Hybrid Audio Technologies Clarus Series Subwoofer - Manual (Page 4)

Building on the
enthusiastic reception
garnered for the Imagine
series subwoofers, Hybrid
Audio Technologies began
working on an enhanced
line-up of subwoofers in
the Clarus range starting in
mid-2012. The exhaustive
process of developing a
complete line-up of low-
inductance, low-distortion
subwoofers was realized
over an approximate
calendar year in research
and development, and
real-world testing,
resulting in the Clarus
subwoofer(s) now in your
hands.
The Stage II Imagine I6SW 6.5-inch subwoofer
was the first dedicated low-frequency driver
ever offered by Hybrid Audio Technologies.
Within time, the Imagine subwoofer line-up
was deemed complete with four different
sizes (6.5-inch, 8-inch. 10-inch and 12-inch).
Feedback for the Imagine subwoofers was
amazing, but we quickly realized that users of
our super high-end drivers, such as those from
the Clarus, Legatia, Legatia Pro, and Legatia SE
series were interested in a higher-end offering
in the subwoofer category.
The design efficacy of the Clarus subwoofers
includes immediate upgrade potential with
Imagine series subwoofers in similarly-sized
enclosures and hole- cut-out diameters. Other
features boasting elevated performance over
the Imagine subwoofer counterparts include
increased nominal and thermal power handling,
lower inductance, larger displacement courtesy
of longer linear Xmax, and the option of two
dual voice coil alignments (dual two ohm and
dual four ohm), allowing for a wide variety of
connection options.
The Clarus subwoofers were originally designed
to satisfy the typical 8-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch
sizes. Due to an incredible amount of feedback
from our enthusiast community and dealer
base for a true high-end large-diameter sound
quality subwoofer, we developed the 15-inch
driver to compliment the other three sizes.
Attributes
Basket/Frame
The basket of the C8SW, C10SW, C12SW, and C15SW
is a cast aluminum design with semi-gloss black
powder coating. The frame includes spider venting
for improved thermal power handling. The frame
includes reverse-roll surround tooling proprietary
to Hybrid Audio Technologies, allowing for close-
tolerance flush and iso-mounting for easy grille
clearance and locational clearance.
Motor and Voice Coil
The motor of the Clarus subwoofer is conventional
dynamic with a large, high-grade ferrite magnet
assembly with bumped and vented pole piece. The
voice coil diameter for the four subwoofers is 51mm
(2-inch) for elevated power handling, dissipation
of heat (thereby lowering power compression),
and maximizing the size of the magnet around
the voice coil for enhanced motor compliance. The
voice coil is a four-layer, high-purity aluminum,
which is superior to copper for heat dissipation,
as well as significantly reduced moving mass. The
result is an extremely light weight winding, with low
inductance and good power handling.
Suspension, Cone, Tinsel Leads & Terminals
The inverted surround is butyl rubber which is
highly consistent, and does not suffer the variance
of natural rubbers. This rubber surround terminates
mechanical vibrations well, having a low stiffness for
positive damping of resonances. The spider material
was chosen for optimal performance; the spider
is a 90/10 cotton/Nomex blend with single-dip
low viscosity phenolic. This material provides the
stiffness desired without being overly brittle or stiff,
where vibrations in the spider are well damped and
do not translate into the former or the cone.
The Clarus subwoofers are cone-type drivers
consisting of a polypropylene diaphragm with
low moving mass. Polypropylene provides a good
balance of strength, moving mass, and water
resistance, in the event the Clarus subwoofers are
used in all-weather climates, such as motorcycle,
ATV, golf cart, and marine uses. The tinsel leads
are bonded directly to the former and brought out
to the terminals, which keeps tinsel lead slap to a
minimum and does not compromise the structural
integrity of the cone. The Clarus subwoofers
come equipped with heavy-duty PCB-mounted
nickel-plated push terminals, and give the end
user flexibility in tinned wire or crimp terminal
terminations.
Summary
The Clarus subwoofers are the ideal multi-format
subwoofer speaker system, and are an upgrade for
the Imagine-series subwoofer drivers. At home in
virtually any enclosure arrangement – from sealed,
to vented, to infinite baffle and bandpass – the
Clarus range of subwoofers are going to impress
even the most critical listener with speed and
articulation, bottom-octave authority, with a total
inductance profile that is not just low, but flat over
stroke, frequency, and power. You’ll know how
serious this driver is at first glance as you take
in the cast frame and heavy-duty nickel-plated
spring-loaded push terminals, but its proof will
be upon first listen as the Clarus subwoofer does
what it does best: articulating the nuances of your
favorite recordings to effectively reproducing
significant sound pressure levels.
The Clarus
Subwoofer
A Brief History
© Hybrid Audio Technologies • Cumming, GA • 770.888.8200 © Hybrid Audio Technologies • Cumming, GA • 770.888.8200 6 7