ClairAudient 1+1 V5
Personal Reference Monitors

Loudspeaker FAQ

What is a bi-pole loudspeaker system?

A bi-pole loudspeaker system is one with drivers front and rear operating in phase. Some bi-pole designs are designed with different drivers front and rear and there are some in which rear passive radiators, used as tuning devices, only act as a bi-pole at a narrow range of frequencies.

What is phase?

The term “phase,” as it is used in audio, refers the movement of the speaker cone or other transducer in response to a signal. When drivers simultaneously move in the same direction in response to a given signal, they are said to be in phase and when they move in the opposite directions they are said to be out of phase. In phase drivers provide a fuller and richer sound and bi-pole designs express that quality exceptionally well.

What is impedance?

Impedance can be thought of as the equivalent of resistance or push-back (impediment) to an electrical signal. It is a measure of the resistance in a speaker that occurs when music in your system plays. As the music changes impedance also changes with the frequency of the musical signal. Impedance is expressed in ohms. Most speaker systems are designed as fixed 4, 8, or 16 ohm devices.  Some Audience ClairAudient speaker systems are available in several impedance ratings to meet your needs.

What is loudspeaker efficiency?

Loudspeaker efficiency is a measure of acoustic output when a precise signal is applied to it. This is generally expressed, in engineering terms, as an equation of X dB @ Y volts. That equation tells you how easily your speaker can be powered by an amplifier. ClairAudient loudspeakers have an efficiency ratings ranging from 85 dB to 99 db and can be used with a wide range of amplifiers.

What is sensitivity?

Sensitivity is a specification that relates to the efficiency of a speaker. Sensitivity is the sound pressure level (SPL), in a non-reflective environment, measured at 1-meter distance from the front of a loudspeaker produced by 1 watt of power (2.83 rms volts into 8 Ω) into the speaker and is expressed in decibels (dB).  A higher sensitivity number means the speaker will require less power to drive it. For example a speaker rated at 99db will require less power than one rated at 95db to achieve the same output volume.

What is transient response?

Transient response is a measure of how quickly a speaker responds to a quick change in a music signal. A crashing cymbal from a quiet background for instance.  The faster the response, the more crisply and accurately that sound will be reproduced. A slow response results in a sound that is muddy or less distinct. A driver with a large speaker cone typically has a slower transient response than a driver with a small-diaphragm cone.  Since all Audience ClairAudient loudspeakers utilize small-diaphragm drivers the transient response is exceptionally good. (Please see our Technology Section for a complete description of Audience A3S driver.) Good transient response is vital for proper speaker imaging. The leading edge of a signal gives us the ability to locate sounds in space. These “images” are only achieved if they are accurately reproduced.

What is imaging?

Imaging is the ability of a loudspeaker system to accurately place a voice or instrument into the listening area much like a live musical event. A speaker system that can recreate the realism of a performance in horizontal and vertical positions such that you perceive it as “being there” is said to image well. Audience ClairAudient speakers are known for very precise imaging.

How should my loudspeakers be placed?

Most every listening environment is unique and is an integral part of the music playback system. Every room is different in size and shape and contains different furnishings. Careful placement can make big improvements in how sound is reproduced into the room. Conversely poor placement can reduce even the finest speaker system to mediocre sound. Audience ClairAudient Loudspeaker Systems can perform very well in rooms that hinder the performance of conventional designs. They are said to be “room friendly”. ClairAudient loudspeakers perform very well in a variety of placements. The more conventional sweet spot set up for one or two listeners works by placing ClairAudient speakers angled directly at the listener. However, ClairAudient speakers are unusual in that a SweetSpace sound field arrangement is also possible whereby a more holographic sound staging is cast into the room. The SweetSpace arrangement is accomplished by towing the speakers in at 45 degrees. In this configuration numerous people can enjoy a realistic sound stage simultaneously much like an actual live performance. Additionally, by moving speakers closer to, or further away from, the walls behind the speakers the bass response can be adjusted to a greater or lesser degree. ClairAudient loudspeakers continue to image well close to the back wall, whereas a great many speakers will not. The depth of the sound field is also affected by the distance  speakers are from the wall behind them. Speakers placed farther from the wall exhibit a deeper soundstage, front to back. ClairAudient loudspeakers are unique in that their exceptional sound can be enjoyed with extraordinary placement flexibility.

What kind of loudspeaker cables and interconnects should I use?

The simple answer to this question is “use the best cables and power cords that you can get”. Interconnects, speaker cables and power cords are the arteries of an audio system carrying the music signal much like the arteries of a human body. The health or quality of a system is very much dependant on the quality of the arteries that connect each component or your sound system. There are those who argue that cables do not make any difference in sound and support their assertions by technical measurements. Irrespective of this technical hyperbole, differences in the quality of reproduced sound using various cables can easily be demonstrated in any high quality sound system. There is no measuring device ever made by man that is more perceptive and discriminating than the human ears, brain and nervous system and the differences in cables is audible. In addition price does not necessarily equate to quality. Some cable manufacturers spend more on marketing than on manufacturing quality goods. We urge you to use your own judgment by listening evaluations, obtaining the assistance of a reputable audio dealer, manufacturer or an experienced audiophile friend. Audience manufactures various types of cables to meet your needs and they are rated as some of the finest available bar none. Please see the Cable Section of this site to learn more about Audience cables.

Is this true that cabinet design and materials are important to the sound quality of a loudspeaker?

Many people view a speaker cabinet, also referred to as an “enclosure”, simply as a cosmetic design. This is very far from the real purpose of a well designed loudspeaker enclosure. While cosmetics, fit and finish of a speaker cabinet are very important, the design and execution of the enclosure plays as key role in the performance of a speaker system. A well designed speaker enclosure is rigid to control the acoustic energy in a predicable way and is crucial to how the sound is directed into the room. It is a major factor in the accuracy and power of bass response and much more. Audience ClairAudient speaker enclosures are as advanced in design and assembly as the speaker components and wiring inside them. The quality of materials, method of constructions and finish of Audience loudspeaker systems are the finest available and are handcrafted with great care.

How much power do I need to get the most from my loudspeakers?

The amount of amplifier power you will need depends on several considerations: What kind of music you listen to? How loud do you listen? What is the size of your room? What is the efficiency rating of your speakers? Without getting into all the possible variations, it is best to use an amplifier that has enough reserve power to produce your music without distortion or compression of the dynamic peaks. The minimum recommended power for good performance should be listed in the specifications of the speaker. Audience ClairAudient speakers are relatively efficient and as such huge amplifiers are not necessarily required for excellent performance. The larger your room and the degree of loudness that you prefer will determine the amount of power that will be needed from a power amplifier. Contact Audience for more information or visit our Technology Section for additional information on matching your components.

What are crossovers and why are there no crossover in Audience ClairAudient loudspeakers?

Crossovers are filter networks used to direct various audio frequencies in a conventional speaker system comprised of differing drivers; tweeters, mid range drivers and  woofers. By their nature crossover networks are one of the main compromises in speaker designs due to the variety of problems they introduce which include phase distortion and other audibly negative  artifacts. From the inception of Audience the vision was to build a loudspeaker that was free from the limitations of conventional loudspeaker design. The only way around disparate drivers and crossover networks is to use “full range” loudspeaker drivers that are capable of reproducing the complete audible frequency range of music. Audience developed a unique and technically advanced, ultra high resolution A3S full-range driver so that the incoming music signal is not redirected, filtered or delayed in any way. The result is exceptional transparency, powerful dynamics and exceedingly natural transition from low to high frequencies.  Sound reproduced from ClairAudient loudspeakers is more natural and coherent in every way than any other loudspeaker ever made.

