Clarisys Studio Plus running in a full-active 2-way stereo configuration, using my own tube-buffered active crossover design:
Are you using 4 Karan monos?Clarisys Studio Plus running in a full-active 2-way stereo configuration, using my own tube-buffered active crossover design:
No, using the Karan monos on the bass panel and my own design (AB amp) on the tweeters. I have tried the NAT Symbiosis New on the tweeter position and preferred the matching with this AB amp. With that said, I will likely have a class A design (Pass Labs?) on the MRT as it's not very demanding in terms of power, given the high pass frequency.Are you using 4 Karan monos?

Congratulations on putting this complex but fascinating system together!After several months of hard work, I’m proud to present what I think is by far (by far) the best iteration of my hi-fi system yet.
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This is a fully active three-way stereo active system. The speaker config comprises of the Clarisys Studio Plus (the bipole true ribbon MRT version), augmented by the Mundorf AMT27D1.1 dipole tweeter. Even though I have the option to run the system in a 4-way stereo configuration I have elected not to use any subwoofers because the Clarisys speaker has more than enough slam and bass on its own. On the other hand, for that final touch of air and speed (and especially a more even vertical dispersion) I have chosen to use Mundorf’s dipole AMT design. The AMT27D1.1 is a dipole so while that may cause phase issues with the bipole nature of the MRT on the Clarisys, that’s not the case. I use a relatively steep 4th order slope (Linkwitz Riley 24db/oct) for the entire speaker. The bass panel and MRT low pass and high pass are set to 580hz, while the AMT crosses with the MRT at 5,500hz.
The drivers are powered by the following amps:
The bass panel: powered by the Karan Acoustics POWERa mono amps — 2,000w into 8ohms.
The MRT driver: Burmester 956 MK2 — 240w into 4ohms
Mundorf AMT: Burmester 036 — 171w into 4ohms.
Why this choice of amps? Well, the Burmester (next to Pass Labs) is one of my favorite commercially available amplifiers. They have incredible control, no capacitors in the signal path, which in turn makes them highly resolving yet supremely musical. Also, it helps that the craftsmanship is absolutely top-notch and that I consider them to be drop-dead gorgeous. Everything from 580hz upwards is handled by these great amps and I couldn’t be happier.
And what about the Karans? Is that a bit of an overkill? Sure! But I own them and they are superb. And you can never have enough power and control in the bass.
The “star” of the system though is my own creation — a tube-buffered eight channel digital active crossover, with an integrated streamer and digital volume control. This project was a massive undertaking. I have stripped the digital parts to their bare minimums while taking great care in ensuring all of the best parts are used for the analogue section — Duelund capacitors, four matched pairs of Mullard KQDD/K M8136 CV4003 tubes (pure magic), top-of-the-line linear power supplies, separate for the digital and analogue sections, EZ81 Philips Mullard 6CA4 tube rectifiers instead of solid state. Furthermore, copper cooling to keep the digital components (DSP chips, etc.) running at their optimal temperatures, network filters, and many more tricks, too many to recount here.
For the power, I use a combination of my own power generator (AB class) which powers the active crossover and the two Burmester amps, while the Shunyata Everest handles the big Karans.
Put simply, this system is a combination of engineering work and resources to spend on top-notch commercial equipment. It is a no-compromise approach to hi-fi which spares no expense but also factors in that commercially available products just don’t cut it if you are looking for the ultimate fidelity.
Finally, how does this system sound now that the work is complete?
Quite simply, in my opinion, it beats any home system I’ve heard (regardless of the type of speaker or electronics used) and it gives the super systems I’ve heard over the years in Munich (think Kharma, MBL, Aries Cerat, Clarisys room) a run for their money. It’s that good. In a home setting, aside from Marty’s system, I haven’t heard better… and I’ve heard many.
Wow .. what are you using for designing and implementing the digital crossoverAfter several months of hard work, I’m proud to present what I think is by far (by far) the best iteration of my hi-fi system yet.
![]()
This is a fully active three-way stereo active system. The speaker config comprises of the Clarisys Studio Plus (the bipole true ribbon MRT version), augmented by the Mundorf AMT27D1.1 dipole tweeter. Even though I have the option to run the system in a 4-way stereo configuration I have elected not to use any subwoofers because the Clarisys speaker has more than enough slam and bass on its own. On the other hand, for that final touch of air and speed (and especially a more even vertical dispersion) I have chosen to use Mundorf’s dipole AMT design. The AMT27D1.1 is a dipole so while that may cause phase issues with the bipole nature of the MRT on the Clarisys, that’s not the case. I use a relatively steep 4th order slope (Linkwitz Riley 24db/oct) for the entire speaker. The bass panel and MRT low pass and high pass are set to 580hz, while the AMT crosses with the MRT at 5,500hz.
