Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 3.7/5 (#63 and #60 of 131 center channel speakers) at nearly the same price ($1,100 vs $1,099), so choose on features and fit.
What the Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX does well: The center of the THX certified 1723 S line, with the 28mm waveguide tweeter between two 6.5” woofers and 88.7dB sensitivity. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured 1723 S speakers and the measured Arendal Sound 1961 Center.
Why pick the Focal Aria Evo X Center: French flax cone technology in dual 6.5-inch woofers with inverted TAM aluminum/magnesium tweeter in urethane waveguide. Watch for: 2-way horizontal MTM geometry narrows the off-axis listening window for outer theater seating.
Buy the Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX or the Focal Aria Evo X Center on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX 3.3 to 4.0; Focal Aria Evo X Center 3.5 to 3.9). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX | Focal Aria Evo X Center | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,100 each | $1,099.00 |
| Ranked | #63 of 131 in Center Channel Speakers Estimated | #60 of 131 in Center Channel Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Drivers | 28mm tweeter, 2 x 6.5” woofers | 1” (25mm) TAM Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) Flax woofers |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz -6dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) | 57Hz - 30kHz (±3dB) |
| Sensitivity | 88.7dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 91dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal (4.3 ohms minimum) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 75Hz (manufacturer specified) | 57Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.5kHz | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported (port plugs included) | - |
| Dimensions | 9.6”H x 22.4”W x 12.6”D (245 x 569 x 320 mm) | 7.9”H x 21”W x 9.6”D (200 x 533 x 245 mm) |
| Weight | 41.2 lbs (18.7 kg) | 23.1 lbs (10.5 kg) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Focal Aria Evo X Center compares with other leading options:
- KEF Q6 Meta vs Focal Aria Evo X Center
- Focal Aria Evo X Center vs Focal Theva Center
- Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX vs Sonus Faber Lumina Center I
- Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX vs MartinLogan Motion C10
- MartinLogan Motion XT C100 vs MartinLogan Motion C10
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX: $1,100 each Estimated Arendal Sound eBay
Same family: the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX (smallest bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX (bookshelf, rated 4.1/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX (largest bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Tower S THX (smaller floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX (larger floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5) and the Arendal Sound 1723 Center THX (larger center, ranked higher, estimated 3.8/5).
Pros: The center of the THX certified 1723 S line, with the 28mm waveguide tweeter between two 6.5” woofers and 88.7dB sensitivity. Supplied port plugs let it run sealed when crossed to a subwoofer.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured 1723 S speakers and the measured Arendal Sound 1961 Center. The horizontal woofer and tweeter layout narrows dispersion off-center, and bass is rated only to 75Hz (-3dB).
Full Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2017 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 75Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.5kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 9.6”H x 22.4”W x 12.6”D (245 x 569 x 320 mm) |
| Drivers | 28mm tweeter, 2 x 6.5” woofers |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz -6dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 88.7dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 41.2 lbs (18.7 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported (port plugs included) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Focal Aria Evo X Center: $1,099.00 Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Focal Aria Evo X N°1 (bookshelf, estimated 3.5/5), the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 (smallest floorstanding, rated 3.7/5), the Focal Aria Evo X N°3 (floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5) and the Focal Aria Evo X N°4 (largest floorstanding, estimated 4.4/5). See every Focal Aria generation.
Pros: French flax cone technology in dual 6.5-inch woofers with inverted TAM aluminum/magnesium tweeter in urethane waveguide. Highly natural vocal reproduction with low distortion and excellent acoustic damping.
Cons: 2-way horizontal MTM geometry narrows the off-axis listening window for outer theater seating. Rating estimated from Aria Evo X series measurements.
Full Focal Aria Evo X Center review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9”H x 21”W x 9.6”D (200 x 533 x 245 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) TAM Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) Flax woofers |
| Frequency Response | 57Hz - 30kHz (±3dB) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4.3 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Weight | 23.1 lbs (10.5 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons