The ClairAudient 1+1 personal reference monitors have now been upgraded to V5. The V5 improvement is the result of an added circuit to limit energy below 40Hz. The motivation for this improvement was to allow the speakers to be played louder and with reduced risk of blowing drivers when playing robust bass. Bonus results include greater clarity, due to lower distortion, and even better bass. Including the previous V4 improvements the performance of the 1+1 puts them into a new league. There are numerous reviews in the making including the great review that was just published in Dagogo.com.
The ClairAudient 1+1 V5 is a bi-pole (front- and rear-radiating) design that is compact, yet provides surprisingly expansive sound. It is outfitted with 2 of Audience's own 3" full range, crossoverless drivers on the front and rear, with dual passive radiators flanking the sides. You won't find any crossover parts in the signal path to smear harmonics and blur transients.
What's New
The Audience 1+1-V5 speakers include the best of the previous V2+ versions in addition to some great new technologies. The improvements of the V4 loudspeakers are resulting from the implementation of improved voice coil technology. The V5 voice coil provides faster rise time and greater control of the driver.
Additionally, the V5 loudspeaker internal wiring includes metallurgic improvements represented in the wiring of the new Audience flagship frontRow cables as well as improvements in bass control, allowing for louder presentation.
The Audience Full Range driver
The Audience proprietary full-range driver, while just 3 inches in diameter, delivers extremely flat frequency response from 50Hz to 22kHz (depending on room placement), eliminating the need for a separate woofer, midrange driver, tweeter, and crossover network. As a result the inherent problems of integrating multiple sonically dissimilar drivers and the accompanying phase distortions, loss of resolution and transient response degradation of a crossover network are completely avoided. The dual side-mounted passive radiators augment the output of the 1+1 V4 drivers and enable it to deliver outstanding presence and dynamic contrast.
The ClairAudient driver incorporates numerous engineering refinements such as a large patented neodymium-magnet motor structure and voice coil that moves with a highly linear excursion of 12mm; an exclusive titanium alloy cone material with a curvilinear shape; a concave dust cap specially designed to control high-frequency cone breakup and provide optimum dispersion; a unique "S"-shaped surround that allows the driver to behave more like an ideal pistonic radiator, and many additional enhancements.
The 1+1 V5 also utilizes Audience's unique SSIT SweetSpace TM Imaging Technology that provides an expanded listening area rather than the usual single listener sweet spot.
The Sound
The sonic results of the 1+1 V5 are significant: better resolution, "speed", soundstaging, a more realistic timbre and natural quality to vocals and instruments.
The end result of the V4 improvements is not subtle. The V5 loudspeakers are notably better than V4 in just about every aspect. The resolution is greater and the background is quieter resulting in a dramatically more palpable and tonally rich presentation. Dynamics and sound staging are also improved.
Break-in
The ClairAudient 1+1 V5 needs 150 hours of break-in. It may sound colored right out of the box. Please do not lose heart. Be patient and allow them to break-in fully. You will be rewarded...
