A pic of my Aria's in process

Hello everyone

Ah yes — WBF. The place where opinions circulate faster than understanding, often helped along by sponsorships and conveniently aligned narratives. A wonderful way to start the day.

At this point, it’s probably time to open a Clarisys Audio Owners Forum.
Nudge, nudge to our friend Mike 😉 Now to the actual question.

The WBF thread in question was started by a Clarisys owner who previously owned Alsyvox and chose to replace it with Clarisys, citing limited dynamics and bass performance as the decisive reasons.

For clarity: Clarisys Audio now owns that Alsyvox speaker.

What follows is not speculation or forum theory, but a technical explanation of why that experience occurred.

Ribbon vs. Planar Magnetic​

Let’s get terminology straight first, because this is where the discussion usually derails.
  • A true ribbon is suspended between two fixing points inside a magnetic field.
  • The moment a diaphragm is fixed on all four sides, it is no longer a ribbon in the strict sense — it is a planar magnetic driver.
  • The Alsyvox bass section is attached on four sides, like the Magnepan.
  • Clarisys bass ribbons are attached on two sides only. This distinction is not semantic — it is fundamental.
Calling both designs “ribbons” may sound convenient in forum discussions, but it ignores basic mechanics.

Restoring Force – Corrugation & Material Science​

A diaphragm made from Mylar or similar polymer films has no intrinsic restoring force. The material flexes, creeps, and does not naturally return to a precise neutral position. The audible result is reduced control, softer transients, and limited bass dynamics.
Yes, you can partially compensate for this by adding push-pull magnet arrays on both sides of the diaphragm. But let’s be honest: this is a band-aid, not an elegant solution. You are using magnetic force to compensate for a material that fundamentally lacks mechanical control.
A corrugated aluminium ribbon, on the other hand, is a mechanical spring system by design. The corrugation is the restoring force. Lightly displace a Clarisys diaphragm and it returns automatically to its center position, without relying on additional magnetic correction in front of the driver. This is not theoretical — it is directly observable.

Implementation Differences (Often Ignored in Online Debates)​

  • Clarisys bass ribbons use
    • Corrugated aluminium diaphragm
    • Two-side suspension, not four-side clamping
    • Internal mechanical spring behavior via corrugation
    • Dedicated horizontal tensioning systems per bass ribbon section
    • Restoring force is built into the membrane and the mechanics, not outsourced to magnet strength
  • Alsyvox bass panelsuse
    • A polymer-based membrane
    • Four-side attachment
    • No intrinsic mechanical restoring force
    • No horizontal tensioning system
These are design choices, not value judgments — but pretending they are equivalent is simply incorrect.

Final note to WBF readers​

Disagreeing is fine. Preferences are subjective.
But physics doesn’t care about forum narratives.
If we want a serious discussion, we need to stop blurring the line between true ribbons and planar magnetics, and stop pretending that material science and restoring force are optional details.

A necessary clarification on ribbon technology leadership​

Clarisys Audio is currently the leader in ribbon loudspeaker innovation. Not by branding, but by engineering.
Unlike Alsyvox, we no longer use Mylar/Kapton-based aluminium traces in our midrange and treble. Those approaches belong to an earlier generation of planar thinking.

Instead, Clarisys employs:
  • Pure aluminium ribbons
  • Zero vertical support
  • True free-suspended ribbon operation
  • Bipolar radiation
  • Transformer-coupled drive topology
This is a true ribbon in the strict mechanical and electromagnetic sense — not a planar magnetic reinterpretation.

In many ways, this represents a “Generation 3000” evolution of the original Apogee Acoustics (1980s to early 2000s) concept — a lineage we openly acknowledge and respect. Without Apogee Acoustics, none of this would exist

We owe Apogee Acoustics (1980s to early 2000s) everything.
But we are not repeating it — we are finishing what they started.
 
Last edited:
Adyc said:
Great explanation. Very clear now. I suggest to put this information remove the Alsyvox bit in your website.
Click to expand...
Thank you — yes, the website is currently being updated.
That said, customers ultimately decide with their ears, not with websites.

Clarisys is growing and expanding steadily. I only step into these discussions to prevent random individuals from spreading misinformation and to keep the technical facts straight.
 
ClarisysAudio said:
Thank you — yes, the website is currently being updated.
That said, customers ultimately decide with their ears, not with websites.

Clarisys is growing and expanding steadily. I only step into these discussions to prevent random individuals from spreading misinformation and to keep the technical facts straight.
Click to expand...
There are two guys saying the bass panels are planar. Especially one guy is always writing as authority. Maybe you want to clarify.