ClairAudient Line Source Array Loudspeakers

Audience Loudspeaker Design and Technology
Every speaker available today operates on the same physical principle that converts an electrical signal to mechanical/acoustical energy in order to convey audible sound through air. The differences in performance between one speaker and another are achieved by the manner in which the electrical to mechanical conversion is accomplished. Over the last 50 years or so modern loudspeakers have grown in sophistication and technology. However, with these advancements and technologies has come unnecessary complexity and problems which inherently detract from ultimate resolving power and the realistic portrayal of the musical event. Recently, the engineering team at Audience has succeeded in advancing beyond the compromises which plague even the best conventional speaker systems. With the development of the ClairAudient Loudspeaker Systems, our dream of an elegantly simple yet sophisticated driver technology has become reality. The compelling musicality of the ClairAudient line exists because of the painstaking research and engineering that produced the most sophisticated full range driver ever imagined. ClairAudient speakers have no disparate drivers (mids, woofers or tweeters). When the troublesome complexities of trying to blend the sound from different size drivers are eliminated the result is unprecedented coherency with uniform and coloration free output across the entire frequency range.

Audience technology also eliminates the most problematic element in conventional designs…phase anomalies due to the use of crossover networks. The drawbacks of crossovers are seen particularly in the treble region. Many designers must compensate for phase difference effects on response curves by introducing electrical compensation via the crossover. This might smooth out the measured response for testing but the transient response is destroyed. Complex waveforms are now incapable of being reproduced clearly or accurately. Our hearing is most sensitive to the frequency region around 2500hz. This is, unfortunately, where most mid-high crossovers effect what we hear. At Audience the use of multiple identical full-range drivers reproduces an extremely flat response from 40hz to 22khz with no phase issues at all.

ClairAudient loudspeaker technology delivers very high intelligibility of the most subtle of musical nuances. The remarkable 3 inch A3S drivershave a total moving mass of only 2.5 grams! In addition the cone materials are made from a Titanium alloy that provides strength and rigidity. The massively oversized magnet/motor structure coupled with the light weight of the cone assure response times that easily rival electrostatic panels. The resolution of musical detail at every frequency is unparalleled.

The ability to play loudly without distortion or compression is a required performance trait for realistic audio reproduction. Without this capability music sounds flat, somewhat lifeless and not very exciting or involving. The Audience A3S driver in multiple configurations produces stunning power and dynamic contrast without distortion at volume levels of live music. The 16+16 is the only speaker system that can bring a full symphony orchestra at live levels into the home. It is the unprecedented combination of coherency, resolution and dynamics that sets ClairAudient loudspeakers apart from all others.

Audience speakers are also capable of an exceptionally smooth and wide range polar response. Though the A3S driver delivers all frequencies in the audible range, if the entire driver was to reproduce the high frequencies the end result would be as if it was an oversized tweeter, which would exhibit severe beaming at frequencies over 10KHz. Audience solves this high frequency beaming problem very effectively and, again, without the complications of crossovers or correction networks. The small dust cap at the center of the driver decouples from the rest of the cone in a controlled manner, acting as if it was a small concave dome tweeter with wide and uniform dispersion.

The ClairAudient Loudspeaker Systems truly represent an innovation in musical accuracy and neutrality. This reduction in several forms of distortion also applies to bass performance. Multiple ultra-low distortion drivers are capable of realistic bass sound staging with a seamlessness and coherency that no conventional speaker can produce. The ability to recreate a wide, deep and realistic sound field is another performance advantage of ClairAudient loudspeaker technology. To produce a soundstage that offers some semblance of realistic acoustic space designers typically rely on various "tweaks" to crossover components and speaker/driver modifications. An Audience loudspeaker's ability to recreate acoustic space is uncanny in its realism. The smooth and uniform polar response of ClairAudient speakers coupled with the top to bottom single driver full range output creates the most realistic placement of musicians, instruments and the recording environment. ClairAudient loudspeakers are capable of producing a typical "sweet spot" response for a single listener as well as a Sweet-Space that extends the primary listening area for several people. Versatile positioning of the angle of the speaker into the room contribute to the stunning three dimensional "feel" of the performance. No other speaker systems can produce a more convincing sound stage.

ClairAudient Loudspeaker Systems embody the ultimate in technology for the finest in musical realism, emotional involvement and enjoyment.

The 1+1 owner's manual in PDF format can be downloaded here.