SSA Car Audio Forum: Who has heard the Hybrid Audio Clarus C61-2? - SSA Car Audio Forum

Those who have heard the Hybrid Audio Clarus C61-2, how did they sound? Im referring to tonality, frequency extension (both high and low), general sound characteristics?

I have read the review in CA&E and just looking for more personal opinions. It would be great if they could be compared against popular components like Dynaudio, Morel, Rainbow, Hertz, Focal, etc. Thanks ahead for any input

Anybody?

I have a lot of listening time on the C61-2 set. After they break in they really start to shine. They are very accurate and produce a lot of bass for 6 1/2's. The tweets are just amazing, very accurate, not harsh but still have high extension. They are one of the best I have heard.

Check out the install http://www.soundsolu...mp;#entry393510

I really appreciate you input man....any comparisons to other sets you have listened to? Never hurts to ask

seen this on hybrid's website..

May 2008: Car Audio & Electronics Publishes a Glowing Review of the Clarus C51-2 Set; Evaluative Scoring Places Clarus™ Better than Sets Costing Five and Six Times as Much!
In the July 2008 issue of Car Audio & Electronics Magazine, there is a review of the Clarus C51-2 set (5 1/4" component speaker set). The results of the evaluation were glowing.

The highest sound quality score ever achieved, using the new Car Audio & Electronics scoring criteria, went to the Clarus component system. For example, near perfect listening test scores were achieved (9.5 out of 10 on the song "Spanish Harlem" as performed by Rebecca Pidgeon). According to the reviewer, even despite being 5 ¼” midbass, they compared well to competitor’s 6 ½” and 7” component sets! Using a formularized Excel spreadsheet, which subjectively compared the old Car Audio & Electronics scoring criteria to the one adopted relatively recently, it was quickly determined by Hybrid Audio Technologies staff that this was one of the best component sets, if not THE BEST component set reviewed by the magazine in the past several years (as far back as we were able to take our research).
Reader Note: Clarus C51-2 is a $469.99 set of 5 ¼” speakers which was compared to, and found to exceed the performance of 6 ½” and 7” component sets costing literally up to six times as much ($2,000+).

Notable quotes from the reviewer:

"What I found was one of, if not, the best owner's manuals I've ever encountered in my many years in this industry! It is a comprehensive description of the speaker system and a lengthy and very informative tutorial on sound quality system setup in general..."

"To adjust tweeter output, you select between different push terminals (a nice way to do this)...which eliminates the common selector switch that can degrade over time and affect the quality of the connection."

"It was a large sound...other components sets I've auditioned employ a 6.5-inch low frequency driver, so the fact that these diminutive speakers can hold their own against a larger driver is a feat in itself."

"When (Rebecca) Pidgeon's solo vocal starts it's as though she's in the room with me! The image is strong, at eye level, and perfectly centered with a life-like tone. I can even detect the size of the room and there's a feeling of air around the vocalist."

"There's a realistic, sweet sound to the strings...that I've rarely heard from even the most expensive component sets that I've auditioned."

"When (B.B.) King starts singing, his voice is stable and perfectly centered. It has all the rich, soulful character he's famous for and when Lucille (King's guitar) plays, she sounds totally life-like and robust."

"If you and/or your installer completely read the owner's manual that's downloadable for these components, and institute the damping and driver placement recommendations therein, you'll be able to realize the same excellent imaging and staging details these components are capable of producing."

"I wish more speaker manufacturers would take it upon themselves to educate their customers as to proper installation and placement of their products as Hybrid Audio has done."

"After listening to these speakers for literally hours on end, I didn't experience any appreciable listening fatigue."

"From the extremely complete user's manual to the construction and sound of these diminutive drivers, they're a class act by any standard, and they're probably one of the best bargains out there for a retail price of $469.99. It's obvious that the folks at Hybrid Audio did their homework and a lot of research, testing, and listening to perfect this product."

"If you're in the market for a component set for your car audio system, you'll be doing yourself a great disservice if you don't audition these speakers for your application."

We invite you to support our last remaining dedicated car audio publication in the USA, and further, invite you to check out the review of our Clarus C51-2 set!
Blatant plug: After winning "State of the Art" from England's Talk Audio Magazine, to winning seventeen (17) national- and world-championships last year alone in organized competition, and now getting a review which says that this $469.99 component set is better than systems costing five and six times as much---if there was any remaining doubt---even those that relish in doubting---you have hereby been given notice: THERE IS NO DOUBTING ANYMORE

The only thing in Car audio I can compare it to are the Alpines, which isn't much. But I have heard high-end home audio equipment. If you like a natural sound and how instruments are suppose to sound, get these drivers. They don't shine with rap or hip-hop of course, so if you listen to that type of music these prob aren't for you.

We installed the Clarus 6 1/2 set in my buddies car a couple of weeks ago. After a break-in period of approximately 20 hours, they started to sound real good. I love the clarity, and they are taking 200 watts a side with ease. I love the fact that the mids are high passed at 63hz/18db and they are taking it like a champ even at really high volumes. Very sweet and convincing sounding mid. The tweeter has the highest detail I heard on a soft dome. It is pretty sharp, but not harsh at all. We did set it at -3db, otherwise it was overbearing as the balance sounded off at 200 watts a side. My favourite part though, that the mid goes low, and plays really well in that range. Not many mids can play that well crossed this low at really high volumes. No cone break-up at all. What they say is true, it does sound like at least a $1000 set. 5/5

This post has been edited by 1sashenka: 26 September 2008 - 12:59 AM

I've only heard them during testing with the final prototype... they were very nice, loud but smooth... however Scott was testing them active to determine the proper crossover points for the set at the time, so unfortunately I didn't get a listen with the passive crossovers he ultimately selected.

I was much like you, I had heard some glowing things said about the Hybrid speaker line. I called Hybrid wanting to find a dealer near me, I called fairly late in the evening 7-8 ish in the central time zone expecting to get voicemail and having to leave contact information. What I got was not only a live person but Scott Buwalda. Scott was able to not only put me in contact with a Hybrid Audio Technologies dealer but also went to the trouble of emailing a Team Hybrid member and asking him to get in touch with me. The Team Hybrid member was quite a bit closer to my home so I drove to his home and was able to listen to what in my opinion was the best sounding automotive speakers I had ever heard. I have sense purchased the L-3's and the L-1pro's and now that I have finally had the door panels off the car I will be buying the L-8's. I know this isn't the product review you wanted but it does offer a look at the founder of the company and his passion for not only his product but also in providing unsurpassed customer service. E-Mail info@hybrid-audio.com and explain the situation, they want to earn your business.