Alsyvox planars...prepare to sell your Magico's, YG's, Wilson's, Cessaro's. Maggie's, and all others!!

Well, when you consider low frequency, you can't compare Alsyvox and Quad... By the way, everyone who came to listen to my system was astonished by the "abyssal" low frequency register, including professionals who dont sell Alsyvox. What is your reference speaker concerning what you call bass...
www.whatsbestforum.com www.whatsbestforum.com
 
Adyc said:
There are two guys saying the bass panels are planar. Especially one guy is always writing as authority. Maybe you want to clarify.

Alsyvox planars...prepare to sell your Magico's, YG's, Wilson's, Cessaro's. Maggie's, and all others!!

Well, when you consider low frequency, you can't compare Alsyvox and Quad... By the way, everyone who came to listen to my system was astonished by the "abyssal" low frequency register, including professionals who dont sell Alsyvox. What is your reference speaker concerning what you call bass...
www.whatsbestforum.com www.whatsbestforum.com
Click to expand...
Not interested. But thank you :-)
I dont pay them money and I dont argue with fake distributors, dealers and rich old people with nothing better to do then write on WBF. Our time is better used on serving our customers.
 
ClarisysAudio said:
Hello everyone

Ah yes — WBF. The place where opinions circulate faster than understanding, often helped along by sponsorships and conveniently aligned narratives. A wonderful way to start the day.

At this point, it’s probably time to open a Clarisys Audio Owners Forum.
Nudge, nudge to our friend Mike 😉 Now to the actual question.

The WBF thread in question was started by a Clarisys owner who previously owned Alsyvox and chose to replace it with Clarisys, citing limited dynamics and bass performance as the decisive reasons.

For clarity: Clarisys Audio now owns that Alsyvox speaker.

What follows is not speculation or forum theory, but a technical explanation of why that experience occurred.

Ribbon vs. Planar Magnetic​

Let’s get terminology straight first, because this is where the discussion usually derails.
  • A true ribbon is suspended between two fixing points inside a magnetic field.
  • The moment a diaphragm is fixed on all four sides, it is no longer a ribbon in the strict sense — it is a planar magnetic driver.
  • The Alsyvox bass section is attached on four sides, like the Magnepan.
  • Clarisys bass ribbons are attached on two sides only. This distinction is not semantic — it is fundamental.
Calling both designs “ribbons” may sound convenient in forum discussions, but it ignores basic mechanics.

Restoring Force – Corrugation & Material Science​

A diaphragm made from Mylar or similar polymer films has no intrinsic restoring force. The material flexes, creeps, and does not naturally return to a precise neutral position. The audible result is reduced control, softer transients, and limited bass dynamics.
Yes, you can partially compensate for this by adding push-pull magnet arrays on both sides of the diaphragm. But let’s be honest: this is a band-aid, not an elegant solution. You are using magnetic force to compensate for a material that fundamentally lacks mechanical control.
A corrugated aluminium ribbon, on the other hand, is a mechanical spring system by design. The corrugation is the restoring force. Lightly displace a Clarisys diaphragm and it returns automatically to its center position, without relying on additional magnetic correction in front of the driver. This is not theoretical — it is directly observable.

Implementation Differences (Often Ignored in Online Debates)​

  • Clarisys bass ribbons use
    • Corrugated aluminium diaphragm
    • Two-side suspension, not four-side clamping
    • Internal mechanical spring behavior via corrugation
    • Dedicated horizontal tensioning systems per bass ribbon section
    • Restoring force is built into the membrane and the mechanics, not outsourced to magnet strength
  • Alsyvox bass panelsuse
    • A polymer-based membrane
    • Four-side attachment
    • No intrinsic mechanical restoring force
    • No horizontal tensioning system
These are design choices, not value judgments — but pretending they are equivalent is simply incorrect.

Final note to WBF readers​

Disagreeing is fine. Preferences are subjective.
But physics doesn’t care about forum narratives.
If we want a serious discussion, we need to stop blurring the line between true ribbons and planar magnetics, and stop pretending that material science and restoring force are optional details.

A necessary clarification on ribbon technology leadership​

Clarisys Audio is currently the leader in ribbon loudspeaker innovation. Not by branding, but by engineering.
Unlike Alsyvox, we no longer use Mylar/Kapton-based aluminium traces in our midrange and treble. Those approaches belong to an earlier generation of planar thinking.

Instead, Clarisys employs:
  • Pure aluminium ribbons
  • Zero vertical support
  • True free-suspended ribbon operation
  • Bipolar radiation
  • Transformer-coupled drive topology
This is a true ribbon in the strict mechanical and electromagnetic sense — not a planar magnetic reinterpretation.

