As a reviewer, quite apart from the practical challenges presented by their weight and the near impossibility of moving them without two or three extra bodies, the six-channel requirement renders the Auditoriums out of the question. Despite the preponderance of current systems that demand or benefit from four channels of amplification – from the bi-ampable Göbels, Focals and Stenheims, to the speaker-plus-sub format of the upper echelon Wilsons – the extra two (identical) channels on top is a demand too far. But as a listener, the active Auditoriums join the (also active) Avantgarde Trio G3s as my current (almost practical)-cost-no-object speaker choices. I love their scale and the seamless, musical totality of their presentation. I love their uncannily natural tonal balance and their unforced dynamics and headroom. I love the poised confidence they bring to musical performances, so reminiscent of great live events. By any standards, this is an exceptional speaker system – and I’ve only really scratched the surface of the options and potential they present. As much as I enjoyed these speakers in their passive guise, taking them active lifts them to a level where they have the potential to challenge any speaker on the market. Like comparing a Latour to a Margaux to a Cheval Blanc, each of us will have a preference. But one thing on which we can all agree is that they are all extremely fine wines. The active Clarysis Auditoriums fully deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the very best speaker systems available.
All of which leaves me pondering the two-way Clarysis Studio. Smaller, lighter, capable of active operation; maybe, just maybe…
Price
CSPort ACN400 Active Crossover – €23,000 (preconfigured from Clarisys Audio)
Manufacturer:
