ClairAudient 1+1 v5 Speakers (Pair)

"I want to say that I had no expectations or biases in opening the Audience box, but that's not entirely true. I couldn't help but think the 1+1 v5 is quite a lot of money for not a lot of box. That bias evaporated a few bars into playing the Audience ClairAudient 1+1 v5. Seamless and coherent, lithe and smooth across the mids and treble, grippy and fast bass, taut and precise, pumps out impressive amounts of bass in the nearfield."
-Alan Sircom, HiFi+ (referencing the v5 in July 2024

The 1+1 is the most unique small-footprint loudspeaker in the world. Based around the powerful 3" Audience A3S driver, the 1+1 features two active drivers, one mounted on the front baffle, the other facing rearward. There are two side-loaded passive drivers to extend audible low frequency output down into the 30Hz range. There's no crossover to eat up precious amplifier power which means the amplifier has a direct connection to the drivers. The 1+1's speed, grip, control and purity are unparalleled for a speaker of any size, much less one this diminutive. The top octave is very different than a traditional speaker. It may take some time to become accustomed to not having a tweeter "shouting" at you, but once your ears recalibrate, there's a shocking amount of high frequency information... the 1+1 simply doesn't spotlight that range. The 1+1 throws a surprisingly wide and deep image with pin-point precision and an astonishingly accurate tonal balance. Whether enjoyed in near-field or mid-field, the 1+1 delivers a very satisfying musical experience.

"The 1+1 V5 offers a compelling option for those who value coherence, transparency, and a natural, uncolored sound."
- Ken Redmond, Tracking Angle (Referencing the v5 in late September 2024)

With a benign impedance of 8 Ohms and a sensitivity of 87dB the 1+1s can be powered by virtually any amplifier to very satisfying levels. That lowish sensitivity might bring up concerns among tube lovers about sufficient amplifier power, however in the 1+1 there is no crossover to consume amplifier power, so these speakers deliver way more music per watt than any traditional speaker can. The 1+1 loves tube amps, solid state amps, even Class-D amps!

From its introduction to the public at CES 2016, this innovative design has received lofty recognition from prominent high-end audio publications all over the world. The Absolute Sound, Stereophile among many others have raved about the 1+1's prodigious capabilities. John Atkinson, editor of Stereophile Magazine states “The sound was dynamic with surprisingly extended low frequencies”.

The 1+1 is available in a single finish; a Gloss Black main body with gorgeous, lacquered Rosewood cheeks. Magnetically attached cloth grilles are provided for those who might require them, however, for best sonic performance we highly recommend leaving those in the carton.

Variations on a Theme:
The 1+1 has gone through various revisions during its lifespan as Audience has developed superior materials and improved their construction techniques. All 1+1s are upgradable to current tech, please contact us for pricing and timeframe to upgrade your pair to the latest spec.

August of 2022 Audience releases the 1+1 v5. Lead designer Phil Ducote implements a special "voicing circuit" to fine-tune and enhance performance. "The network has two functions, compensate for the small baffle area (which favors high frequencies) and smooth out midrange response for more balanced performance." This isn't a crossover as it merely massages the frequency response of the drivers, making them a bit smoother through our hearing range's most sensitive frequencies. The v5 also incorporates a sonically invisible high-pass filter which removes bass below 40Hz. Previous generations were allowed to run full range, but this could result in dynamic compression if there was a lot of low frequency content at higher volumes. Sometimes this would even cause the driver to bottom out. Making these two changes gives the v5 a startling improvement in clarity, focus and overall power.

July of 2021 Audience announces the 1+1 v4. This revision features the first change to the passive radiator since the introduction of the model. A blank-slate revision of the passives unleashes an entirely unprecedented level of grip and extension. Top of the line Eichmann ultra-low mass pure copper binding posts further improve tonal balance and purity, simultaneously reducing noise and distortion.

August of 2018 Audience launches the 1+1 v3 edition,  introducing a new voice coil technology providing faster rise time and greater control of the driver. Additionally, the V3 loudspeaker's internal wiring now includes metallurgic improvements first pioneered in Audience's flagship frontRow cables. The v3 is notably better in every aspect than its predecessors with far greater resolution and much lower noise floor, delivering a dramatically more palpable and tonally rich presentation. Dynamics and sound-staging are also improved.

June of 2017, Audience unveils the 1+1 v2+ configuration. The new A3S2-16 drivers have a much revised motor structure with upgraded magnets for greater power and control. CNC machining of the driver assembly delivers more consistent assembly and improves power handling. Internal wiring is upgraded to Audience's AU24 SX cabling and the driver gets OCC copper-tensile conductors. The new dual 8 Ohm voice coil design replaces the older 16 Ohm version, eliminating internal jumper wires in addition to 10 separate solder connections! V2+ model also includes solder-free Tellurium spring tension binding posts.

Dimensions: (HWD): 8x9.75x6"
Weight: 9Lbs each, 18Lbs pair, 24Lbs shipped
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms 
Sensitivity: 87dB
Frequency Response: 50Hz - 21kHz