Clarisys Audio Atrium System Insights.
Q: Why is it multiple panels and would you do something different on the next version?
A: All our speakers use very high powered Neodymium N52s; the panels move so much air and have such a high excursion (technical x-max is 1.6cm (0.8cm back and 0.8cm forward) that even with the aluminium structure, bass vibrations do get through to the midrange and trebble. Physical isolation is the best way to achieve a undistorted response. Our speakers in general have the highest stiffness of any panel speaker available; and we still ideally like to seperate all the elements. In an Atrium V2; i would even seperate the midrange and trebble ribbons.
Q: What is truly unique to the Clarisys Audio Midrange and Trebble ribbons?
A: They are Bi-Polar; as opposed to everyone else; which are dipols. The advantage is a more uniform field of dispersion across the horizontal axis. You also get twice the output and twice the impedance. Our ribbons are now, also pure aluminium and therefore extremely light and fast. They are actually way lighter and faster then any other mylar or kapton based units. The downside is the crippling low impedance; which we counter by using custom Transformers made by Lundahl which have no audible or response impact we can hear or meassure.
Q: Are active crossovers the way to go with Clarisys Audio speakers?
A: If you have the money and space and desire to squeze the last bit of performance from the speakers; and to adjust the system to your room, yes, yes it is. Now; we do provide 1st order crossovers on all models starting from Q2 2024 which sound very good indeed. On a Piccolo or a Minuet; there is no technical possibility to run them active without some modifications. We have passive and active Studio Plus and Auditorium customers; and they all enjoy their systems. The primary advantage of active is: less loss of power; more dynamic headroom with sharper slopes; phase and time alignement of the drivers as well as room adaption in 0.1db steps. It is a very powerful tool if used right! The downside is price. On the Atrium System; we do prvide a passive crossover as standard with the following slopes and values. Infrabass is DC to 40Hz (6db slope); midbass is 25Hz to 550Hz (6db slope); midrange is 550Hz to open end (naturally drops above 7KHz off axis); trebble starts at 7KHz and plays open end. When running active there are several options. In Munich we ran 6db filters and used DC to 40Hz; midbass was 25Hz to 440Hz; midrange was 440Hz to 5000Hz and trebble was 5000Hz to open end. We used the time alignement function as well.
Q: Why where the panels spaced so far apart?
A: To make a wider off axis sweet spot to account for 50 chairs in the room. The time alignement was made for the 2nd row center chair. The entire concept of the Atrium is to place each module where it has the best power response in the room; and then to use the time alignement function to ensure a perfect integration. And we proved that by having about a dozen people ask us what module was actually playing; not knowing that all of them are playing at the same time.
Q: Why not stick all panels together and align them to the listener?
A: Each driver interferes with the other driver but more importantly because a staggered dipole horizontally cannot work. The tweeter and midrange element cannot unfold its dipole or bipole radiation pattern because it bounces of the woofer face; causing ripples and uneven responses. The best spot for the midrange or trebble module is very unlikely the best preassure point for low bass.
Q: What adjustments are possible on the Atrium System?
A: The bass, midrange and trebble tension. The horizontal and vertical aligement of the drivers. The module positions; the slope; the gain; the phase. In other words; we can tune it to your tastes. We dont have to conform to a "standard" taste. In my room for example i run 24db on low-low and low; but 18db from low to mid-low and 6db on mid to high. The character can be whatever i want it to be.
Q: You claim 101db per watt; why wont a 3 watt tube amp work?
A: Because the industry standard measurement is pointless. Nobody listens to a 1KHz sinewave and most energy is in the bass section. On the Clarisys speakers; we publicly state that a good solid 100 watts per channel is our recommendation and we stick by it. But it depends on your taste, your room, your listening levels and musical material.