Thread: Clair Audient 2+2 speakers

Since we have taken it upon ourselves to introduce our readers to brands that enter the Indian markets, this time we have the opportunity to bring to your notice not one but two such companies-Allen Smith and Audience AV. However, this space will be used to talk on the latter. Based in California, Audience A V is a young organisation, which was formed by John McDonald and Richard Smith in 1997. In no time the duo managed to put together a gamut of product categories including cables, conditioners, electronics, loudspeakers and also spare components like speaker drivers.

They also have a unique product called the Auric Illuminator gel, which the company claims enhances the resolution of optical discs, such as CDs and SACDs. Audience AV in their mission statement have mentioned that, "When Audience develops a product, no consideration is given to the end price until the product is finished. Focus is placed on developing the very best product possible; then the price is based on cost." This approach aptly reflects in their Rs 3,00,000 worth bookshelf speaker, the ClairAudient 2+ 2.



OUT OF THE BOX


The ClairAudient 2+ 2 is an odd man out right from the first look. Apart from the typical real wood textured finish and a boxy (though not square) cabinet nothing in the speaker seems to be conventionaL Firstly, there is no tweeter in the entire speaker. On the front baffle, they have used a couple of full-range Audience A3 drivers. You can also see a woofer on the side panel of the speakers. As if this wasn't enough, they even managed to fit in two more Audience A3 drivers on the back panel of the speakers. Surprisingly, even after carrying a total of five drivers, the "'ClairAudient 2+ 2 weren't that heavy. Let's find out Audience's approach towards the speaker design.

TECHNOLOGY


When you look at the speakers, you realise that a lot of technology has been used in their making during the production stage. However, when you give it a closer look you realise that the makers of ClairAudient 2 + 2 have been extremely smart and have simply used the conventional design principles in an innovative fashion. We are all well-versed with the concept of full-range drivers and their characteristic. Capable of handling the entire frequency spectrum, these small drivers are made to be a solution for one of the biggest speaker design problems called crossovers. And this is exactly what Audience A V is set out to resolve in their ClairAudient lineup of speakers. With the usage of full-range drivers, they have got rid of the crossovers, which Audience A V claims will eliminate many issues including phase anomalies.