The drivers are powered by the following amps:
The bass panel: powered by the Karan Acoustics POWERa mono amps — 2,000w into 8ohms.
The MRT driver: Burmester 956 MK2 — 240w into 4ohms
Mundorf AMT: Burmester 036 — 171w into 4ohms.
Why this choice of amps? Well, the Burmester (next to Pass Labs) is one of my favorite commercially available amplifiers. They have incredible control, no capacitors in the signal path, which in turn makes them highly resolving yet supremely musical. Also, it helps that the craftsmanship is absolutely top-notch and that I consider them to be drop-dead gorgeous. Everything from 580hz upwards is handled by these great amps and I couldn’t be happier.
And what about the Karans? Is that a bit of an overkill? Sure! But I own them and they are superb. And you can never have enough power and control in the bass.
The “star” of the system though is my own creation — a tube-buffered eight channel digital active crossover, with an integrated streamer and digital volume control. This project was a massive undertaking. I have stripped the digital parts to their bare minimums while taking great care in ensuring all of the best parts are used for the analogue section — Duelund capacitors, four matched pairs of Mullard KQDD/K M8136 CV4003 tubes (pure magic), top-of-the-line linear power supplies, separate for the digital and analogue sections, EZ81 Philips Mullard 6CA4 tube rectifiers instead of solid state. Furthermore, copper cooling to keep the digital components (DSP chips, etc.) running at their optimal temperatures, network filters, and many more tricks, too many to recount here.
For the power, I use a combination of my own power generator (AB class) which powers the active crossover and the two Burmester amps, while the Shunyata Everest handles the big Karans.
Put simply, this system is a combination of engineering work and resources to spend on top-notch commercial equipment. It is a no-compromise approach to hi-fi which spares no expense but also factors in that commercially available products just don’t cut it if you are looking for the ultimate fidelity.
Finally, how does this system sound now that the work is complete?
Quite simply, in my opinion, it beats any home system I’ve heard (regardless of the type of speaker or electronics used) and it gives the super systems I’ve heard over the years in Munich (think Kharma, MBL, Aries Cerat, Clarisys room) a run for their money. It’s that good. In a home setting, aside from Marty’s system, I haven’t heard better… and I’ve heard many.
I've essentially set up the house curve exactly how I prefer it in the bass, so in essence, yes. It's completely "genre-proof" meaning rock and pop rock sounds just right. You have the mid-bass energy you need for that music, but it's also ideally suited to the room.Congratulations on putting this complex but fascinating system together!
Are you woofer-cooking?
The usual suspects, meaning REW, UMIK2 mic, but I also use AI tools that I've created to run various simulations, phase calculations, etc. Quite intricate, but the end result is spot on. Of course, I do all final testing and fine tuning by ear, as long as I'm objectively within the required parameters.Wow .. what are you using for designing and implementing the digital crossover
Yes Matlab xovers can be setup via AI .. its pretty good if your across that math ( not me)... I have been using a acourate for convolution filters and , after a steep learning curve , finding it very impressive .. Uli has his own filter which I think is like an elliptical xover .. worth looking atThe usual suspects, meaning REW, UMIK2 mic, but I also use AI tools that I've created to run various simulations, phase calculations, etc. Quite intricate, but the end result is spot on. Of course, I do all final testing and fine tuning by ear, as long as I'm objectively within the required parameters.
Three drivers per side — bass panel, midrange tweeter and AMT tweeter.May I ask how many amt drivers per side ?
There are multiple advantages in using the AMT driver vs. going with a 3-way Clarisys, like not going through the transformer and the vertical dispersion is better. There are some disadvantages as well but most all of them can be resolved with using the active system. Steep slopes, time alignment, etc., allow me to do a perfect integration.Thanks for replying, I looked them up about $1300 each USA wow .
this may sound dumb but have you heard clarysis larger 3 way setup ?
I know it's not the same as what your doing
But you still can't move the bass panels away from the tweets and amt drivers.
in owning the diva speakers it becomes difficult to make all work well .
Where the infinity IRS V I can move the bass panels
I see Florian has also made the driver panels flexible .
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