Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine Series Components - Manual (Page 13)

Section I • Getting Started
An Important Learning Note
Hybrid Audio Technologies designed the Imagine-series to be used predominantly as a coaxial, as we
can effectively mitigate anticipated environmental conditions and reduce the number of variables in
this type of installation. When used as a coaxial, the relative amplitudes (volumes) of the midbass and
tweeter are equalized to each other and the speaker system will perform as intended. There is much
less amplitude control of the tweeter amplitude with respect to the midbass amplitude when the set
is converted into component set mode. This is due to simple physics. If the midbass drivers are placed
low in the door, for example, and the tweeter is placed high in the dashboard, sail panels, or a-pillars,
there WILL be a notable amplitude difference between the two speakers. This is because the midbass
are installed further from you, and are likely aimed into your leg, carpeting, and other soft furnishings in
the vehicle, while the tweeter is located likely closer to you, likely aimed more “on-axis”, and is near hard,
reflective surfaces, such as window glass, hard plastic interior panels, and etc. In many cases, converting
from coaxial to component set will cause the tweeter to be notably louder than the midbass. This is not
a speaker malfunction; it is a simple acoustical phenomenon playing out in your vehicle. Hybrid Audio
Technologies usually recommends that the Imagine sets be left as a coaxial, but encourage the end-user
to test the Imagine systems in both formats to evaluate what best suits the end-user’s listening habits.
NOTE: Should the end-user be interested in a Hybrid Audio component set which includes Stage II
Imagine and Stage IV Clarus-level enhancements, which includes tweeter level attenuation, we’d
recommend the Stage III Unity series. The Unity series is a melding of the best of the Imagine line with
Clarus-level enhancements to make a budget-friendly high-end alternative; Hybrid Audio loosely calls
the Unity line ‘Clarus Junior.’ The Unity kits include the best features of the Imagine-series components,
including the same cast ABS frame, spider, and water-proof cone used in Imagine systems. Clarus-level
enhancements include outboard crossovers containing high-quality, low tolerance polypropylene and
electrolytic capacitors and air-core inductors, PTC tweeter power protection, and three steps of tweeter
attenuation, encased in the Clarus competition crossovers housing with gold-plated screw terminals.
Unity systems also utilize the exceptional Clarus C1 competition-grade tweeters for a step-up in
performance over the Imagine tweeter offering.
Finally, just because there is a factory tweeter pod location in the dashboard, a-pillars, fairing, or sail
panels in your vehicle doesn’t mean you have to use it! Because our ears are on the left and right sides of
the human head, human hearing is much less susceptible to hearing height cues as it is hearing width
and depth cues (please reference Lesson 3 and Lesson 4 later in this manual). Please don’t be fooled into
thinking that the tweeters MUST be placed high in order to establish a good stage height! Alas, as the
end-user, it is up to you to take the time and test the set to see what orientation is to your liking, and
certainly, as students of acoustics, we at Hybrid Audio Technologies encourage that learning exercise.
Section I • Getting Started
Basic System Installation (Continued)
In a basic system, the Imagine midbass speakers were designed to be installed in the
original factory speaker locations, most often in the vehicle’s doors (more advanced
locations that provide an additional level of performance are discussed in Section II of this
manual, if you’re interested in learning more). The Imagine midbass drivers are infinite
baffle-capable speakers, and must be mounted in a “large enclosure”, or as close to it as
possible, with unrestricted access to airspace to ensure the speaker’s ability to effectively
reproduce its wide frequency bandwidth. The reason why the speaker was designed in
this way is highly empirical. When a speaker is mounted in a small closed box, it radiates
as much energy forward of the cone as it does rearward of the cone. All speaker cones
(diaphragms) are a weak sound barrier at best, and the result of the high amount of energy
being “pushed” into a small enclosure is the energy transmitting through to the outside
of the cone (an additive phenomenon to the incidental wave). Consequently, Hybrid
Audio has designed the Imagine midbass to work well without an enclosure, and as such,
should not be significantly prone to enclosure back-pressure and sound coloration when
placed infinitely baffled. The “infinitely large” enclosure, such as one might find in a door
panel, improves spectral response and power response variation between high and low
frequencies.
In a basic system, like the Imagine midbass, the Imagine tweeters were designed to be
installed coaxially with the midbass, or as a component system in the original factory
tweeter locations, such as those typically found in many newer-generation vehicles, most
often at the top of the door, or in the “a-pillar.” Conversely, many will find that the I57-2
is a direct drop-in fit in many Harley Davidson® motorcycles. The obvious “path of least
resistance” is to leave the Imagine speakers in their coaxial mode. If you do decide to use
the Imagine set as a component system, and if your vehicle is older, or did not come with
factory tweeter locations, you may need to install the tweeters in a bit of a custom fashion.
Not to fear though – we have included several different options for easily mounting
the tweeters, so you can decide which will work the best for your application. Since the
tweeters are a sealed-back design, they can be placed anywhere without having to provide
airspace or any type of enclosure.
Hybrid Audio Technologies highly recommends that the tweeter placement be the subject
of your own experimentation. This can be accomplished by leaving some excess wire
length for the tweeter, and experimenting with different potential mounting locations by
temporarily attaching the tweeter using double stick tape, Velcro®, etc.
© Hybrid Audio Technologies • Cumming, GA • 770.888.8200 © Hybrid Audio Technologies • Cumming, GA • 770.888.8200 24 25