iQ amplifier offers 550W RMS output and intelligent DSP • Customisation options include 3-band parametric EQ, low-pass filters, and subsonic filters • Custom 12.2in glass-fibre reinforced driver with airflow venting technology ensures smooth performance at all dynamic levels • 1.8in LCD display • Anti-vibration puck feet • Magnetic grilles • Available in Black and White finishes
Why 1961?
All Arendal Sound speaker series are named after key dates in local Norwegian history. In 1961, the Tromøy Bridge was completed, connecting the island of Tromøy to the mainland near Arendal. This 400-metre suspension bridge, one of the longest of its kind at the time, was a significant engineering achievement that enhanced accessibility and fostered growth in the region.
The 1961 Series draws inspiration from this landmark, symbolising Arendal Sound’s commitment to bridging traditional craftsmanship with modern audio innovation. Just as the Tromøy Bridge connected communities, the 1961 Series connects listeners to a heightened auditory experience, reflecting the same spirit of ingenuity and connection that has shaped Arendal’s history.
By naming the series after this pivotal year, Arendal Sound honours the legacy of progress and unity the Tromøy Bridge represents, embedding these values into the very essence of its audio engineering.