In many ways, this represents a “Generation 3000” evolution of the original Apogee Acoustics (1980s to early 2000s) concept — a lineage we openly acknowledge and respect. Without Apogee Acoustics, none of this would exist

We owe Apogee Acoustics (1980s to early 2000s) everything.
But we are not repeating it — we are finishing what they started.
Click to expand...
Thanks Florian !
 
ClarisysAudio said:
Hello everyone

Ah yes — WBF. The place where opinions circulate faster than understanding, often helped along by sponsorships and conveniently aligned narratives. A wonderful way to start the day.

At this point, it’s probably time to open a Clarisys Audio Owners Forum.
Nudge, nudge to our friend Mike 😉 Now to the actual question.

The WBF thread in question was started by a Clarisys owner who previously owned Alsyvox and chose to replace it with Clarisys, citing limited dynamics and bass performance as the decisive reasons.

For clarity: Clarisys Audio now owns that Alsyvox speaker.

What follows is not speculation or forum theory, but a technical explanation of why that experience occurred.

Ribbon vs. Planar Magnetic​

Let’s get terminology straight first, because this is where the discussion usually derails.
  • A true ribbon is suspended between two fixing points inside a magnetic field.
  • The moment a diaphragm is fixed on all four sides, it is no longer a ribbon in the strict sense — it is a planar magnetic driver.
  • The Alsyvox bass section is attached on four sides, like the Magnepan.
  • Clarisys bass ribbons are attached on two sides only. This distinction is not semantic — it is fundamental.
Calling both designs “ribbons” may sound convenient in forum discussions, but it ignores basic mechanics.

Restoring Force – Corrugation & Material Science​

A diaphragm made from Mylar or similar polymer films has no intrinsic restoring force. The material flexes, creeps, and does not naturally return to a precise neutral position. The audible result is reduced control, softer transients, and limited bass dynamics.
Yes, you can partially compensate for this by adding push-pull magnet arrays on both sides of the diaphragm. But let’s be honest: this is a band-aid, not an elegant solution. You are using magnetic force to compensate for a material that fundamentally lacks mechanical control.
A corrugated aluminium ribbon, on the other hand, is a mechanical spring system by design. The corrugation is the restoring force. Lightly displace a Clarisys diaphragm and it returns automatically to its center position, without relying on additional magnetic correction in front of the driver. This is not theoretical — it is directly observable.

Implementation Differences (Often Ignored in Online Debates)​

  • Clarisys bass ribbons use
    • Corrugated aluminium diaphragm
    • Two-side suspension, not four-side clamping
    • Internal mechanical spring behavior via corrugation
    • Dedicated horizontal tensioning systems per bass ribbon section
    • Restoring force is built into the membrane and the mechanics, not outsourced to magnet strength
  • Alsyvox bass panelsuse
    • A polymer-based membrane
    • Four-side attachment
    • No intrinsic mechanical restoring force
    • No horizontal tensioning system
These are design choices, not value judgments — but pretending they are equivalent is simply incorrect.

Final note to WBF readers​

Disagreeing is fine. Preferences are subjective.
But physics doesn’t care about forum narratives.
If we want a serious discussion, we need to stop blurring the line between true ribbons and planar magnetics, and stop pretending that material science and restoring force are optional details.

A necessary clarification on ribbon technology leadership​

Clarisys Audio is currently the leader in ribbon loudspeaker innovation. Not by branding, but by engineering.
Unlike Alsyvox, we no longer use Mylar/Kapton-based aluminium traces in our midrange and treble. Those approaches belong to an earlier generation of planar thinking.

Instead, Clarisys employs:
  • Pure aluminium ribbons
  • Zero vertical support
  • True free-suspended ribbon operation
  • Bipolar radiation
  • Transformer-coupled drive topology
This is a true ribbon in the strict mechanical and electromagnetic sense — not a planar magnetic reinterpretation.

In many ways, this represents a “Generation 3000” evolution of the original Apogee Acoustics (1980s to early 2000s) concept — a lineage we openly acknowledge and respect. Without Apogee Acoustics, none of this would exist

We owe Apogee Acoustics (1980s to early 2000s) everything.
But we are not repeating it — we are finishing what they started.
Click to expand...
The methodology for the corrugation has to be totally unique . I have seen the machine Raal uses to make its ribbon tweeters. It is tiny , cumbersome , and appears subject to human error. To corrugate the massive bass panel , and account for different size corrugations , has to be a complex process . Check out the pic's of my Aria's and note the corrugation size differences. There are multifaceted considerations built into its construction. This speaker is a giant leap forward in out of the box thinking !
 
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