Planar Speakers and Diffusors

I have tried to connect with GIK, and they say I must make an appointment to actually talk to them, in about a month from now! 

ozzy

ghdprentice,

Thank you for the comments. I guess the GIK diffusors interested me because they mention planar type speaker in the product description.

But I have searched, I can’t find any info from actual users of the product. And they are not exactly cheap.

ozzy

Thank you, Eric, for the advice.

From what I have discovered with the Clarisys Speakers is No absorption is better. With previous speakers, I did have Tube traps in the corners, and many Stillpoint Aperture’s, but with the Clarisys they lessened the liveliness and soundstage. So, I sold them.

The subs are in the corners (4 JL-F113) and have been calibrated individually. I think within my room sound good. The subs are crossed over at 40hz. while the Clarisys play full range.

ozzy

Thanks for the responses.

From what I understand, the Clarisys speakers are designed to reflect sound forward and behind the speakers. They use the back wall reflection as part of the open audio design. The Planar design does not radiate any information to the side walls. I have the speakers about 30" from the side wall because the bass seems a little stronger.

I have moved these 250 lb. speakers back/forward/ side to side/ toe in/no toe in and the present placement seems to be the best.

I have also found that the 85" TV screen to also help deflect and improve the openness. I have tried sound absorbers in front of the TV and it seems to restrict the soundstage.

The dealer, SunCoast Audio also advises using No absorption, and when they have them at shows they use some sort of reflective clear screen behind them to eliminate any absorption from drapes etc.

So, I don’t know if these speakers are a different animal than typical Planar speakers, but reflection or diffusion seems to be the way to go.

ozzy

tom8999,

To cut off the frequencies below 100hz and send them to your subs, you will need some type of electronic crossover.

In the past I have owned the JL CR-1, but I eventually sold it because it wasn’t as transparent as I wanted.

ozzy

This is a recent post from the Audio Sharks Forum by SunCoast Audio about the Clarisys speakers.

"Clarisys are panels, dipoles, so the sound is coming out the front and back. It doesn’t care what’s on the side walls as its radiation pattern is unlike a box speaker or Omni. With Clarisys, unlike some of it’s competitors (or what some claim to be full ribbon - which are really Mylar in the bass), from the lowest note to the highest note, the driver material is identical. This creates a very coherent sound. The entire frequency range is one material."

ozzy

mijostyn,benanders

Thank you for your comments they are welcome and interesting but seem to be off track from my original question.

I have learned that keeping my system simple is the best way. I no longer have a dac, preamp, etc. The signal goes from my Lumin X1 to my mono blocks- Clarisys speakers, which have internal crossovers for the treble ribbons and the midrange/woofers ribbon.

I guess each type/brand of speakers has its own set up values and to me, the Clarisys speakers play best with minimum room treatments. BTW, my ceilings and walls are all internally insulated and covered with double 5/8" drywall. The floor is concrete covered by carpet with no padding.

I am interested in diffusors because from what I have researched they are supposed to make the soundstage even larger. But I don’t know if that would be a plus, thus my initial post and question.

ozzy

audiokinesis,

Thank you for your response. To answer the questions posed:

The speakers are 60" from the front wall, 30" from sidewall, no toe in. I have never heard these speakers prior to purchasing them. They have a very wide soundstage. Unless the music comes directly from the left or right channel you cannot hear the speakers individually.

SunCoast has advised using large plants behind them for diffusion (on the cheap side).  I am always looking for ideas to improve, thus my question.

ozzy

Thanks, guys, for the help.

GIK did send me an email based on the pictures I sent them of my room, but their suggestions were all over the map. A one-to one conversation needs to be scheduled and they say they are booked out for the next month. Plus, it took many days before they even responded to a question via their website or email. So, I guess working with them is out.

The dealer suggests diffusors behind the speakers or nothing else. No sound absorbing material. The speaker designer also attends the shows with the dealer, so I think they are on the same page as to room treatments. Believe me I had a whole room full of Tube Traps, Stillpoint Apertures and they deadened the sound. So, I sold them all.

I would like to try something, (I guess I am bored?)

Quadratic Residue diffusers? What is the difference in performance between them and the slat type diffusors?

ozzy

ketchup,

Thanks,

My room is 17 X 26 X 8. Center to center speaker is 138" they are 60" from the front wall and 30" from the sidewall, and I sit 144" from the speakers.

I have 4 JL-F-113 subs in the corners that are calibrated to the room and crossed over at 45hz.

I just visited the ATS website, and their prices are comparable to GIK. All the different types of diffusors are confusing.

ozzy

audiokinesis,

I have considered the fake plants. However, I still have alot of cabling behind the speakers, so the real estate is limited.

ozzy

magnuman,

I have a separate thread about the Michi 8’s under "Members Review".

Audiogon Discussion Forum

Check it out.

ozzy

drbond

Thank you for your comments.

I think the claim to fame for these Clarisys speakers is their wide-open soundstage, anything that inhibits that will change the design.

To try any type of diffusor unit(s) would cost about $1000 to cover about a 4-foot area.

And most mount differently. I would need to put a hole(s) in the wall to mount them. I’m not opposed to it, but there are several different diffusor types, along with different sizes. So, I would prefer to have more knowledge, before entering the path of wall Swiss cheese and trial and error.

ozzy

ketchup,

I guess my ear tune to my room is pretty good! LOL

At least according to Cardas.

ozzy

Update:

If you guys check out my system page, you will see that behind the Clarisys speakers I do have installed some plastic diffusors that I purchased from Amazon. I think they cost $62 for a package of 12.

Anyway, today, based on this thread and comments I removed them. From what I now hear there is a more unified deep soundstage.

So, based on this, I no longer think diffusors behind the Clarisys speakers to be a positive thing.

ozzy

drbond,

I do have some 4-foot absorbent type panels that I could place behind the speakers against the wall temporary. But I think I started out this way...

ozzy

So, I just tried the absorbent panels behind my Clarisys speakers, and they did provide more of center image that was nice but at the expense of the deeper soundstage from the rear wall reflection.

ozzy

Thank you for some very good information.

The DC3 Multiuser, QRD diffusers, along with adding a couple plants interests me.

At this time, I’m going without front wall/behind speaker treatment. The soundstage is huge as it is!

But I am such a tweaker and audio hobbyist, I’m sure I will revisit the suggestions sooner or later.

ozzy

Thanks!

I guess what we are finding out is there is not just one approach to maximizing our systems and soundstage. Everything is a variable that should be explored.

Happy Easter to all!

ozzy

dasign,

Thank you for that information.

At the present I do not have anything behind the Clarisys. But I will revisit some type of diffusor in the future.

ozzy