Hybrid Audio Technologies Clarus-Series, Installation Manual

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Clarus User’s Manual ©Hybrid Audio Technologies Page 16 of 26
An important learning note! Hybrid Audio Technologies designed the Clarus-series to be configured
with the tweeter relatively close to the midbass, such as within 30cm or so, as we can effectively
mitigate anticipated environmental conditions and reduce the number of variables in this type of
installation. When the tweeter and midbass are placed close to each other, the relative amplitudes
(volumes) of the midbass and tweeter are equalized to each other and the speaker system will
perform as intended. When the tweeter is separated by a far distance from the midbass, the relative
amplitudes will likely need to be equalized. 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 “ox-axis”,
and is near hard, reflective surfaces, such as window glass, hard plastic interior panels, and etc.
One of the benefits of the Clarus series over its sibling Imagine series is the inclusion of an outboard
crossover system that includes a fairly comprehensive set of attenuation filters for the tweeter output.
Whereas the Imagine systems do not include any form of filtering to attenuate the tweeter’s relative
amplitude with respect to the midbass, the Clarus sets do come with the feature of a stepped
attenuation network to satisfactorily allow for the end-user to tune and customize the tweeter’s level
with respect to the midbass. The tweeter attenuation network allows for a world of potential new
mounting possibilities of the tweeter location with respect to the midbass location.
Finally, just because there is a factory tweeter pod location in the dashboard, a-pillars, 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.
Installation
Once you have determined the mounting locations for the Clarus separates, and have evaluated the
circumstances by which the Clarus speakers will need to be installed, it is time to dismantle the
vehicle to access the old speakers. Most dashboard-mounted speakers are easily accessed by
removing their grilles, which are usually attached to the dashboard with screws or retaining clips. A-
pillars are usually accessed by pulling firmly at a right angle to the panel. Door speakers are usually
easy to access as well, either from the front by prying off the OEM grille, or by physically removing
the entire door panel. In all cases, it may be prudent to reference your vehicle’s factory service
manual. If you don’t have a factory service manual, you can go to the Installation Excellence
website
for downloadable resources with respect to not only wiring but disassembly of your vehicle, and the
procedures to access your OEM speakers.
With the OEM speakers removed, we HIGHLY recommend the use of a self-adhesive damping
product, such as brand names Dynamat
®
, B-Quiet
®
, RAAMmat
®
, and others. The reason for the use
of damping material is to quiet buzzes and rattles that will be exposed by the high-performance
Clarus midbass speakers, but more importantly to seal up door accesses and cavities, thereby
creating a pseudo “enclosure” for the Clarus midbass. If the midbass are installed immediately
adjacent to a large access hole or opening in the door panel, there will be an acoustic “short circuit”
(as described later in “Frequency Response”) where the front and back waves of the speaker meet,
and cancellation will occur, seriously affecting midbass output. The use of a good damping product is
the single-biggest installation-related improvement you can do to enhance the performance of your